Field of pumpkins

Fields of pumpkins are a pretty common sight in the area right now. They are the poster vegetable for both Thanksgiving and Halloween, which both occur in October here in Canada (Thanksgiving occurs in November in The States). The unfortunate thing about this colourful vegetable, is that the majority don't eat them. They are used mainly for Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, which if you are ignornat of what this food is, as I was, is actually a sweet dessert pie. I am yet to try it, so I am unable to describe it at this stage, but I do intend to try it out when Thanksgiving is upon us - keep posted for that one..... Other than that the pumpkin seems to be a largely decorative item. There are mini ones, sorry "ornamental pumpkins", that people use for display purposes, and of course there is the larger variety, which are hollowed out and carved for the Halloween Jack-o-lanterns. Both of these cultural traditions are a bit lost on us, but I guess we will shakily participate as best we can. Oh, they do have butternut pumpkins here, which are used in cooking, but are referred to as "butternut squash", so if you are talking about a favourite savoury pumpkin recipe to a Canadian (and many Europeans so it seems), and they turn their nose up at it, make it clear that it is the butternut variety that you are probably using.