Picking out a Halloween costume is one of the most difficult decisions you’ll make come spooky season — but Google can help!
When you picture a pumpkin, the first color that comes to mind is probably orange.
But don’t be surprised if you come across some unique pumpkin colors this Halloween — because there’s likely a special reason why they were painted (or grown) that way.
Sure, some families might simply like the color or want it to match the rest of their Halloween decorations.
But other families use colored pumpkins as a way of raising awareness for specific causes or social issues — and some are used as a warning to trick-or-treaters searching for a late-night snack.
In other words, colored pumpkins are a way to make each spooky season more inclusive to all.
So, as we all prepare for another night of dressing up and collecting candy, let’s take a moment to understand the special meanings behind pumpkin colors — including teal, pink, yellow and more!
Teal Pumpkin Meaning
A teal pumpkin on Halloween means that a household is offering non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
This is part of the Teal Pumpkin Project, which was created by Becky Basalone and a local food allergy group in 2012 before being adopted by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014.
The initiative is simple: to make Halloween safer and more inclusive for children with food allergies, intolerances or other conditions like diabetes.
Instead of (or in addition to) candy, homes with teal pumpkins offer alternatives like small toys, glow sticks, stickers, pencils, bubbles, temporary tattoos, playing cards, school supplies and more.
So, if you want to avoid (or limit) candy this Halloween, prioritize homes with a teal pumpkin outside.
Pink Pumpkin Meaning
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — and pink pumpkins are an extension of that.
They're part of the The Pink Pumpkin Project and similar initiatives that use the pink color to raise awareness about breast cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in women.
According to the American Cancer Society, “there are more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.”
Some people display pink pumpkins to honor or remember someone affected by breast cancer, show support for breast cancer research and awareness or participate in fundraising efforts.
A pink pumpkin on someone’s porch is just as meaningful as wearing a pink ribbon on your shirt.
Yellow Pumpkin Meaning
Yellow pumpkins represent homes that are accessible and welcoming to children with disabilities.
According to Pride Mobility, the Yellow Pumpkin Parade was created after a woman’s son was “denied candy when he wasn’t able to say trick-or-treat while visiting a home” due to a disability.
The woman — Laura Slatter — used it as a way to spread awareness about childhood apraxia of speech.
According to the Mayo Clinic, children with this disorder “have trouble controlling their lips, jaws and tongues when speaking,” which results in muscles not being able to form words properly.
Homes with a yellow pumpkin typically feature wheelchair-accessible entrances, ramps instead of stairs, well-lit pathways and patient or understanding residents who give children the time and space needed.
Blue Pumpkin Meaning
Blue pumpkins are often used to indicate that a child in the home or trick-or-treating has autism.
When a child carries a blue pumpkin bucket or bag (or when a house displays a blue pumpkin), it signals to neighbors that they may be nonverbal or have difficulty saying “trick or treat” or “thank you” properly.
It also indicates that the child may require extra patience or assistance when trick-or-treating.
Some families use blue pumpkin buckets for their children, while others display blue pumpkins at their homes to show they're particularly welcoming and understanding of children with autism.
It’s not a part of a greater initiative or organization, but is growing in recognition among communities.
White Pumpkin Meaning
When you go to the pumpkin patch, you’ll likely come across a white pumpkin among all the orange.
White pumpkins are a cultivated breed that farmers and scientists have developed. They are grown from specific seeds bred to produce a white rind instead of the typical orange color.
In 2016, Valerie Meek took her newborn daughter to a pumpkin patch in search of a new tradition to honor her son Patrick, who had died prior to her daughter’s birth.
READ MORE: A South Carolina family’s spooky Halloween setup is so realistic it’s sparking 911 calls
She ended up choosing a white pumpkin to remember her son by — and has done so every year since.
That tradition began on Oct. 15 of that year, which also happens to be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and other families have adopted a similar tradition in the years since.
Meek doesn’t carve the pumpkin, but keeps it and uses it as a “gratitude pumpkin” that she writes words of gratitude on ahead of Thanksgiving.
In 2020, a woman named Jennifer Giles created The White Pumpkin Project, per Pregnancy After Loss Support.
So, if you see a white pumpkin on someone’s porch, it might be purely decorative — or it could be a meaningful tribute to a baby or infant they’ve lost.
Purple Pumpkin Meaning
Purple pumpkins are generally used to signify that a child has epilepsy.
The Purple Pumpkin Project was founded in 2012 by a father — Ron Lamontagne — who wanted to find a way to spread awareness about epilepsy, which his son was diagnosed with in 2009 at the age of four.
The campaign has since been supported by the Epilepsy Foundation.
Purple pumpkins can be used to show support for people living with epilepsy or educate communities about epilepsy, especially during Halloween when flashing lights and other triggers may be present.
That includes Halloween decorations that include strobe lights, fog machines and other common effects.
Red Pumpkin Meaning
Red pumpkins represent awareness about drunk and impaired driving.
The Red Pumpkin Project was created by Mothers Against Drunk Driving “as a reminder to designate a sober driver this holiday season,” especially since Halloween “is one of the deadliest DUI Holidays.”
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are 72.4 million potential trick-or-treaters.
Red pumpkins can be a way of raising awareness about the dangers of drunk and impaired driving, honoring victims who have been killed or injured in the past or reminding people to make safe choices.
Accidents do happen, but being mindful of the danger could save someone’s life this spooky season.
These pumpkin colors can also be used for candy buckets
While many of these colored pumpkins are displayed on porches to indicate what a household offers or supports, the colors can also be used on trick-or-treat buckets or bags that children carry.
For example, a child carrying a teal bucket is likely looking for non-food treats due to allergies.
Likewise, children carrying a yellow bucket may be living with a disability and blue buckets might indicate the child has autism or special needs.
This helps neighbors quickly understand a child's needs without requiring verbal explanation, making trick-or-treating easier and more inclusive for families.
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Whether you're displaying colored pumpkins on your porch or watching for them in your neighborhood, these simple symbols help create a Halloween where every child feels welcome!
