Pumpkin: A favorite sign of fall, with a bit of shady history

Sign of the season: Pumpkins and other cucurbits sit on a garden cart at a festival in Nevers, France, on Oct. 4.

Pumpkins are a harvest symbol and part of our nostalgia for a simpler time. But while the word "pumpkin" has been around for centuries, the plant dates back thousands of years.

(Image credit: Frédéric Moreau/Hans Lucas)