Meaning of "autumnal gourds"

[All Potted Out]

Dear Teachers,

I read this:

"Last year I attempted to start down that road by insisting that I actually engage in that most familiar of Halloween traditions by purchasing autumnal gourds, and then celebrating their harvest by hollowing them out, cutting an interesting design through their skin and then setting the insides alight."

I wonder if "autumnal gourds" is a common alternative term for pumpkins? If without such context, can people understand what autumnal gourds refer to?

[Yankee]

Hi apo

The sense I get is that the author is referring to a variety of gourds, but I'd expect pumpkins to be included.

A native speaker wouldn't know specifically which gourds the writer is referring to either. To get an idea what the other gourds might look like, try a Google search for "autumnal gourds" or "fall gourds". ;)

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Alan]

Hi apo,

Gourd is one of those rich sounding words so much more evocative than funny old pumpkin. I always think of it like that probably because of the poem by John Keats, Ode to Autumn:

[Yankee]

.
Do people in the UK carve only pumpkins, Alan?
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Alan]

Hi,

Gourd knows!

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Kati Svaby]

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Dear Alan,

Yesterday night I found your essay which begins with first two lines of John Keats To Autumn poem and finishes the last two lines of this poem. I wanted to print it to read it again before sleeping but I lost your essay. I went back where I found it but it was an other title there.

This morning I tried again and I found this page. Please, send me where can I read again this essay.

Thanks again:
Kati Svaby

[Alan]

Hi Kati,

Is this the one:

http://www.english-test.net/newsletter/a-new-season-89.html

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Alan]

Hi Kati,

I've found it!

http://www.english-test.net/newsletter/good-bye-summer-109.html

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Prepositions

[Kati Svaby]

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Hi Alan,

Many thanks for the quick answer.

Regards:
Kati Svaby