Cucurbita pepo (of the family Cucurbitaceae) is a species with a number of variants that are commonly known as pumpkins, squash, zucchini, and gourds. Among the wide range of variants, pumpkin C. pepo var. pepo is most commonly known and is widely cultivated around the world for commercial use; both as food and decoration. Pumpkin fruits are eaten as a vegetable as well as being used in cakes, and in the popular pumpkin pie, traditionally cooked during Thanksgiving in Canada and the United States. Pumpkin fruits are also carved for decoration around Halloween as jack-o’-lanterns.