Halloween, for me, is the real start of the holiday season. At least the lists were made early. Pumpkins are absolutely delicious, and not just in pumpkin pie. It's a squash, with a mellow flavor, and a very ecologically friendly vegetable, as all of its parts are useable. We cook the pulp, roast the seeds, and use the shell as a holiday decoration.
Many people associate pumpkin only with the stuff they find in cans.
Fresh pumpkin has a sublime taste that cannot be matched by canned. I have given out recipes for my Pumpkin Pie Risotto many times, and many people ask why theirs doesn't taste the same. It is in savory dishes that you really notice the difference. Treat yourself, and your family, and buy a pumpkin. Have fun drawing a silly face and carving it, then serve the guts for dinner.