The rise in popularity of Halloween in Spain has led to the adoption of customs and traditions typical of this American holiday. One example is the decoration of spaces with pumpkins. These can be carved to have a terrifying appearance or simply displayed for their decorative appeal.

But in the world, and specifically in our country, many types of pumpkin are grown, beyond the typical "Ruperta" that we see these days in shop windows. 

• The pumpkin Butternut, The peanut variety, or peanut butter, is the most widely cultivated in Spain. It is the most commonly used in cooking to prepare creams or to serve as a garnish in some dishes.
• 'Sweet oven' pumpkin, more commonly known as 'round roasting pumpkin'. As these names indicate, it is the pumpkin we have traditionally eaten as a dessert. It belongs to the family of Cucurbita maxima Duchesne, within which we also find the Turban variety, widely used in ornamentation.
• The Angel Hair squash, from whose pulp this baking ingredient is extracted, as its name indicates. These fruits are not orange; their exterior is tinged with green and white tones.

Spain is the largest producer of pumpkins in the European Union. According to data from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union, Spain produced approximately 115,000 tons of this vegetable in 2019. France and Germany followed in terms of production, with 96,000 and 92,000 tons, respectively.

The demand for pumpkins in Spain has increased significantly in recent years, a fact reflected in the area dedicated to this crop, which has increased by 2001% in the last decade. The Survey on Crop Areas and Yields (ESYRCE) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food reports that in 2010, 1,887 hectares were dedicated to pumpkin production. By 2019, the same survey indicated that this figure had risen to 3,739 hectares.

By autonomous community, in terms of area dedicated to this crop, the Valencian Community stands out with 1,047 hectares, almost a third of the total area in the country. It is followed by Castile and León and Andalusia, with 666 and 418 hectares, respectively.