WASHINGTON — As you wander through your neighborhood this Halloween, you might spot pumpkins in a variety of colors. Among them, the white pumpkin stands out, carrying a significance that goes far beyond decorative flair.

In many households, the white pumpkin serves as a heartfelt tribute to the loss of a pregnancy or infant. October is designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, with October 15 observed as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The custom of displaying white pumpkins has been popularized by the White Pumpkin Project, an initiative now widely recognized.

This meaningful movement took shape in 2018 with Jennifer Giles, who penned a poem titled “The White Pumpkin” after the tragic stillbirth of her daughter. In 2020, Giles teamed up with blogger Jessica Watt to launch the project, urging families to place white pumpkins on their porches or within their homes as a way to honor babies whose lives were heartbreakingly brief.

Encountering a white pumpkin outside a home may signify a family’s personal tribute. For many, selecting and displaying a white pumpkin each October has become a cherished tradition, allowing them to include their lost children in the season’s festivities.

“It serves as a personal, visible way to acknowledge the loss of a child, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death, and offers a sense of shared understanding and connection among bereaved parents,” the White Pumpkin Project website says.

Some families are open to sharing their story, while others may prefer privacy, and for those who haven’t experienced such a loss, including a white pumpkin in their displays can still be a meaningful way to show support.

While not an official organization, the project has been embraced by the pregnancy and infant loss community. Nonprofits like Pregnancy After Loss Support (PALS) and Be Like the Willow continue to raise awareness and provide support for grieving families.