Where did the saying "The frost is on the pumpkin" originate, and what's the temp like where you are?

Question

It has been in the minuses C where I am for a few nights now, and as far as I can see, the frost is on everything. I went for a walk awhile ago, and I was afraid to stand still! lol

Answer 1

The original saying is, "The frost is on the punkin"
James Whitcomb Riley (Greenfield, Indiana October 7, 1849 – July 22, 1916) wrote a poem called "When the Frost is on the Punkin"

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock, And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock, And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock. They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here --
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees, And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees; But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock --
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock. The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn; The stubble in the furries -- kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below -- the clover over-head! --
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock! Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don't know how to tell it -- but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me --
I'd want to 'commodate 'em -- all the whole-indurin' flock --
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!



It's o degrees celsius here.

Answer 2

"The frost is on the pumpkin"..... I have never heard of that saying in my whole life. It guess it just means it's cold.... and the temp where I am right now, is around +4 or 5 celcius.

Answer 3

means its cold out and winter is coming. Autumn is being covered, that's all I have known it to mean. Also a lyric in "Walking Man" by James Taylor......it is cold here. could also be a metaphor for something rotting away, since that is what happens to pumpkins when they get snow on them.

Answer 4

I've never heard that saying before. Here in Oklahoma City it's 48 degrees.