What do purple pumpkins mean this Halloween? Is it for coronavirus or epilepsy?

We know that teal pumpkins mean that a home is allergy-safe when it comes to the candy handed out for trick-or-treat.

But what does a purple pumpkin signify if it is sitting on the stoop this year?

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About a decade ago the Purple Pumpkin Project was started to acknowledge people who have been diagnosed with epilepsy and to raise not only awareness but also money for epilepsy research.

You can click here to register to take part in the Purple Pumpkin Project for epilepsy.

But this year, there may be more purple pumpkins popping up to help send a different message — one focused on the coronavirus pandemic.

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Some communities are using purple pumpkins to send a message that safety measures are being taken to make sure treats are handed out in a manner that lessens the threat of spreading COVID-19.

Officials in Lynbrook, New York, recently announced that those who abide by coronavirus safety rules while passing out treats will have a purple pumpkin posted in their windows.

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Precautions include wearing masks to stop the spread of COVID-19 and handing out individually wrapped candies, WCBS reported.

There are other viral posts being spread on social media encouraging the practice, despite purple pumpkins originally belonging to the epilepsy foundation.

While some organizations may be frustrated that the symbols of their initiatives were borrowed for other movements, the director of youth programs for The Epilepsy Foundation says the purple pumpkins for coronavirus pandemic is helping spread the word of the foundation’s mission too.

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“The more people talk about purple pumpkins, I think the more people who have epilepsy will call out the fact that that is an initiative of The Epilepsy Foundation, and it is something that the community really relates to,” Jon Scheinman told WEYI.

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Cox Media Group