Between the coronavirus pandemic, raging wildfires, and even locust storms (and how can we forget the murder hornets!) 2020 has been a bit of a dumpster fire on steroids. It's the year that challenges even the greatest optimists and has us all questioning, "What's coming next, and how much toilet paper do I need to stock up on to get through it?"
There are only two months left of this nightmarish year, which happen to contain three of the greatest holidays of the year. Starting with Halloween, 2020 has squashed many of the scary traditions we hold dear. Fortunately, the fun of carving a pumpkin is something 2020 can't take away from us. Not only is the activity COVID-safe, it has been an opportunity for many creative minds to poke fun at this year and all the unbelievable things we found ourselves doing because of it.
Here are the 10 pumpkins designs totally on-brand with the fever dream that has been 2020:
1. This Zoom Pumpkin Feels All Our Pain
Any parent living in 2020 has felt the total misery of being on an important Zoom call with at least one of their children shouting about pooping in the background. Unfortunately, with many offices and schools still going remote, it looks like the game of desperately trying to keep our kids from Zoom bombing us, is going to be a way of life for a while. Totally appropriate that our pumpkin designs should honor this delightful experience. Hopefully, someday, we will look back on this pumpkin photo and think, "Oh yeah, Zoom! That was fun..."
2. Better Stay 6 Feet from This Covid Pumpkin
We knew that Covid-19 has reached almost every country across the entire globe, but now it is showing up in our pumpkins as well! Though we can hate the actual virus, pumpkin carvings of this calibre are actually pretty impressive. Even better, a Covid-19 pumpkin also doubles as a "Keep Away" sign!
3. Voting is So Easy, Even a Pumpkin Can Do It
Unless you have been living under a rock this year, you know that America has a very important election coming up. Whether you love the current President or hate him, now is the time to put your money where your mouth is and get out and vote. Listen to the wise pumpkin!
4. The Official 2020 Emoji
The "poop" emoji may have been created years ago, but it is now the official mascot of 2020. Of course, the facepalming emoji was a close second, but I have yet to see anyone attempt that in pumpkin form (challenge accepted, anyone??) Fortunately, the poop emoji is so easy to carve that anyone looking to express their frustrations with 2020 can go for it. Proudly display that poop pumpkin and hope it sends a message to 2021 that we want the thumbs up emoji to be the mascot of next year!
5. Even Frankenstein Has to Wear a Mask
I have seen many socially conscience pumpkins out there wearing their masks, but this one truly warmed my heart. It's nice to see that Frankenstein is leading by example this year and wearing his mask - especially as he is surrounded by little covid pumpkins! I hope Frankenstein enjoys his "Quarantine-o-Ween" and stays safe so we can have him back in all his glory next year!
6. 2020 - Made Possible By Netflix
Let's be honest, Netflix is the true hero of 2020. Without it, many of us trying to parent our children 24/7 would not be possible with our sanity intact. Netflix deserves not only all the pumpkins in it's honor, but our love and gratitude for eternity. Plus, it's really great that the logo only requires two colors of paint and zero artistic skill to make it, 'cause, let's be honest, spending hours happily carving a pumpkin work of art with the kids this year, just isn't going to happen.
7. Because in 2020, Self Care Could Be At Anytime of Day
This pumpkin is all of us. Perhaps it is also must of us at about 1pm on a weekday, because it is 2020 and where are we going to go anyway?! It's not the typical super scary pumpkin carving we are used to seeing, but since it is in the theme of 2020, I bet there is some super scary stress acne under that face mask.
8. Because, 2020 is Super Weird
This pumpkin said, "Don't bother carving me, I'm so 2020 already." Like this year, it started out hopeful as a normal pumpkin, but then as the year/growing progressed, things got really weird. Who knows what happened there genetically with that gourd, but it is obviously the work of 2020!
9. A Fitting TP-ribute to 2020
Remember when no one had toilet paper? That was one of the early unexpected twists 2020 threw at us. Now we know better, 2020! Thank you to this pumpkin for the loving tribute to that time, when TP was more valuable than money. Glad we have finished with that crazy phase. Long may ample stocks of TP stay on the grocery shelves, and this gem of 2020 stay forever in the past.
10. Is This Pumpkin or a Self Portrait?
Mask? Check! Gloves? Check! TP rolls? Check! Oversized sweatshirt? Check! Dazed and confused look on its face? Yep! Seriously, is this a pumpkin or a life-sized model of all of us this pandemic?! Never in my life did I think that a pumpkin with glued on paper cut out eyes would look so much like me, but here we are. Thank you 2020, for all your crummy firsts!