Peanuts History Rewritten: The Great Pumpkin Actually Arrived on October 21, 1959

It’s a known fact among comic historians that the first mention of the Great Pumpkin in a Peanuts comic strip was published on October 26, 1959. For decades, fans have pointed to that date as the official birth of this holiday legend. The idea became an overnight sensation, introducing readers to Linus’ unshakeable belief in a Santa-like figure for Halloween—a storyline that became an annual tradition and inspired a beloved animated television special. But wait... what if history has it wrong? I have made an amazing discovery that proves the Great Pumpkin actually made its world debut five days early, on October 21. Here is the proof in all its glory.

People in Vermont were the lucky ones to first read about the Great Pumpkin on Wednesday, October 21, 1959, when both The St. Albans Daily Messenger and the Burlington Daily News prematurely published this Peanuts strip.

This was actually the fourth Great Pumpkin strip in the story arc. While the rest of the country wouldn't officially read it until October 29, Vermont readers were visited by the Great Pumpkin early on October 21. For proof, here are the full funny pages for each newspaper.

Isn't that amazing! The next day on the 22nd, they ran the true first Great Pumpkin strip that was supposed to go out on the October 26.

Like a Ripley's Believe It or Not, now you can tell your friends that the Great Pumpkin actually made its debut five days early during the Halloween season of 1959.