Pumpkin *parkla*

This low-tech jalg/ratta/hoidja (bicycle rack) in central Saaremaa, fashioned out of a palk (log) can accomodate rattad (bikes, literally "wheels"; jalg/ratas = "leg wheel"), as well as large aed/viljad ("garden crop/fruit", i.e. fruits and vegetables) awaiting transport. Perhaps the smaller one of these two kõrvitsad (pumpkins) could fit in your ratta/korv (bike basket). And then, when you get home, the traditional place to store them is high up on top of a shelf, cupboard or wardrobe, believe it or not. The sparkling, sweet, orange cubes of marineeritud kõrvitsa/salat have been a classic Estonian Christmas salad for generations.

Kõrvitsalised are the gourd family (Latin Cucurbita), and squash, pumpkins (which are officially winter squash), zucchini (a summer squash), and gourds are all known as some kind of kõrvits in Estonian. Butternut squash = muskaat/kõrvits, spaghetti squash = spageti/kõrvits, calabash or bottle gourd = pudel/kõrvits, pattypan squash / patisson = taldrik/kõrvits and zucchini (courgette in the UK) = suvi/kõrvits, but also kabatšokk (from the Russian), rull/kõrvits, melon/kõrvits and puhmik-õli/kõrvits or "tussock oil squash"! Suvi/kõrvits ("summer squash") has become the most widely used Estonian name for zucchini, even though officially patisson and spaghetti squash are also members of the summer squash family... All other ornamental gourds are collectively known as ilu/kõrvitsad – more looks than taste.