Mutilating a vegetable for 'fun'? [he cups his chin in his hand nonetheless, looking thoughtful] Well, there is no harm in such a tradition, but it sounds terribly silly. If you wish to subject any of my pumpkins to such treatment, I shall not object—I only ask that you eat them afterwards, so as not to let them go to waste.
And of course vegetables are good to eat once they've gone a bit soft! The flavor is much stronger, and they become easier to chew.