The Teletubbies: The Magic Pumpkin VHS is a popular children's video that was released in the late 1990s. The Teletubbies is a British television series that features four colorful characters, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, who live in a futuristic landscape called Teletubbyland. The show is known for its vibrant visuals, playful characters, and educational content for young viewers. The Magic Pumpkin VHS is one of the many episodes of the Teletubbies series. It follows the adventures of the Teletubbies as they discover a magic pumpkin in Teletubbyland. The pumpkin has the ability to grant wishes, leading to a series of fun and exciting situations for the characters.
It was during the exceedingly hot summer of 1692 when Puritan judges in Salem, an English settlement in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, condemned twenty people of witchcraft and publicly executed them. Now, 330 years later, visitors to this seaside city will find a simple, peaceful memorial next to an aged colonial graveyard and hear, in the near distance, the occasional sound of church bells. Entering a rectangular space bordered by rough stone walls and shaded by towering locust trees, one crosses a wide threshold inscribed with the words of the victims, their protestations of innocence and pleas to God clipped by the memorial walls, symbolizing the community’s indifference to their plight. Twenty granite benches jut from the walls, each bearing the name of a person unjustly accused and killed. Erected in 1992, this was Salem’s first public monument to those tragic events. As we mark the memorial’s thirtieth anniversary, it is perhaps more important than ever to remember the lessons of these injustices. Salem’s witch trials were the largest and deadliest in North American history. Over the course of a year and a half, nineteen people were hanged and one man was brutally tortured to death. Though popularly referred to as “the Salem witch trials,” accusations had spread throughout Essex County and beyond. In total, between 150 and 200 people were imprisoned, ranging in age from four to eighty-one years old. At least five died in jail, including the infant daughter of convicted Sarah Good.
At the rear of the Memorial, visitors view the tombstones of the adjacent 17th century Charter Street Burying Point, a reminder of all who stood in mute witness to the tragedy. At the rear of the Memorial, visitors view the tombstones of the adjacent 17th century Charter Street Burying Point, a reminder of all who stood in mute witness to the tragedy.
The pumpkin has the ability to grant wishes, leading to a series of fun and exciting situations for the characters. The Teletubbies use their imaginations and creativity to make the most of their wishes, resulting in entertaining and educational storylines. The video features a mix of live-action footage and puppetry, with the Teletubbies interacting with their environment and engaging in activities that promote early childhood development.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
A trip to Salem, Massachusetts without a visit to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial would be sadly incomplete. It is a Must See Gem & a Top 5 Salem Witch Trials Sites , located conveniently downtown. The Memorial consists of 2 parallel, low, stone walls, lined with benches engraved with the names of the 20 victims executed during the 1692 Witch Trials Executions. Along with the names are their execution/ death dates & form of execution- 19 were hanged & 1 was “pressed”, slowly crushed to death by stones. Spread out, each bench bearing a separate name makes you realize how many 20 people really are. It does not include the 5 names of those who died in jail, 4 awaiting trial or execution and a newborn baby, born in jail to a mother (along with a 4 year old sister) accused as ‘witches’. Background info on each of the 25 who paid with their lives is discussed in my Salem Witch Trial Victims post . The Salem Witch Trials Memorial was built & dedicated in August 1992, the 300th Anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials & Executions. A peaceful little nook in a park-like setting, it maintains a quiet, somber presence despite being carved into the heart of downtown. Between the parallel, bench-lined walls standing tall guard are Black Locust trees. Calmly watching over, they are the very type of trees it is believed that the accused were hanged from.
The entrance stones of the walkway are inscribed with the pleas of the accused: ‘Oh Lord! Help Me! God knows I am Innocent! Wholly Innocent of such Wickedness!’ – ‘I would confess, I would save my life… I do not plead guilty.’ – ‘I can deny it to my dying day.’… It would be easy to miss, driving by, or even walking, if you didn’t pay attention. It is quiet, understated & simple. Not touristy, not showy, just reverent remembrance of the innocents & their sacrifice. Reading the quotes, & their names, and the jarring end, “Hanged” is an emotional experience. You can feel the fear and desperation in their pleas. You can’t help but feel a growing, helpless panic as you read them. Knowing their fate. You feel a desperate hunger for the opportunity to go back and instill modern logic & reason, and bring the judges, the accusers, the witnesses to their senses. Sick in your gut for their terror & their pain & the tragedy, but also because you imagine with a shiver had it been you. Their pain is no more, cut short 300 years ago, but we feel its stain, still today. Mourning these souls that I never knew makes me ever grateful for my minor difficulties in this world today. I am blessed. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is Free & always open. It’s between Charter & Derby Streets, behind the Peabody Essex Museum.
Since the only known remains & exact location of an executed Salem Witch Trial victim is at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, nearby, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial serves as a grave marker for mourners to show their respects for all the executed. The remains of the others have been lost to history, taken away in the night by loved ones and buried in secret, except Giles Corey. His body is buried where he was tortured to death, somewhere among what is now the Howard Street Cemetery visited with this site in my Salem Witch Trial Sites- Itinerary Part C . The actual site of the hangings has been rediscovered in recent years. It has a small memorial and is also visited in my Salem in a Day Part C Itinerary . Nearby Danvers (Salem Village & start of the 1692 Witch Hysteria) has an equally moving & beautiful Memorial to the Witch Trial Victims that I discuss in my post Salem Part A.
One of the Salem Witch Trial Memorial walls lines the Old Burying Point Cemetery , c 1637, aka Charter St. Cemetery. Just yards away from the Memorial to those executed, at least 2 of the 1692 Witchcraft ‘Judges’, John Hathorne & Bartholomew Gedney now lie. Others who were accused (& not executed), as well as family members of the victims, & some who even testified against them rest here, too.
The Cemetery also includes a Mayflower passenger, the only one anywhere that you can visit with the original gravestone at the site where they were buried. Captain Richard More was laid to rest here in the late 1600s. Richard had a very interesting tale of his own. He was not a Pilgrim, himself (which was a religious distinction, though “pilgrim” & wrong year of death was added centuries later to his headstone). Though, he was shipped over with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower at 6 years old. Without their parents, he made the journey along with 3 little siblings, ages 4- 8. All of the siblings died that 1st winter. He would have been at the 1st Thanksgiving & he grew up in Plymouth colony, before moving in his adulthood to Salem. He survived the 1692 witch trials & was buried there a few years after. He may have been the oldest surviving male and only missed being the very last living Mayflower passenger by just a few years.
It is the 2nd oldest cemetery in the U.S. The oldest is in Duxbury, also in Massachusetts, & is the 8th oldest maintained cemetery in the world. The Cemetery is small, Free, and open Dawn to Dusk, year round.
- See our Plymouth, Mass Itinerary & Posts to Explore the Mayflower Pilgrims, the 1st Thanksgiving & Plimoth colony:
But for much of history, the site sat quietly obscured by woods and buildings. A leather tannery and railroad operated nearby, and in recent years, houses surrounded it. And for O’Connor, Benedict and much of Salem, that history has faded despite the town’s outsized reputation.
The show incorporates elements of storytelling, music, and physical play, which are all designed to stimulate children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. The Magic Pumpkin VHS is beloved by children and parents alike for its gentle and positive approach to learning. The Teletubbies are known for their warm and nurturing personalities, which help create a comforting and safe viewing experience for young children. Overall, the Teletubbies: The Magic Pumpkin VHS is a delightful video that combines entertainment and education for young viewers. It continues to capture the imaginations of children worldwide, offering a magical and engaging adventure in the world of Teletubbyland..
Reviews for "The Legacy of Teletubbies' Magic Pumpkin VHS: Celebrating 20 Years of Magic"
1. Rosemary - 1/5 stars - I found "Teletubbies the Magic Pumpkin VHS" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The plot was practically non-existent and the characters lacked any depth or development. The whole premise of the Teletubbies finding a magic pumpkin seemed rather forced and unimaginative. Additionally, the repetitive nature of the show became tiresome after a while. Overall, I was thoroughly disappointed with this VHS and would not recommend it to anyone seeking engaging children's entertainment.
2. James - 2/5 stars - While "Teletubbies the Magic Pumpkin VHS" had its moments of cuteness, I found it to be quite repetitive and lacking substance. The Teletubbies' interactions with the pumpkin were minimal and the storyline was not engaging enough to capture my child's attention for long. Furthermore, the lack of dialogue made it challenging for my child to connect with the characters and fully understand what was happening. Overall, I believe there are better children's shows available that offer more educational value and entertainment.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Teletubbies the Magic Pumpkin VHS" left me feeling unimpressed and bored. The simplistic animation and lack of engaging storytelling made it difficult for me to enjoy this VHS. It felt like a random assortment of scenes with no clear plot or purpose. I also found the repetitive nature of the Teletubbies' actions to be mind-numbing. While I understand that this show is geared towards very young children, I believe there are other children's shows out there that offer more creativity and educational value.
4. Jake - 1/5 stars - "Teletubbies the Magic Pumpkin VHS" was a disappointment from start to finish. The lack of any coherent storyline, coupled with the repetitive nature of the Teletubbies' actions, made this VHS incredibly boring. The visuals were dull and uninteresting, and the characters lacked the charm and charisma that one would expect from a children's show. I couldn't help but feel that this was a lazy attempt at cashing in on the popularity of the Teletubbies. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time or money on this lackluster VHS.