Celebrated annually on January 23rd, National Pie Day is an unofficial holiday to celebrate that baked dish made out of pastry dough and filled with a tasty and usually sweet filling (although the filling can be savory as well) – otherwise known as the pie. This day has been celebrated since the 1970s. Today, it’s a great day to have a slice of pie or share one with your beloved.

History of the Pie

Pie can trace its roots all the way back to the Greeks. The Greeks created what is believed to be the first pastry shell by mixing together water and flour. They would then fill these pastries with a variety of different things – everything from honey to fruits to meats. The Romans adopted these pies and began to improvise with them by filling them with a variety of fruits and nuts, meats, fish, and even mussels.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Ancient Greek and Roman dishes evolved into a more modern version of a pie. These dishes were called “pyes,” and they were usually filled with meats. These meats could be beef or lamb, wild duck, or even pigeons and vegetables. The whole dish was then spiced liberally and baked in an oven. Encasing the meat and vegetables in a pie kept them from drying out during the cooking process. It also made it easier to transport and preserve the dish.

Of course, while the pies of the Middle Ages were closer to modern pies than what the Greeks and Romans offered, they would still probably be unrecognizable to most Americans or Europeans today. That’s because these early pies were covered in a ton of dough. This kept the food inside from drying out and preserved the food once it was done, but it made the pie crust just about inedible. No one would eat the dough of the pie; it was pretty hard, so they just ate the fillings. Another interesting thing about these early pies is that sometimes the crust would be reused for another dish. Yes, that’s right, Medieval crusts were that tough.

During the 17th century, the pilgrims made quite a few pies – namely pumpkin and pecan. Like their Medieval forebears, they did so to preserve their food. As the colonists began to spread across the American continent, they took the idea of pie with them. This led to many new pies being created as the colonists used the natural resources around them. From about the 18th to the 21st centuries, there would be an explosion in the number of pies made in the United States and around the world.

Today, there are dozens of pies available to the consumer. However, in the United States, there are a few pies that really stand out as being the most liked among Americans. These top ten pies include: 1) Apple, 2) Pumpkin, 3) Chocolate Cream, 4) Cherry, 5) Apple Crumb, 6) Pecan, 7) Lemon Meringue, 8) Blueberry, 9) Key Lime Pie, and 10) Peach. Sweet Potato Pie is also a popular pie in the U.S. as well.

History of National Pie Day

National Pie Day was born in 1975 in Boulder, Colorado, thanks to a school teacher named Charlie Papazian. On January 23, his birthday, he declared that this day would be forever remembered as National Pie Day. Why did he do that, you ask? Well, for one good reason: Charlie really loved pie. In fact, he loved it so much he would have a “birthday pie” instead of a birthday cake. Since then, his idea for a National Pie Day has spread all over the United States.

Delicious Pie Facts

• Pumpkin Pie wasn’t served at the pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving in 1621.
• Originally, fruit pies were a breakfast food in the United States.
• 20% of Americans have admitted to eating a whole pie by themselves.
• 186 million pies are sold just in supermarkets and grocery stores each year.
• In Kansas, it used to be illegal to serve ice cream on cherry pie.
• “American Pie” was the name of the plane Buddy Holly died on.
• Key Lime Pie is the official pie of Florida.
• Peach Custard Pie is the official pie of Delaware.
• Pumpkin Pie is the official pie of Illinois.
• Sugar Cream Pie is the official pie of Indiana.

Celebrating National Pie Day

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate National Pie Day, then you’re in luck because there are about a hundred different ways to celebrate this holiday. You can eat pie for breakfast, make your own pie, have a pie party or pie-throwing competition, or even watch movies such as “American Pie,” “Labor Day,” or “The Help.”

Conclusion

National Pie Day is a great day to renew your love for pie and bring it into your life – even if it’s only for a day. After all, pie is considered to be one of the great comfort foods of the world, so go ahead and enjoy a slice of your favorite pie on this unofficial holiday.