National Pie Day is celebrated on January 23 every year. Though pie exists in some form across the world, the United States has an inextricable relationship with the flaky dessert. From Don McLean’s epic song “American Pie” to expressions like “as American as apple pie,” the United States embraces the pie — especially the apple pie — as a symbol of national pride. Most people view National Pie Day as a chance to indulge in different types of pie. This has been made even easier during National Pie Day as many stores and bakeries have started to celebrate it, offering discounts or even free pies as part of the celebration.
History of National Pie Day
Pie is one of the oldest prepared foods which shows up in written recipes dating back as far as the ancient Romans. The earliest known pie recipe includes a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie.
The Romans prepared pies using a variety of meats, seafood, and fruit and developed a dense pie called placenta, similar to cheesecake. At lavish Roman feasts, pie played a role in several courses such as incorporating variety and richness into the meals.
Until recently, pie crust was mainly used as a vehicle for filling. Unlike many of today’s luscious, buttery crusts we enjoy today, early pie crusts were often not consumed at all. The crust is used as a container to keep the meat moist and protect it from burning during cooking.
In the 12th century, pies first appeared in England, still mostly filled with meat. The dubious origin of some pie fillings led to jokes and horror stories, inspiring tales like penny dreadful that would become “Sweeney Todd.”
Moreover, Puritans and other English sellers took pie with them when they fled for the New World.
No American Thanksgiving table is complete without sweet pumpkin and pecan pies. But the sweet pies didn’t appear at the so-called “First Thanksgiving”. The pumpkin pie didn’t become popular until the 1800s. Today, sweet pies outsell savoury pies whereas pumpkin pie remains a beloved staple of the Thanksgiving meal.
Not to be mistaken with National Pi Day, National Pie Day is all about celebrating the beloved American dessert and has nothing to do with math. Created in the 1970s by Charlie Papazian (who conveniently placed the day on his birthday), National Pie Day invites all to take a break with America’s favourite dessert.
Also read, National Coffee Break Day – January 20, 2025
Timeline of National Pie
| Neolithic period (12,000-6,500 years ago) (Bake Like an Egyptian) | Evidence of flat, round flour cakes containing honey has been found in the tomb of Pharaoh Ramesses II. |
| 1675 (First Pumpkin Pie) | Pumpkin pie makes its first appearance in a cookbook. |
| 1968 (McDonald’s Apple Pie Is Born) | A franchisee in Knoxville, Tennessee introduces the chain’s beloved fried apple pie. |
| 1972 (“American Pie” Hits #1) | Don McLean’s epic homage to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and, more broadly, to the 1960s, stays at #1 on U.S. pop charts for 4 weeks. |
Five Interesting Facts About Pie
- American Pie remains mostly unexplained: While it’s well known that “the day the music died” refers to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and others, Don McLean has remained famously mum about the meaning of the song’s other enigmatic lyrics.
- Pie might taste best at the Bradys: In a 2008 survey, 40% of people agreed that Carol Brady, of all TV moms, would bake the best pie.
- The Romans were the first to invent the pie: Romans not only developed roads and drainage systems, and invented cement and the modern-day calendar, but they also were the first to figure out that pastry stuffed with a delicious meaty filling was pretty tasty. Yes, the very first example of the meat pie as we know it today can be traced back to Roman times.
- The pie crust was first used as Tupperware: The lid of the pie had a more practical purpose before the perfect buttery, flaky pastry was lovingly created. The pastry was so hard itself that it was impossible to eat. Instead, it served as a tub to seal in the food and keep it fresher for longer and was known as the ‘coffyn of paste’. People would remove and throw away the pastry lid, then use the pie as a container from which they could eat whatever was inside. Today, we know that a perfectly baked, melt-in-your-mouth pie crust can be the best part!
- Getting Pied dates back to the silent film: The film named The Battle of the Century featured a pie fight that used around 4,000 pies.
Frequently Ask Question
When is National Pie Day celebrated?
National Pie Day is celebrated every year on January 23.
What types of pies can be enjoyed on National Pie Day?
All types of pies can be enjoyed, including traditional fruit pies, savory pies, and cream pies.
What activities are popular on National Pie Day?
Common activities include eating pie, baking new pie recipes, and participating in pie bake-offs or contests.
How did pie originate historically?
Pies have ancient origins, with the earliest evidence dating back to around 6000 BC, and they were initially made with various meats and fruits.
You may also like to read, National Cheese Lover’s Day – January 20, 2025
