National Pie Day

Happy National Pie Day!

Not to be confused with Pi Day, National Pie Day is about celebrating the fluffy flaky treat known as the pie. This day was created in the 1970s by Armenian-American author and brewer Charles N. Papazian. He chose this day as it is his birthday. Happy Birthday, Chuck!

This day has also been sponsored by the American Pie Council since 1986. So, what's the deal with pies, huh? Well, pies can be pretty versatile. You can fill them with fruit, custard, nuts, meat, veggies...you can make a pie out of just about anything.

The first known usage of the word "pie" appeared in 1303, on expense account records from an English church known as the Bolton Priory. The origins of the word "pie" aren't really known, but one possibility is from the species of bird known as the magpie. This is because medieval pies could have all sorts of animal meats in them and magpies are known for collecting odds and ends in their nests. 

Pies have a much longer history than that, dating all the way back to antiquity. Evidence of early pies called galettes could be found on the walls of the tomb of the Egyptian king Ramesses II. A tablet from Sumer was shown to have a recipe for chicken pie in it.

Another ancestor of the modern pie was the placenta cake, which more resembled a modern cheesecake. The Romans also made pastries of goat's cheese and honey. In the 15th century, pies with fruit and custard began appearing more. Pumpkin pie would grow popular in 18th century England, and from there, would also become a favorite of American colonists. In America, apple pies became popular thanks to apples being easy to dry and store over the winter. Apple pies would end up becoming a dish associated with the United States. "As American as apple pie!"

Different regions of the US would have favorite pies, like the Northern states favoring maple syrup, the South loving sweet potato pie, and cheese and cream pies being the apple of the eye of the Midwest.

Pies in the United States would decrease in popularity due to health concerns and the migration of women into the workforce. But they would rebound in the 1950s thanks to the creation of things like frozen ready-made crusts, Cool Whip topping, Jello, and instant pudding mixes making pies less labor-intensive. 

So, yeah. The pie has a long and fascinating history. Enjoy some today! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! See you next time!