Arguably, the apple pie is America’s favorite pie. In fact, it’s so beloved in the United States that it has even become a national symbol. That’s probably why a whole day is dedicated to celebrating this humble dessert. A holiday called National Apple Pie Day is celebrated on the 13th of May every year. It’s a great day for anyone who loves this pie to cut themselves a slice and enjoy it by themselves or with friends and family.

The History Of The Apple Pie

Although we couldn’t find the origins of National Apple Pie Day, we do know the history of the apple pie quite well. It’s a history that might make some people sad because even though the apple pie is a national symbol, it’s anything but American. Not only was the pie invented somewhere else, but the apples aren’t native to North America either.

Apples were originally brought to North America by European colonists at Jamestown. These settlers brought not only apple seeds but also apple tree cuttings, and they made a point of planting them. The only native apple available in North America was the crab apple—a small, sour apple that many of the settlers believed to be of poor quality when compared to the European apple Malus domestica.

After the United States was founded as a country, the planting of apples increased dramatically. This increase in planting was due to a law that allowed people to claim land by simply planting on it. And if a person owned land but didn’t improve it, then they could end up losing it. That’s why so many colonists decided to plant apple trees.

Since apple trees cross-pollinate quite easily, farmers could easily produce new apple varieties, and many of them did. During the course of the 19th century, some 14,000+ apple varieties had been created in the country.

As far as pie goes, that baked good goes all the way back to the Greeks. They would make a rudimentary crust using flour and water, and then fill it with cheeses, herbs, honey, and other items. The Romans expanded on the idea and created a variety of meat pies loaded with lambs, goats, or even various forms of seafood.

Throughout the Middle Ages, people continued to create and make pies. According to popular historical references, it’s believed that the first apple pie recipe was written in 1381. This is when Geoffrey Chaucer created a recipe that included apples, figs, pears, and raisins cooked in a sugar-free pastry shell. And it’s from these humble origins that the apple pie was born.

Observing National Apple Pie Day

If a person wants to celebrate this holiday, then all they have to do is to buy or make their own apple pie. It’s also a good day to throw an apple pie party or serve apple pie for dessert. And as if that isn’t enough, a person can also use the hashtag #NationalApplePieDay on their social media accounts.