Of all the cream pies enjoyed nowadays, the banana cream pie is probably the most popular. And we’re not sure why. Maybe it’s because of its mild banana flavor, or because it’s a pie that brings up feelings of nostalgia. Regardless of the reasons for its popularity, one thing is for certain: people aren’t going to stop enjoying this pie anytime soon. A fact that we think is proven by the fact that National Banana Cream Pie Day is celebrated annually on March 2nd.

The History of the Banana Cream Pie

As is the case with most food-themed holidays, the origins of National Banana Cream Pie Day are lost to history, unfortunately. However, the history of banana cream pie is not lost, so we decided to focus on the unique history of this tasty dessert instead of investing any more time trying to unravel the origins of the holiday.

Okay, we have to admit that the origins of banana cream pie aren’t exactly precise. Cream pies, made using custards and puddings, have been around since the Middle Ages, but since there was no access in Europe to sweet yellow bananas, there is no chance that these pies were created during this time—although their basic construction does rest on a base created by Medieval chefs.

Most food historians would probably agree that banana cream pies were invented sometime during the 19th century. This is when bananas became widely available in Europe and the U.S. They officially didn’t appear in cookbooks until the early 20th century, however.

Facts About Bananas & Banana Cream Pies

Now that we know approximately where banana cream pies came from, it’s time to turn our attention to giving everyone some fun facts about bananas and banana cream pies. As we said earlier, the banana cream pie is a fascinating dessert that deserves a little bit of extra attention.

• Banana cream pies were the #1 loved dessert for American soldiers during the 1950s.
• The typical banana cream pie will stay good for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
• The old scientific name for the banana was Musa sapientum.
• A banana is botanically a berry.
• Bananas are less dense than water, so they will float.
• More than 100 billion bananas are eaten every year.
• More than 96% of American households purchase bananas every month.
• Alexander the Great brought bananas to Europe, but they weren’t the sweet yellow bananas of today.
• A single banana is called a finger; a bunch of bananas is called a hand.

Observing National Banana Cream Pie Day

If you want to enjoy this holiday, you can simply buy or make a banana cream pie. And while you’re enjoying this pie with friends and family, why not take a quick photo of it and post it to social media using the hashtag #NationalBananaCreamPieDay.