Few pies made nowadays can offer a person the perfect blend of taste and nostalgia that peach pies can. There is just something so wholesome, delicious, and appealing to the modern palate in a nice piece of peach pie—preferably one that’s served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And the only pie that seems more American than a peach pie is perhaps an apple pie. Peach pies are so loved that they’ve even earned their own holiday. This holiday is called National Peach Pie Day and is observed on August 24th.

The History of the Peach Pie

Okay, we have to admit that we were unable to locate the history of National Peach Pie Day. We just couldn’t uncover who invented it or when it was invented. However, we were able to find out the history of the peach pie, and we’re going to share that information with everyone reading this today.

In order to uncover the history of the peach pie, we first have to trace the origins of the pie. Pies are a dessert that goes back roughly 8,000 years ago. This was around the time that humans began to domesticate plants and animals and used stone tools for grinding grains. Pies made during this time are known as galettes now, and they were basically crusty cakes with a basic filling. They were typically made with rye, wheat, or barley, and then filled with honey. To bake them, people simply placed them on hot coals.

Around 1,300 B.C. in Ancient Egypt, pies were made with simple bread dough and filled with honey, fruits, and nuts. These pies were also made by the Greeks. The Greeks formed a flour-water paste around some form of meat and then cooked it to seal in the meat’s juices. Not exactly like a modern pie, but a lot closer to our modern perception of pies than those made during the Neolithic Period.

These types of pies continued through the Middle Ages. Bakers would make pies using various ingredients, and the crust of the pie was basically only used for cooking. When the pie was eaten, the crust would be thrown away, which is probably a good thing considering how hard they would’ve been.

The first printed recipe for a peach pie was published during the mid-19th century. Although this was the first time the recipe was printed, peach pies were likely made for years before the mid-1800s. During the American Civil War, peach pies became extremely popular and they’ve maintained their popularity ever since.

Observing National Peach Pie Day

If you’ve always wanted to celebrate a sweet holiday, then a good one to start with is National Peach Pie Day. This holiday is perfect for you to purchase or make your favorite peach pie and to share the pie with friends, neighbors, and family. There are many different variations on the peach pie recipe, so you have plenty to choose from. While you’re observing this holiday, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalPeachPieDay to spread the word about it.