Cherry Pie is the second most popular pie in America, behind apple pie. Today is Cherry Pie Day, according to HolidayInsights.com. As a young boy, George Washington made the Cherry tree popular, with his famous quote “I can not tell a lie, I chopped down the Cherry tree.” We celebrate George Washington’s Birthday and President’s Day in February. Appropriately, it’s traditional to bake cherry pies in honor of the occasion.
Pies originated from the ancient Egyptians who made the first pastry-like crusts. However, the first pies were made by the early Romans, who probably learned about it from the Greeks. Traditionally, cherry pie is made with tart rather than sweet cherries, as it is easier to control how sweet the pie eventually becomes. Morello cherries are one of the most common kinds of cherry used, but others, like the native black cherry, are also used.
Cherry pie is generally eaten in North America, and before the invention of refrigeration it was most commonly eaten in midsummer with the harvest of cherries around Independence Day. Cherry Pie Day should be celebrated with cherry pie, and we hope you’ll have a slice!
Hunter-McMain 