Thanksgiving and Pies

Turkey, stuffing, rolls, potatoes; they’re all delicious dishes that we enjoy with loved ones on Thanksgiving. But what it all leads up to is pie: pumpkin, apple, pecan. No matter what type you crave, pie is the real star of Thanksgiving. But when did pie make its way into this American holiday centered around family, friends, and gratitude?

Thanksgiving began in the 17th century as a celebration of harvest including the Plymouth colonists and Wampanog Native Americans. The holiday wasn’t always full of joy, including terrible oppression of the native people.. But over time it has evolved into a time of gathering and love. The original Thanksgivings often included savory meat pies and a few fruit filled pies. But, the 19th century was when pie really became a Thanksgiving staple. During the process of considering Thanksgiving as an American holiday, Sarah Josepha Hale wrote a novel advocating for this cause. Possibly the most popular chapter was her recipe for pumpkin pie. This inspired gatherings to include this Thanksgiving staple. With time, many more pies were introduced into the tradition of Thanksgiving meals. Now they are the centerpiece of many Thanksgiving, some families having almost 10 pies at gatherings. Others are beginning to throw fall parties centered around pie, so popular they need their own night. Clearly, pie has evolved to a central dish during the fall time of gratitude and gathering.

We took a sample of Moorpark High School students and asked them their favorite type of pie. The original classic pumpkin pie has dropped in popularity since the tradition was founded. Currently, 19% of students claimed to have a favorite pumpkin pie. The most popular pie with students was apple pie, taking votes of nearly 30% of students. Other variations of pie including pecan, banana cream, chocolate, oreo, berry, and cherry pies are all enjoyed, but each favorited by less than 10% of the student population. A favorable number of students, around 15%, stated that they didn’t like pie at all. The vast range of pie varieties spread the data out, making no clear winner. There are so many new pie ideas emerging, such as s'mores, key lime, and chocolate chips, just to name a few. With so many options, how can you choose? So what delectable pies will you be enjoying for your Thanksgiving gatherings?