February 20 Is National Cherry Pie Day

When I saw that February 20th was National Cherry Pie Day here is the United States, I had to write about it. Not because Cherry Pie is my favorite. I like it but I do have to admit that I swoon for blueberry or raspberry pie. But, I was spurred on to write about the holiday because I grew up in (and still live outside of) Traverse City, Michigan, the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World. A place where, each July, the National Cherry Festival is celebrated for one full week.

I'm not sure why February has become the month we in the U. S. celebrate the Cherry Pie. None of the popular cherry-growing states are producing crop this time of year. Even the cherry blossoms are quite a ways away from blooming. Not that cherry blossom pie would make much of a dessert.

In my research, I found some speculation that National Cherry Pie Day was selected for February so it could go hand-in-hand with President's Day and the whole George Washington "I cannot tell a lie"--cherry tree thing. That would, indeed, make the holiday helpful for teachers.

And the cynic in me says that perhaps some cherry processing, producing or product organization decided that February was a good time to move warehouse stock.

Then there's the theory that celebrating all things red should occur on the month of the Valentine.

I just don't know but I'll let you in on any research I do that shines some light on National Cherry Pie Day.

Onward!

Photo credit to jcroninone