National Pie Day

Another suggestion for the blog was to write about strange and unique national days that are celebrated in the English speaking world. To start us off, today is National Pie Day in the States. This is a day that is set aside to bake lots of pies and try out new pie recipes. It is also a day to give pies to friends, family and neighbours and spread the good pie cheer. National Pie Day was founded by the American Pie Council in 1986. To find out more about the tradition and the origins of pie you can check out their website.

While on the topic of pie, let's look at some expressions that contain the word:

Sometimes people say things that later on they are forced to admit were wrong. This is especially the case when somebody has been boasting about something that in the end turned out to be untrue. When we have to admit that we are wrong, we can say that we have been forced to eat humble pie.

After boasting that his company could outperform the industry's best, he's been forced to eat humble pie.

Another expression with pie is used when we talk, often disapprovingly, about somebody who has a lot of influence over many different activities. We say that they have a finger in every pie.

Ask John, he's bound to know, he's got a finger in every pie!

Finally, if we say that something is just pie in the sky it means that we hope it will happen but of course it is very unlikely that it will!

Their plans to set up their own business are just pie in the sky.