National Cherry Pie Day

National Cherry Pie Day, observed February 20th, celebrates the classic American dessert of a pastry crust filled with sweet-tart cherries. Cherry pie holds a particularly notable place in American cultural mythology thanks to its association with George Washington, via the famous but almost certainly fabricated story of young George chopping down his father's cherry tree and then confessing, unable to tell a lie. That anecdote was popularized by biographer Mason Locke "Parson" Weems in a hagiographic 1806 biography of Washington, and historians widely regard it as an invented moral fable rather than a documented historical event, though it cemented a lasting cultural link between Washington and cherries. Cherry pie itself, independent of the legend, has genuine deep roots in American colonial baking, using tart cherry varieties like Montmorency, which are typically too sour to eat fresh but become excellent for baking once sweetened. Cherry pie has become especially associated with celebrations around Washington's birthday and Presidents Day, which fall in the same February window, making National Cherry Pie Day's placement on the calendar a fitting complement. On National Cherry Pie Day, people celebrate by baking or buying a cherry pie, often using tart cherries and a lattice-top crust.