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Pi Day has been recognized as a national holiday since 2009 as a time to honor pie and mathematics! March 14 is Pi Day, celebrating the mathematical constant pi (π). Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, with an approximate value of 3.14. That makes March 14 - or 3.14 - the perfect day for Pi (and Pie) Day!
In 250 B.C.E., Greek Mathematician Archimedes created the first algorithm that calculated the first few decimals in Pi. He drew hexagons inside and outside of a circle. Then he doubled the number until reaching a 96-sided polygon. Now that we’ve had a brief math and history lesson, here’s a look at some of the coolest ways Pi Day has been celebrated over the years.
Pie in the Sky
Pi Day is celebrated across the world, and outside of it! In 2023, astronauts on the International Space Station celebrated Pi Day with a small pie brought aboard by NASA’s Stephen Bowen. For more than a decade, NASA’s Education Office at the Jet Propulsion laboratory has marked Pi Day with a set of delicious challenges for math lovers that can be enjoyed wherever you are in our galaxy.
Pie Fight!
The Children’s Museum of Houston hosts a Pi(e) Fight on March 14 each year. The annual event features shaving cream pies that participants hurl at each other in the street in front of the museum. Lasting only 15 minutes, this messy event is a favorite among museum goers!
Pies for Everyone
At Mehaffies, we love the idea of everyone getting a piece of the pie on Pi Day! We’ve seen a number of local businesses taking the same approach.
Silfex, the world’s largest custom silicon components growing and manufacturing facility located in Eaton and Springfield, Ohio, regularly celebrates Pi Day by ordering hundreds of mini pies from Mehaffies for their team members!
Silfex communication manager Kate Seegraves spoke with WDTN News about Silfex’s Pi Day celebrations in 2022.
“Everyone gets their own individual fruit pie,” said Seegraves. “With engineers on staff, lots of mathematically-inclined people, Pi Day is just kind of a fun and quirky way to acknowledge some of the work we do at Silfex.”
Run for Pie
It’s no surprise that Pi Day inspires 5k race themes, as a traditional 5k course is 3.1 miles, and a Pi-k length course would be 3.14 miles. A Pi Day 5k race in Lewis Center, Ohio raises funds for math and science education programs, and at Georgia Tech’s Pi Day 5k which ends at a finish line with what else but pie. Both the sweet and savory pizza pie variety.
If these major celebrations aren’t your piece of pie, check out these low-key suggestions from Pi Day organizers. Or just stop by Mehaffies bakery for a slice!
