Pi Day March 14 - Why It's Celebrated and What's the Best Type of Pie?

By Cassandra Marks — top-rated Vancouver, WA real estate agent, proud Pacific Northwest transplant, chicken mom, farmer, and person who takes pie very seriously. 5.0 ⭐ · 50+ Reviews · 110+ Homes Sold · $60.1M in Sales.

Every year on March 14th, something magical happens. Math nerds and pie lovers unite for one glorious day — and honestly, it might be the most relatable holiday of the entire year. Whether you are deeply invested in the mathematical significance of π or you just needed an excuse to eat pie on a Tuesday, Pi Day on March 14 delivers.

But here's the thing: the pie debate is just as heated as any real estate negotiation I've ever been in. Apple vs. pumpkin. Sweet vs. savory. Classic vs. Pacific Northwest specialty. People have opinions. Strong ones. And I am one of those people.

So today we're doing two things: answering the questions everyone's actually Googling — why is Pi Day on March 14, what does Pi Day mean, and what are Pi Day numbers — and then we're settling the real argument: what is the best type of pie?

🔢 What Is Pi Day?

Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi), observed every year on March 14th. Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter — a number that starts with 3.14159 and continues infinitely without ever repeating. It's one of the most fascinating numbers in all of mathematics, used in everything from engineering and physics to architecture and GPS technology.

Pi Day was first officially celebrated in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium, founded by physicist Larry Shaw. It went mainstream in 2009 when the U.S. House of Representatives officially recognized March 14th as National Pi Day. And then the internet did what the internet does — and now everyone has a reason to eat pie on March 14th. Which, frankly, is the correct outcome.

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 — which is either the most Pi Day thing imaginable or the universe having a very good sense of humor. Stephen Hawking also passed away on Pi Day, March 14, 2018. The universe is clearly a fan of the date.

📅 Why Is Pi Day on March 14th? Why Is March 14 Called Pi Day?

The reason Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th is elegantly simple: in American date format, March 14th is written as 3/14 — which matches the first three digits of pi: 3.14.

Take it a step further: at 1:59 PM on March 14th, you have 3/14 1:59 — which corresponds to the first six significant digits of pi: 3.14159. True Pi Day enthusiasts observe this moment with appropriate reverence. And pie. Obviously pie.

So why is Pi Day on March 14? Simply because 3/14 = 3.14 = the beginning of pi. It's clean, it's clever, and it gave the world an excuse to eat pie in the middle of March. We should all be grateful.

🔢 What Do Pi Day Numbers Mean?

Pi (π) is the mathematical constant representing the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter. No matter how big or small the circle — a dinner plate, the Earth, a proton — if you divide its circumference by its diameter, you always get pi. Always 3.14159…

Here's why that's remarkable and why mathematicians genuinely get emotional about it:

• Pi is irrational — it cannot be written as a simple fraction. It just keeps going.
• Pi is transcendental — it's not the solution to any polynomial equation with integer coefficients. It exists outside normal algebraic number systems.
• Pi shows up everywhere — in the formula for the area of a circle (πr²), the volume of a sphere, wave equations, probability theory, and even in the way rivers meander. Nature is obsessed with pi.
• Pi has been known for 4,000 years — ancient Babylonians and Egyptians had rough estimates of it. Archimedes got surprisingly close around 250 BC.

The Pi Day numbers people celebrate — 3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9… — are simply the digits of this infinite, universe-baked constant. Which is honestly a better reason to celebrate than most holidays. And the pie? The pie is just a perfect homophone bonus that the universe handed us for free.

🥧 The Best Type of Pie — Ranked Once and For All

Okay. The math part was fun. Now for the part that actually matters: what is the best type of pie? I've looked at the data — national survey data, regional preferences, and my own strongly-held opinions as someone who lives on a farm in the Pacific Northwest and has eaten a lot of pie. Here's the definitive ranked list.

Popularity percentages are based on national polling and consumer survey data. Debate accordingly.

🌲 Pacific Northwest Pie Pride — Why Vancouver, WA Wins Pi Day

Here's the thing about living in Vancouver, WA — you are in one of the best pie regions on the planet and most people who don't live here have no idea. The Pacific Northwest's berry culture is world-class. Marionberries, Loganberries, Boysenberries, Hood strawberries, Rainier cherries — the PNW produces fruit that makes pies taste unlike anything you've had anywhere else.

This is genuinely one of the things I tell people who are relocating to Vancouver, WA — the local food culture here, especially at farmers markets and local bakeries, is a revelation. People moving from California are always shocked. People moving from the Midwest develop opinions very quickly. The berries do that to you.

Pi Day in Vancouver, WA isn't just a math holiday — it's a genuine excuse to explore the extraordinary local bakeries, farmers markets, and food community that make this one of the most delicious places to call home. And if you want to find the best local pie shops in the area specifically, check out our guide to celebrating Pi Day with the best pie in Vancouver, WA.

🤔 Sweet vs. Savory Pie — Let's Have the Real Argument

Before we close the case on best pie type, we need to address the elephant in the room — or rather, the pot pie on the table. Is savory pie real pie?

This is the pie debate that causes the most disruption at dinner tables, and I'm not above having it. Here's my honest take as someone who grew up eating both and has strong feelings about both:

The Case for Sweet Pie

Sweet pie is what most people mean when they say "pie." It's dessert. It's celebratory. It's the thing you bring to a holiday dinner and the thing someone orders at the diner with coffee at 11pm. Sweet pie is culturally dominant, emotionally resonant, and the reason Pi Day works as a food holiday. Apple pie doesn't need a defense. It IS the defense.

The Case for Savory Pie

Chicken pot pie is one of the most comforting foods ever invented. It's a full meal in a crust. On a rainy Pacific Northwest evening — which is most evenings from October to June — a homemade chicken pot pie is not just food, it is a hug in edible form. Quiche is a pie. Shepherd's pie (technically) is a pie. Savory pies deserve their seat at the table. Literally.

🎉 How to Celebrate Pi Day on March 14th

Whether you're a math person or a pie person (or both — these are not mutually exclusive personality types), Pi Day has something for everyone. Here's how to mark March 14th with appropriate enthusiasm:

• Eat pie at 1:59 PM — that's when the date and time spell out 3/14 1:59, matching the first six digits of pi. Make it a moment.
• Try a new pie type — if you've never had marionberry pie and you live in the Pacific Northwest, Pi Day is your wake-up call.
• Bake your own — there's something deeply satisfying about a homemade crust. It does not have to be perfect. It has to be pie.
• Debate it — the best type of pie is legitimately contentious and the argument is fun to have. Get your family, friends, or coworkers to weigh in.
• Visit a local bakery — supporting local, women-owned, and independent food businesses on Pi Day is exactly the kind of community activity that makes living in Vancouver, WA so good.
• Learn one pi fact — share it with someone. Make them slightly uncomfortable with how much you now know about the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. This is power.

🌲 Pi Day in Vancouver, WA — Community, Pie & Home

One of my favorite things about life in Vancouver, WA is how much this community shows up for the small celebrations. Pi Day, farmer's markets, local food events, neighborhood festivals — this is a place where people genuinely invest in where they live and who they live near. That's not something you can get from a Zillow listing. It's something you feel when you're actually here.

If you're thinking about moving to Vancouver, WA or the greater Clark County area — Camas, Ridgefield, Salmon Creek, Felida — come for the affordability compared to Portland, stay for the marionberry pie. And the no state income tax. And the mountains. And the Columbia River Gorge. But also genuinely, the pie.

For the full guide to Pi Day pie shops and where to find the best local pie in the area, read our original Pi Day pie guide for Vancouver, WA. And if you're relocating and want to know everything about what makes this community worth moving to — that's literally what I do. Let's talk.