International Pi Day Calls for Blueberry Pie

International Pi Day is March 14th: we’ll be celebrating with BC blueberry pie (naturally)

What Is Pi Day?

Observed annually on March 14th, International Pi Day was founded in 1988 by Larry Shaw, an employee of the San Francisco, California science museum the Exploratorium, as a way to celebrate the famous mathematical constant π (pi). 

Why is this date significant? Because the 3/14 month/day format of March 14th mimics the first three significant figures of π – 3, 1, and 4. 

Even if you're not math savvy, you no doubt remember learning about pi (π) in math class: it's the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, or 3.14, and is used to calculate the circumference, diameter, and area of a circle, among other things.

In other words, pi is a pretty ubiquitous number, even if we don’t necessarily think about it too often. Something we do think about quite often though? Pie! 

Which leads us to the connection between pi and pie, by eating pie to celebrate pi. (Just go with it.)

Why Celebrate Pi Day with Blueberry Pie?

Perhaps “Why not?” is the more relevant question. 

Do a little research and you will find that many math and science lovers around the world choose to celebrate International Pi Day by raising a slice of pie. Because even geniuses love whimsical symbolism, especially if it involves pie! And if it’s good enough for them, it’s most certainly good enough for us.

Honestly, though, we’ll take any excuse to eat blueberry pie. Besides, Pi Day and blueberry pie do have something in common: like the mathematical constant π (pi), our love of pie – and blueberry pie in particular – is also a constant. And that’s worth celebrating.

So, while International Pi Day isn’t technically a celebration of pie the food, we’re going to run with it and highly recommend you do the same. 

Which Blueberry Pie Will You Choose?

With any number of blueberry pie recipes to choose from, for this day our top pick is
Blueberry Clafoutis. Made using frozen BC blueberries, which are readily available in
the freezer section of your local grocery store, Clafoutis may not be your traditional
take on blueberry pie, but it IS incredibly simple to make…

And given that pi is anything but simple, this is perfect for giving your brain a break
from trying to wrap your head around mathematical equations!

Other Fun Facts Related to Pi Day

• This day also marks the birthday of renowned theoretical physicist Albert Einstein,
  who was born on March 14, 1879. Undoubtedly one of the most celebrated scientists
  in history, Einstein’s theories are well-recognized as being key to our understanding
  of the universe. His formula E=mc² is one of the most well-known mathematical
  equations (even if some of us don't completely understand it).
• While most people think of pi as 3.14, this is actually a simplified ratio and pi is believed
  to go on indefinitely. As of November 2016, pi enthusiast Peter Trueb’s computer
  calculated pi to 22,459,157,718,361 digits, but this is by no means the final word
  on the subject.