Every year on December 25, Pumpkin Pie Day is celebrated. This dish was first prepared in 1621 when the inhabitants of the New World began the tradition of thanking God for the harvest gathered in the warm months. Pumpkin pie does not have a single recipe with a fixed set of ingredients. There are many variations that differ in the type of dough, the combination of spices, and the proportions of the filling.
Pumpkin, which began to be consumed about 7,500 years ago, is believed to have originated in Mexico and Latin America. The local inhabitants of these regions prepared various dishes from it and already valued it highly for its taste and nutritional qualities. Pumpkin was also used in medicine, applied for the treatment of snake bites and freckles.
After the discovery of the New World, the first settlers fell in love with this product and soon began to prepare desserts from it. One of the most popular became the pie, in which pumpkin was mixed with milk, eggs, and spices. In the 19th century, recipes for pumpkin pie became popular not only in the United States but also in Europe, appearing in cookbooks. Today, this dish is considered traditional for feasts on Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas, which led to its separate date in the calendar — on the day when Catholics celebrate Christmas.
Pumpkin desserts are characterized by a delicate and bright flavor and have high nutritional value. Pumpkin is low in calories but rich in vitamin C, which boosts the immune system, as well as B vitamins necessary for the synthesis and metabolism of red blood cells. Pumpkin also contains magnesium and potassium, which support the health of muscle tissues and help regulate blood pressure.
3 Interesting Facts About Pumpkin Pie
The first recipe for pumpkin pie was published in 1675 in the English cookbook by Hannah Woolley, “The Gentlewoman's Companion.”
In 1844, Lydia Maria Child wrote the poem “Over the River and Through the Wood,” which became a true ode to pumpkin pie.
In 2010, the Guinness World Records recorded the creation of the largest pumpkin pie in the world. It was made in the American city of New Bremen, Ohio. The weight of the product was 3,699 pounds or 1,677.84 kg, which means that the dish weighed more than a ton.
