When I first began my career as a high school geometry teacher (in 2000), neither I nor my colleagues had ever heard of “π Day”. In perusing one of the many practitioner journals, I learned about other secondary mathematics teachers celebrating March 14th with their students in a variety of ways, including pie-eating and baking contests as well as school-wide recitations of the digits of π. As a new teacher, I decided my students and I would join in the celebration. In that first year, only a handful of students seemed excited to participate, but by the time the second year rolled around, many more of my students had heard about the event and were on board. This enthusiasm for the celebration had its way of catching the attention of my peers, and by the time I reached my third year of teaching, I had two additional colleagues join in on the fun with their students. 

It has been over a decade since I have worked as a high school teacher and I wonder sometimes what “π Day” looks like now, after it has had some time to gain prominence. It is certain that the public’s awareness of π Day has grown. For example, for some time now, my friends and family members (otherwise unaffiliated with mathematics) have taken it upon themselves to wish me a “Happy π Day”. On more than one occasion, one of these well-wishers has sent a pie to my home (which quickly disappeared as soon as my boys doubled down on the celebration). A few years ago, I and others at the GRIP lab participated in a π Day 5K (or 3.1 mile) run, though I opted out of the pie-eating contest that strangely came before the run.

Beyond the general public’s awareness, I have also noticed local and national pie and pizza companies cashing in with their homages to π. With so much hype about the food-related activities of π Day, I have found myself wondering a bit about whether mathematics has taken a back seat to. . . well, eating pie!? While I am not opposed to adding another food holiday to the calendar, I do find myself hoping that the food celebration does not ultimately distract from the opportunity for the general public to grow its appreciation of mathematics.

Perhaps I am not the only one with this concern. This year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared March 14 as International Day of Mathematics. Notably, π is missing from this title. With this declaration, I wonder whether UNESCO is asking the pie to take a back seat to the mathematics? And if so, I am all for it. But does this mean I won’t be getting pie sent to me this year? On second thought, maybe we should keep it π day after all!

Do you celebrate π Day with your students? If so, please send us a note and/or picture that we can share with the community in the next newsletter!