Besides ALMOST being the Ides of March, the fourteenth has another important distinction: It is Pi Day, named for the mathematical symbol that goes on into infinity. Pi Day is not to be confused with National Pie Day, Jan. 23 annually, an unofficial U.S. holiday sponsored by the American Pie Council. There is an alternate celebration on December 1st, also dedicated to enjoying your favorite pie, but why not celebrate both? For myself, I recall with great fondness the steak and mushroom pies, with gravy, and blackberry-apple pies made by my mum. Of course these unofficial "holidays" serve up great opportunities for bakeries, pie enthusiasts, and restaurants to widely sell and enjoy a variety of sweet and savory pies. Plus, in the States, pizza companies in recent years have tried to cut into all the pie-centered hoopla. As for American National Pie Day, it was the brainchild of Colorado teacher Charlie Papazian, who, in 1975, decided to celebrate his birthday by creating the day. The date was later embraced and promoted by the American Pie Council starting in 1986. But there is only one math-centric day for pi, and it's in the third month on the 14th day. In mathematics, 3.14 is written as π and pronounced “pi,” and is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, always equaling 3.14, regardless of its size. Since most traditional pies are round, Pi Day — celebrated globally in schools, universities, and scientific institutions — makes for a great excuse to enjoy your favorite pie. In the U.K., we have “British Pie Week,” which happens the first week of March, when traditional and specialist pies are highlighted and enjoyed every year. In solidarity with our American friends, many of us also grab a fork and join in celebrating January 23, December 1, and tasty circles on Pi Day.