Death and raisins share one essential feature: neither belongs to any one season. Eighteenth-century Amish and old-order Mennonites of Pennsylvania were no strangers to the harsh realities of sudden loss, but amidst tragedy, raisins were there. The preserved grapes were a pantry staple—shelf-stable and ready-to-eat throughout the year. In times of emergencies, wives turned to the ingredient known as rosine in their native German. They whipped up raisin pies, which traveled well and required no peeling or pitting, on various occasions, but their consistent presence at funerals led to the nickname “funeral pie.”
Rosine pie was the closest thing Amish people had to fast food. Friends and neighbors prepared the pie quickly, left it out without fear of spoilage, and then focused their attention on more pious matters. Some bakers turned it into a milky, custard-like filling, while others mimicked the texture of mincemeat. Both sticky pastes went straight into a double-crust, usually in lattice form. Despite evolving technology, Amish communities—steadfast in their devotion to tradition—have continued baking the same raisin pies well into the 21st century.
Often, a funeral pie accompanied the meal served during a wake, when mourning families were supposed to be distracted by sugary comfort. Some say the dish’s overwhelming sweetness made it difficult for one to think, temporarily relieving the aggrieved. Some pie filling is meant to fill more than just pie holes, even if only for a moment.
FAQs
In times of emergencies, wives turned to the ingredient known as rosine in their native German. They whipped up raisin pies, which traveled well and required no peeling or pitting, on various occasions, but their consistent presence at funerals led to the nickname “funeral pie.”
What is the death of Pennsylvania's forgotten funeral pie? ›
Raisin pie itself isn't particularly foreboding. But in 19th-century Pennsylvania German homes, it meant one thing: Death was near. Once it arrived, so too would friends and neighbors, coming to “redd up” the bereaved family's home for the funeral. This meant cooking, cleaning, and baking raisin pie.
What is Amish Shoofly pie made of? ›
What is in shoofly pie? The star of the show is molasses, but shoofly pie is also typically composed of flour, brown sugar, water, spices, and sometimes egg. The pie is topped with a crumb mixture and served in a flaky pie crust. Shoofly pie is similar to a coffee cake but with a gooey molasses bottom.
What is the history of raisin pie? ›
Before there was refrigeration, fresh fruits were not readily available, but most homes had dried raisins on hand. This pie traditionally is served at funerals of Old Order Mennonites and Amish. This pie became a favorite of Mennonite cooks because the ingredients were always available and the pie kept well.
What is the meal after a funeral called? ›
The gathering after the funeral usually has food known as a repast. Repast food is a type of food that is often served at funerals. It is typically light and simple, such as sandwiches and finger foods.
What is Dolly Parton pie? ›
Calling all Dolly Parton fans! This dessert legendary holiday walnut pie is a delicious and easy play on a pecan pie using walnuts instead of pecans. A bit of sugar, corn syrup, and melted butter comes together as a smooth, subtle filling. Save the recipe for Thanksgiving, we are sure you'll enjoy it.
Which group of immigrants would have made a raisin pie? ›
Other Recipes for Raisin Pie
Obviously (50 pies at a wedding) it was popular among Swiss Mennonite immigrants in northern Ohio. Most replies indicated it is generally a mid-western thing, and generally in regions with Germanic roots.
Why are Amish pies so good? ›
While baking, fresh butter is used generously to achieve that ideal, moist consistency. From pie crusts to cakes, Amish baking never tastes dry or crumbles apart thanks to its addition. The butter is the key to holding everything together and making it extra savory.
What is Oregon pie? ›
Oregon Berry Pie + Free Shipping
Oregon-grown berry blend boasts vine-ripened blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and our famous marionberries for a rich, earthy flavor in an all-butter crust.
What is Flipper pie made of? ›
Flipper pie, also known as seal flipper pie, is a traditional Eastern Canadian meat pie made from harp seal flippers. It is similar to a pot pie in that the seal flippers are cooked with vegetables in a thick sauce and then covered with pastry.
The Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent a dish close to what we know as a pie today. They had a honey filling covered in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye or barley. A recipe for chicken pie was also discovered on a tablet carved prior to 2000 BC.
What were the three Stooges pies made of? ›
“A vat of whipped cream, marshmallow sauce and pumpkin filling,” the executive director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center claimed in an article for the Washington Post.
Why is crack pie called crack pie? ›
Crack Pie — the trademarked name for the chain's buttery, sugary pie — will now become Milk Bar Pie. The name was a reference to crack cocaine — the gag being that the pie was just as addictive as the drug.
What is it called where you eat after a funeral? ›
A funeral reception luncheon, or funeral repast, is a gathering for a meal after the funeral service. The person who hosts the luncheon will decide with the family to hold the event at a restaurant, banquet hall, or someone's home.
How did funeral get its name? ›
The word funeral comes from the Latin funus, which had a variety of meanings, including the corpse and the funerary rites themselves. Funerary art is art produced in connection with burials, including many kinds of tombs, and objects specially made for burial like flowers with a corpse.
Why is it called flapper pie? ›
There are a few origin stories behind the name, which more than likely earned the name Flapper Pie because its rise in popularity occurred in the 1920s when Flapper Girls and their short dresses and haircuts were all the rage — at this point in Canadian history, Flapper Pie was served in every cafe across the prairie ...
Why are coffins called caskets? ›
Coffins are sometimes referred to as a casket, particularly in American English. Any box in which the dead are buried is a coffin, and while a casket was originally regarded as a box for jewelry, use of the word "casket" in this sense began as a euphemism introduced by the undertaker's trade.
