Every year on July 24 Pioneer Day is celebrated in Utah. It is an official state holiday that pays tribute to the arrival of Brigham Young and other Mormon pioneers to the region in July of 1847. The Latter-day Saints (LDS) had been forced to leave Nauvoo, Illinois, and other parts of eastern United States. The Utah Territory was an inviting alternative, and held the promise of a fresh start and greater religious freedom.
The Influence of Brigham Young
Brigham Young (1801–1877) is a giant in Mormon history, and made the decision to relocate LDS members to Utah after years of persecution and conflict. He was elected president of the church in 1847, several years after its founder, Joseph Smith, died in prison at the hands of an unruly mob. Other accomplishments of Young’s include.
- Founder of Salt Lake City
- First Governor of Utah
- Superintendent of American Indian Affairs
- Founder of the University of Utah
- Helped settle many parts of Utah, California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho and Colorado
Memorable Pioneer Days
Over the years, some Pioneer Day festivities have been particularly noteworthy including:
- 1880
The 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mormon Church was commemorated.
- 1886
Pioneer Day 1886 was particularly somber because numerous Mormons were in hiding or incarcerated as a result of polygamy charges. Many of the missing were eulogized on the holiday. The Salt Lake Tabernacle was also festooned in black instead of the typical colorful bunting.
- 1897
Celebrations were particularly grand this year due to several factors. The polygamy problem was largely a thing of the past, the Salt Lake Temple had been completed and Utah had become the 45th state in the union.
- 1947
1947 marked the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon settlers to Utah. There were festivities all year long with events culminating on Pioneer Day.
- 1997
Another important Pioneer Day occurred in 1997. It was the sesquicentennial and there were many celebrations large and small.
Ways to Celebrate
The majority of businesses and government offices in Utah are closed on Pioneer Day, which gives residents more opportunity to fully enjoy the occasion. The holiday is comparable in ways to the 4th of July and is celebrated with similar activities such as:
- Pancake breakfasts
- Parades
- Picnics
- Rodeos
- Fireworks
Some people opt to truly embrace the pioneer sentiment of the occasion and hike sections of the Mormon Trail. This path is the route many groups of LDS church members traveled between Nauvoo, Illinois, and Salt Lake City from 1846 to 1868. It runs though Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming and is now a part of the U.S. National Trails Systems.
On a somber note, in Utah, Pioneer Day is second only to July 4 in the number of traffic fatalities that occur.
Pie and Beer Day
Although the majority of the people who live in Utah are Mormon, not everyone is. For people with other religious affiliations, or none whatsoever, Pie and Beer Day, also celebrated on July 24, has become an increasingly popular substitute to the Mormon-themed festivities. It largely involves people consuming pie and beer. More and more restaurants and bars are rallying around the cause, and creating specific menus and promotions for the occasion.
The name for this alternative holiday is a play on words; “pie and beer” are comparable in sound to “pioneer.” Mormons are not permitted to drink alcohol, so Pie and Beer Day is a bit of a rebellious, yet fun-loving, response to the more than 165-year-old holiday. As for the pie, anything goes but traditional favorites like apple, cherry and blueberry are most commonly served.
Pioneer Day is a time to remember the contributions of Utah’s first settlers and enjoy the day off in the company of family and friends. If your definition of fun involves eating pie and drinking beer, go for it!