One look at Mobile, Alabama and you know that people like to party. I mean, where else does a glowing, 600-pound MoonPie descend at the stroke of midnight on December 31st to welcome the “Sweet” New Year?
So what’s the story? Well, it’s a tad complicated … and all goes back to Mardi Gras.
You know, Mardi Gras – floats, costumes, throws, drinks, king cakes. Ahh, that’s right.
The Backstory: It seems that before 1972, the Maids of Mirth tossed boxes of Cracker Jack from their float to the eager crowds below. The only problem was that the hard boxes caused some injuries when lobbed from a moving float, so they were banned in 1972. And two years later the Maids of Mirth began flinging MoonPies, a much softer alternative.
Flash Forward: The “MoonPie Over Mobile” is the brainchild of City Council Member Fred Richardson. He arranged for the city to partner with Chattanooga Bakery, the maker of MoonPies, to create a New Year’s Eve attraction for the city. When asked why he spent $9,000 of taxpayer money to create a 12-foot-tall mechanical marshmallow sandwich he replied,
“It cuts across economic status. It cuts across race. The MoonPie brings people together. If I had picked some other object, it could have divided the community. But the MoonPie, nobody has anything against the MoonPie.”
What in the world is a MoonPie?
If you’re not from Southern USA, you may not have encountered the tasty treat that has brought many dieters to their knees. The original MoonPie is a pastry made with two round graham cracker cookies with marshmallow filling in the center, dipped in a chocolate coating.
Just for Fun, a Little MoonPie Trivia.
When did MoonPies arrive on the scene?
MoonPies were first introduced in 1917 in Chattanooga, Tennessee around the beginning of the Great Depression.
What was the inspiration?
“Earl Mitchell Jr. said his father came up with the idea for MoonPies when he asked a Kentucky coal miner what kind of snack he’d like to eat. The answer: something with graham cracker and marshmallow and dipped in chocolate. When Mitchell’s father asked how big it should be, the miner looked up in the night sky and framed the full moon with his hands.” –Melanie Peeples, NPR News
What did a MoonPie cost back then?
A nickel … 5 cents!
What does one drink with a MoonPie?
Why RC Cola, of course! It also cost a nickel back then. The popularity of this combination was celebrated in a popular song of the 1950s by Big Bill Lister, “Gimmee an RC Cola and a MoonPie.”
What was the nickname of the MoonPie & RC Cola combo!
Cheap prices paired with big serving sizes = “The Working Man’s Lunch.”
Are there any flavors other than chocolate?
The four main flavors are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and banana. Double Decker MoonPies also come in lemon and orange; MoonPie Crunch comes only in peanut butter or mint.
How many calories are in a MoonPie?
Trust me, you do not want to know the nutrition facts! Just enjoy.
If you’re wondering what to do with all of those MoonPies after Mardi Gras, check out this recipe for MoonPie Bread Pudding. But if you want to make your own MoonPies here’s a great how-to.
If you’d like to see Mobile’s MoonPie drop to welcome 2013, check this out.
Peace and MoonPies,
Terri
Photo Credits: 1, 3. City of Mobile 2. Press Register 4, 5. Chattanooga Bakery Inc.
GALLIVANCE 
Although I have not ever heard of a moon Pie ( gasps from the crowd), we have something in the grocery stores called ‘Wagon Wheels’ that matches the description and photo. A Canadian version perhaps?
It certainly looks and sounds just like a Wagon Wheel! Used to love them when I was a boy. According to Wiki WWs are a “snack food sold in Australia, Canada, Iran, Malta, Ireland, Russia, the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom”.
Andrew, thanks for checking out the Wagon Wheels. I guess I missed them when we lived in the UK (that’s the tempting grocery aisle I try to avoid 🙂 ), but if they’re like MoonPies, kids love them. ~Terri
Andrew my Mom was, and still is a great baker and cook. Occasionally she would buy Wagon Wheels as a treat instead of homemade baking. I loved them!
They always seemed such good value. Only a couple of pennies and they were huge!
I had not thought about them for years until this post. I recall buying them for my own kids sometimes and by then the size had decreased significantly.
The manufacturers deny that they have reduced in size but I am certain that they have!
Well isn’t that interesting, Sue. You’ve introduced me to a whole new product. At Andrew’s suggestion I looked it up on Wikipedia and they look totally alike. If their facts are right, the Wagon Wheels were introduced a bit later, so who’s to say if it was “great minds thinking alike” or a little creative copycatting. I guess the only way to find out is to do a taste test. 🙂 And the next question for Roadside Canadiana becomes, Does Canada have a giant Wagon Wheel anywhere? ~Terri
No giant cookie like wagon wheel that I am aware of Terri but I will be on the watch for it. 🙂
We were Wagon Wheel addicts too! 🙂 I was thinking just that as I read your post. Something else I have in common with lovely Sue and Andrew. (not quite so lovely Andrew, but don’t tell him 🙂 )
Jo, It sounds like Wagon Wheels were a childhood hit in Canada and the UK – much like MoonPies in the US. Did you also have Cracker Jacks or some equivalent? ~Terri
I missed that reference, I think? Doesn’t sound familiar, Terri 🙂 Hope you have a nice weekend planned (or even not planned).
Thanks Jo, you too. ~T
I have not had a moon pie in ages. Now I must go looking for one!
I can’t remember the last time I had one. It must have been when I was a teenager and my family moved from Chicago to the South – that’s when I discovered them. I guess I moved on to s’mores. 🙂 ~Terri
The original flavor is my favorite. I haven’t had one in years, maybe on my next trip south I’ll pick up a box (or 3) I think the mayor was spot on with his choice!
I’m with you Laura – chocolate rules! I didn’t have them as a kid because we lived “up North,” but once we moved south I had my first MoonPie experience. The decision to use the MoonPie for Mobile’s New Year celebration was inspired, but the nutritionists probably didn’t agree. 🙂 ~Terri
My daughter like Wagon Wheels for her school lunch. Made my teeth ache.
Who doesn’t like trivia? I enjoy reading it. Thanks for the Wagon Wheel name, Sue, I was stumped at first.
Great work guys. This Slice of Americana is a brilliant series.
Thanks so much, Tess. I love your phrase, “Made my teeth ache.” So true. They are amazingly sweet. Glad to know that kids in Canada were getting the same opportunities for cavities as we did in the US. 🙂 ~Terri
After reading this post I stopped to pick up groceries. Guess what I almost crashed into there? A waist high stack of boxes of MOON PIES. I haven’t seen them or heard of them forever. The timing is eerie. 🙂
That’s amazing Tess. What’s the phrase, “Be careful what you wish for?” 🙂 ~Terri
*grins* Strange, isn’t it?
Love this post. And love Moon Pies. For my last visit to the teachers in Idaho, I took miniature Moon Pies, and, of course, they all laughed but quickly indulged themselves with the sweet treats. The 20th Annual RC-MoonPie Festival was recently held in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, on June 21, 2014. Although we’ve never been, I’m sure the little town is packed with munchin’, sippin’ devotees of both treats! Here’s the link recording the events that unfolded: http://www.tnvacation.com/events/12361/
Thanks Rusha. So glad that you introduced the folks of Idaho to MoonPies – I guess we Southerners shouldn’t have all the fun. I just went to the website of the Annual RC-MoonPie Festival in Bell Buckle – what a hoot! I love that the whole event starts with a 10k run – talk about carb loading. The photos are hilarious. Thanks for the link. ~Terri
Can you believe I have never had a Moon Pie? Given how many calories must be in them, I will probably never indulge either. 😉
Wow! That’s probably a great decision, LuAnn. Your arteries will thank you. If you’ve ever toasted a marshmallow and made s’mores, then you know the taste. But s’mores are in an entire class of their own. As they say on Star Trek, “Resistance is futile.” 🙂 ~Terri
We have done the s’mores bit around the campfire and will continue to do so, no matter what my arteries think of it. 🙂
A delightful blog about Moon Pie, Terri, but my stomach does a little flip flop thinking about them. It’s saying “no way, go eat a carrot.” 🙂 –Curt
Probably a good decision, Curt. You’re so disciplined. 🙂 But surely, after all your camping years you’ve indulged in a s’more or two. ~Terri
Or a banana boat. Remember them, Terri?
Oh man Curt, I had totally forgotten about banana boats! I had them in my Girl Scout days, so it’s been a while. 🙂 Thanks for the memory. ~Terri
I so loved the idea of moon pies – heard about them on my ONLY favorite TV show. …The Big Bang Theory … that I actually found a recipe for them. NOW let’s see how they turn out. Virginia
Virginia, I’ve never had homemade MoonPies, but I suspect they’re delicious – I mean, what’s not to like? 🙂 Can’t wait to see how yours turn out. If you publish your results, let me know and I’ll add your link to this post. Have a great weekend. Is this a “house painting” weekend? ~Terri
Its a ruminating week-end Terri. Still dithering abut colour. Have we chosen the right colour??
Can’t wait to see what you pick! 🙂 ~T
Moon pies – happy memories!
Did you grow up eating MoonPies, Pam? James did, but I lived up north and we never had them. But when we moved south I was introduced to all kinds of decadent treats. Remember Goo-Goo Clusters? ~Terri
Oh those are all goodies I know and love. I was born in Georgia and lived there for 6 years until we moved to Pennsylvania. Don’t forget those wonderful little mini-pecan pies too and pink snowballs. Yum!
Oh I totally forgot about the little pecan pies. And James says he still craves the pink snowballs. I’m sure there was no Red Dye #2 in those! 🙂 ~T
Hi Terri! I was going to introduce you to Wagon Wheels but I see that’s already been done. Interesting post. I’d not heard of Moon Pies.
Thanks Carol. Wagon Wheels were new to me – even though I lived in the UK. I think you have to be indoctrinated as a kid. 🙂 That’s the way it is with MoonPies. I grew up in the north and never heard of them, but when we moved south they were all the rage. ~Terri
Thanks. Lovely. First heard about these through the singer Kate Campbell’s Moonpiecdreams song. Regards Thom.
Well Thom, isn’t that cool! I wasn’t familiar with the song so I just listened to it. What a sweet, sad song. Thanks for introducing me to Kate Campbell – she certainly sings from the heart. So glad that you stopped by. ~Terri
Great to read that. If you want another tip – listen to iris Dement sing ‘Easy’s gettin harder every day’ brought to mind by post you introduced me to about Lake Couer D’Alene.
Isn’t the blogosphere wonderful! Thom.
Wagon Wheels are an Australian institution, but obviously not an Australian invention. 🙂
Peggy, I’m not sure how I managed to miss Wagon Wheels when I lived in the UK, or traveled in Australia – must’ve been on a diet. 🙂 ~Terri
Hey Terri,
Growing up in the south, I have certainly had my share of Moon Pies and RC colas! Another “treat” I enjoy when I head back to Frog Jump, TN is an RC cola with a packet of salted peanuts dropped in….can’t be beat. 🙂
Mona, that’s amazing! James’ Mom used to do the exact same thing! I’d never seen the tradition until I moved from Chicago to Glasgow, Kentucky when I was a teenager. So I was one of those “D&#n Yankees, then, but I learned quickly and fell in love with the South. 🙂 Thanks for the great story and stopping by. All the best, Terri