One of my coworkers has a tattoo of a colorful, cartoony slice of pizza on the inside of his wrist. The day I noticed this, I turned to him in my office-standard swivel chair and asked him about it with an intentionally tactful question:

“What does pizza mean to you?”

Even though I didn’t specifically remind him of his tattoo, he gave an incredibly interesting answer because, as it turns out, he’s really passionate about pizza and the significance it’s had in his life. Plenty of other people have also thought long and hard about why pizza has become a cultural symbol, from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to pizza-print leggings.

For years, username “pizza” was one of the most popular Tumblr accounts to follow. YouTube celebrities Hank and John Green (yes, the author of “The Fault in Our Stars”) sell a “Pizza John” t-shirt, with the word “PIZZA” printed underneath an artistic rendering of John’s face. The internet-culture guide “Know Your Meme” even has an entry on the food, with a collection of in-jokes and popular videos involving pizza. So what is it about pizza?

1. Quick meals.

The cheap price and speedy service at pizza shops, and fast delivery from delivering stores, match the continued “McDonaldization” in our culture, which values speed and predictability over any other quality of an experience. It’s simple, fast, delicious, gives you a few hundred calories to keep your body moving, and further draws you into the rush of 21st-century American culture.

2. Family and friends.

“I’ll just order a pizza,” is a common punchline after a cook botches the family meal, and taking a vote on potential toppings is almost a childhood sleepover ritual. Pizza has become a standard for birthday parties and lazy days with family because of the near-universal love for the flavor, its typical low price, and speedy preparation.

3. Free pizza brings all the boys to the yard.

...or the students to the event. “Free Pizza!” is the go-to incentive from school event planners to students, for all the appeal that’s been mentioned above. This leads to a specific kind of student association with pizza, connecting the food not just to cafeteria lunches, but to guest speakers and town hall meetings.

4. The magic of leftovers.

In the “Idea Channel” episode “A History of Pizza in 8 Slices,” Mike Rugnetta argued that cold, leftover pizza is like its own separate kind of pizza, with its own associations. “Leftover pizza is an artifact that remains, commemorating D&D games, Netflix marathons, all-nighters, Hackathons, and various get-togethers. … It’s not only laden with that savory flavor magic but with memories of whatever pizza-filled shenanigans you got up to the night before.”

To my coworker, pizza symbolizes family, home, and security. It's easy to make or find, fills you up, and feeds a crowed. What's your favorite pizza-filled memory?