National Devil Dog Day
On April 27th, enjoy a treat in the name of National Devil Dog Day! The day honors the service members who were dubbed with the name and the devilish snack cake.
Devil Dogs became a popular single-serving snack in the mid-1920s with a layer of cream filling sandwiched between two layers of devil's food cake. In 1926, Drake's first attempt at making the cakes appeared.
The legend goes that German soldiers began to refer to US Marines "devil dogs" for their tenacity during World War I. The story was in full circulation around the country in 1918, when a recruiting poster in the United States headlined the word Teufel Hunden. Although the German word was rare and oddly worded, and its source was uncertain at best, the word stuck, the term retained a firm hold.
The underlying truth holds up. The US Marines fought with ferocious courage in Europe, as did all the troops. The name was adopted by sports teams, poets wrote about the military prowess of the devil dogs, films were made starring the devil dogs, and the tale of the name was either updated or not to be part of history.
They even created a devilish snack cake that we still enjoy today!
How to celebrate #nationaldevildogday
National Devil Dog Day gives a glimpse of history, word origins, and snack cakes. Find out how they train their devil dogs today. Grab one or two and read up on the Marines' involvement in World War I. To post on social media, use the hashtag #NationalDevilDogDay.
The national devil dog day in the United States has a long tradition
The Sobel family's patriarch and grandfather, Howard Leslie Sobel, introduced Devil Dogs to the Sobel family. Sean Alexander Sobel, a young boy, was looking forward to finding them in his grandparent's cupboard. He'll have one for him and one for his grandfather to eat together. It is now a family tradition. Sean Alexander Sobel founded National Devil Dog Day to tell the history of Devil Dogs.
Devil dog FAQ
Q. What is the US Marine Corps' motto?
A. The US Marine Corps motto is "Semper Fidelis," which means "always faithful."
Q. What other nicknames do the Marine Corps have?
A. Leatherneck and Jarhead are two of the Marine Corps' most common nicknames. Leatherneck leathernecks go back to the Revolutionary War, and Leatherneck leather stock service members wore around their necks. Jarhead was created around World War II and refers to the way a Marine looks when wearing dress blues; the high collar resembled a Mason jar.
Is there other days on the calendar that honor the United States Marine?
A. Yes. Yes. The Marine Corps' birthday is November 10th.
