April 28, 2008
Photo of the Day: April 28, 2008
Cupcakes! Tens of thousands of cupcakes! All to celebrate... Maryland Day? Okay, we need a little help from some of the knowledgeable readers out there on this one. This past Saturday, the University of Maryland hosted a big Maryland Day celebration (including 50,000 freaking cupcakes in the shape of the state flag), which Flickr user Sabine01 attended. But The Google, to which we referred when the UMD site had no information other than this is the "10th Anniversary" of the day, tells us that Maryland Day is a state-wide observed holiday that occurs on March 25. On that day in 1634, settlers from the ships Ark and Dove landed on Maryland soil. So what is UMD doing celebrating a month later than the rest of the state? Or are their two totally different "Maryland Days," one of which was only founded ten, and not nearly 400 years ago? And seriously, did someone save us one of those cupcakes?
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i think Maryland Day is just UMD's way of celebrating campus achievements, learning, and inviting the public to see all the things they have going on around campus... not related to any type of holiday. more of just an open house event geared towards kids and families of students. also the first day of spring football so tailgating begins!
Essentially, Maryland Day is the University's open house -- where the university puts on lots and lots of events for the community. It's traditionally held on the last weekend of April.
Those cupcakes were definitely yummy, btw. ;)
See, then why it isn't called "University of Maryland Day"? Sounds like they're trying to ride the coattails of the real Maryland Day for its sheer fame and glory, or something.
i've never even heard of the other Maryland Day with the Ark and the Dove or whatever...
they should call it "Check Out All of Our Fucking Cupcakes Day" if you ask me.
I can see where the question is coming from, but bear in mind Maryland has been used as shorthand for referring to the U. of Maryland for the longest time -- You'd essentially be asking why sportscasters don't refer to UMD by its full name all the time.
That's what my guess would be... though I'm only a first-year grad student. *shrug*
As a U of M alumnus, I have to say this is par for the course. Never could get their goddamned calendar straight. It was common practice for them to dick around for a month before they got you the paperwork you needed to drop/add a class. All that pic is missing is a big sign that says "eat me."
Also, the Official State Tree of Maryland is the White Oak (had to dress up as one in second grade for the Maryland Day school play). That traumatic masquerade began my long fascination with arborculture, culminating in my near fatal 1989 homoerotic asphyxiation attempt while watching the Bruce Dern sci-fi classic "Silent Running." Good times.
@wonderwazz -- If you don't leave DCist everyday with new knowledge of a totally obscure, meaningless holiday, then we clearly haven't done our jobs.
You know all that red icing is just nasty.
Did they do the Maryland state flag too? Because that photo isn't of the Maryland state flag, although is does look like the College Park seal.
Heather - you are doing your job well, i guess i'm not paying enough attention.... however i'm planning a big celebration for next march 25th in honor of the real holiday
@guest guest: Oh whoops, good call. I just scanned the red, yellow and black, without actually looking at the symbol, which kind of explains a lot -- I mean, who can see past all that cupcake goodness anyway? That's it, I'm going to the bakery.
@guest guest = Yep, Looks like the University seal in the center (which is based off of the Maryland flag). They did no other...
Sabine is right. It's "Maryland Day" as in "University of.."
A pretty common way of referring to a state university.
Go Terps.
FYI
50,000 cupcakes
Maryland Day
As a UMD alum I always feel like I should attend Maryland Day but somehow I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe when they stop their constant calling and demanding of money....
oh, duh, should have actually READ the post. Sorry for linking to what you already linked to.
I guess that probably is the U of Maryland symbol, being that it's round. But it's really really similar to the Maryland state flag, no? In fact, I'd say the U of Maryland symbol is just a cupcake-shaped version of the state flag!
I only brought up the difference because it sort of answered the question at hand.
monkeyerotica, WYE Oak. The state tree of Maryland is, or was, a specific tree, not a type of tree.
Next at UMD: 100,000 cupcakes shaped like Nik Caner-Medley
andrew: will they be frosting those caner-medley cupcakes with gary williams' sweat?
HVAC stole more than his share of cupcakes? FREDTERP
Very cool, I helped put out all those cupcakes overnight on Friday! It took about 70 volunteers 8 hours...very tiring, but fun! The globe in the center represent the University of Maryland's official logo...taken from the state of Maryland's flag. And Maryland Day is just a big "involve and inform the community on everything we're doing on campus" kind of thing.
guest guest - The Wye Oak was an HONORARY State tree. It's an example of White Oaks, which are the Official State Tree of Maryland as well as Illinois. I think I know my State trees. I was dressed as one when I was hanging myself, remember?
monkeyrotica, f**k! I just dug deeper and you're right. Man, I hate when that happens.
guest-guest - Don't hate. Just pick up a copy of "Silent Running" and feel the LOVE.
Screw the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
maryland day is the holiday ever year where there are far too many small children running around on campus, namely because all activities are aimed to prospective students in the year 2018. this is a headache to any and all people a. trying to drive b. hungover or c. trying to function normally. the only perk is the outdoor pool opens.
"Ark and Dove" would be an awesome name for a pub in Baltimore.
Heather, YES! We must have cupcakes, and none o' them days-old-nasty-red-icing-Maryland-Day ones. I'm right behind you, on my way to Buzz to get me a fabulous cupcake...
Gosh darn it, Connie! If you're gonna post a link, do it right. Buzz Bakery has the cupcakes. Outta here.
It is my lifelong dream to lie down in the middle of that field of cupcakes and roll back and forth in it.
Bethesdaist, you just blew my mind.