Google doodles

[9A]

Mar 23, 2012

Juan Gris' 125th Birthday







José Victoriano González-Pérez, better known as Juan Gris, was a Spanish painter born in Madrid who lived and worked in France for most of his active period. Closely connected to the innovative artistic genre Cubism, his works are among the movement's most distinctive.

It may be difficult to imagine, but Picasso had artists that he admired. Perhaps most notable among them was Juan Gris, a close friend, though – according to an account in Gertrude Stein's book, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, he was also "... the only person whom Picasso wished away." Well, the doodle team is very happy that Picasso did not get his wish!

For Gris' doodle, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play more with abstract shapes, and reinterpreting familiar objects in the cubist language. This is not something I've had a lot of experience doing, as my formal art training involved learning to draw more representationally. To say the least, it was quite a liberating experience to try something new!

[9A]

Mar 19, 2020

Nowruz 2020




A time for fresh beginnings as winter blossoms into spring, Nowruz is celebrated in today’s Doodle. This historic rite is recognized as the Persian New Year and brings communities together to embrace the change of seasons in the spirit of renewal and rebirth.

In the Persian language, “now” means “new,” and “ruz” means "day;" and together, Nowruz means “New Day.” The ancient holiday originated thousands of years ago in the geographical region known as Persia in Central Asia and the Middle East. Passed down from generation to generation for millennia, Nowruz is celebrated over thirteen days by an estimated 300 million people worldwide. The Persian community looks forward to the year to come, often sharing gifts of spring flowers for display.

In 2009, UNESCO declared Nowruz a part of its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to commemorate the holiday’s significance to the international community.

Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak, Happy New Year! ​

[9A]

Mar 22, 2017

Nowruz 2017 [Kazakhstan]




For more than 3,000 years, people of Persian ancestry have been celebrating Nowruz, the return of spring and the start of a new year. A combination of the Persian words “now” for new and “ruz” for day, it is often celebrated at the exact moment of the vernal [spring] equinox, when the days start getting longer, and the celebrations can continue for up to two weeks.

Nowruz is a time of joyous renewal. Visits with friends and family, a clean house and new clothes, and special spring foods are traditional ways to celebrate the holiday. Perhaps the most enduring image of Nowruz is gathering together with friends and family around a bonfire. People also like to decorate with springtime flowers, like the hyacinths and tulips in today’s Doodle.

Happy Nowruz!

[9A]

Mar 21, 2007

Nowruz 2007

[9A]

Mar 20, 2019

Nowruz 2019



At the precise moment the sun crosses the equator, signalling the spring equinox, millions of families all around the world will come together and welcome Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

The 13-day season of festivities that begins on the first day of Farvardin—the first month of the Iranian Hijri calendar—is an ancient celebration that symbolizes nature’s cycle of rebirth and rejuvenation.

Preparations for Nowruz often begin weeks in advance with a thorough house-cleaning, and many children are gifted new clothing or money from older relatives. On the Wednesday before Nowruz you can find people jumping over public bonfires to cleanse for the new year, as well as children going door to door banging on pots with spoons to ask for candy. Families also put together their haftseen table, a household altar holding items symbolizing the spirit of the season. According to tradition, seven items beginning with the number S are arranged on the table, each with its own significance:

—Seeb [apple], for beauty

—Seer [garlic], for health

—Serkeh [vinegar], for patience

—Sonbol [hyacinth], for spring

—Samanu [sweet pudding], for fertility

—Sabzeh [sprouts], for rebirth

—Sekkeh [coins], for prosperity

Some families also include sumac for the sunrise and senjed [Lotus fruit], for love. Additional items, such as a mirror for reflection, and a goldfish in a bowl to represent life are often included as well as sweets and fruits. On the 13th day of Nowruz the haftseen is taken down and families enjoy a meal of sabzi polo mahi [seasoned rice with fish] before casting the sabzeh [sprouts] into fresh flowing water to symbolize letting go of all baggage and misfortune from the previous year.

Eide Shoma Mobarak! [Happy Nowruz!]

[9A]

Mar 20, 2018

Spring Equinox 2018 [Northern Hemisphere]




Happy Spring Equinox!

Today’s Doodle welcomes the spring equinox, a celestial event which marks the beginning of spring in many cultures. The term comes from the Latin equi, meaning equal, and nox, meaning night. The earth has seasons because the planet is tilted on its axis, which results in each hemisphere receiving more direct light at opposite times of the year. But on the equinox, the earth’s axis is perpendicular to the sun. In other words, people all over the world experience a day and night of equal length — almost exactly 12 hours.

This year’s seasonal Doodle series protagonist, Quinn, is strumming a pleasant tune to coax a mysterious creature out of hiding. With a mild breeze and beautiful flowers, would it be, could it be, spring?

Doodle by Sophie Diao

[9A]

Jun 21, 2022

Celebrating Dr. Lim Boo Liat



Today’s Doodle celebrates the life of Dr. Lim Boo Liat, a renowned Malaysian zoologist and leading authority on all things related to Malaysia’s biological diversity. He helped start Malaysia’s national zoo and wrote more than 300 scientific publications about mammalogy and parasitology. On this day in 2003, Dr. Lim became the first Southeast Asian and fourth Asian to be awarded an Honorary Membership to the American Society of Mammalogists.

While attending high school in Klang, Selangor, Dr. Lim frequented the school garden to observe the life of small animals and insects found there. He was only 16 when World War II came to Malaysia, and had to pause his studies to support his family. In 1947, after the war, he applied for a temporary Lab Assistant job at the Institute of Medical Research [IMR].

In 1952, he was promoted as a permanent Lab Assistant and was involved in a number of scientific expeditions. Dr. Lim conducted research and attended conferences regarding parasitic effects on wildlife behavior. From 1955 to 1969, he published more than 80 scientific papers on vertebrate animals and was asked to head a newly founded Medical Ecology Division at the IMR.

Seeing his potential and expertise in the field, a few professors from European universities paved the way for him to pursue his Master’s Degree, despite his lack of a formal education. In fact, Dr. Lim did not even receive his Bachelor’s Degree before his sponsorship to the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

He returned to Malaysia in 1972 and continued running the Medical Ecology Division, this time as a full-fledged zoologist. Dr. Lim received his PhD in Zoology at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1977 and was invited to help run the Vector Biology Control Research Unit at the World Health Organization.

His contributions to the field of zoology and biodiversity have inspired the next generation of scientists from Malaysia. From a temporary lab assistant to an honorary member of the American Society of Mammalogists, Dr. Lim is a shining example of immense expertise. He has a number of species of parasites and animals named after him, and is a 2013 recipient of the Merdeka Award.

[9A]

Mar 02, 2022

Discovery of Thailand's Largest Dinosaur Remains




On this day in 2016 in the Chaiyaphum province, Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources discovered a dinosaur fossil estimated to be 100 million years old that is believed to be the largest herbivore dinosaur fossil ever found in Thailand or Southeast Asia.

While out and about, a local noticed something quite unusual–massive bones. He contacted the authorities, who then uncovered over 20 individual fragments of sacrum, pelvis spine, and femur all belonging to a single titanosauriform sauropod species estimated to be anywhere between 23 to 30 meters [approximately 74 to 98 feet] long!

Scientists believe the bones of the brontosaurus-like sauropod species characterized by its long neck and tail could be attributed to a previously discovered species called Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, but the remains also could indicate the existence of an entirely new species—which would be the largest to have ever roamed Cretaceous-era Thailand.

[9A]

Dec 07, 2020

Kateryna Bilokur's 120th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the 120th birthday of Ukrainian painter Kateryna Bilokur, a self-taught virtuoso who earned international renown for her detailed and vivid paintings, especially those featuring her signature focus on flowers. Through a courageous devotion to her craft, Bilokur overcame great adversity to earn recognition alongside the master artists of her time.

Kateryna Bilokur was born on this day in 1900 in Bohdanivka, a village in Ukraine’s Kyiv region. She was denied a primary education and spent her days as a farm worker, but she refused to let this stand in her way. She crafted brushes out of raw materials and paints out of foods like beets and elderberries to pursue her artistic passion in her free time, with nature as her muse.

Then when she was nearly 40, her life took a fortuitous turn. Inspired by a song on the radio, Bilokur wrote a letter of admiration to the Ukrainian singer Oksana Petrusenko with an original work attached. Petrusenko was so impressed that she helped pave the way for the first exhibitions of Bilokur’s work. Over the next two decades, her unique depictions of transcendent natural beauty reached an international audience, notably earning huge praise from the Spanish master Pablo Picasso at a 1954 exhibition in Paris.

For her lifetime achievements, Bilokur was named a People’s Artist of Ukraine, the highest arts award for Ukrainian citizens.

Happy birthday to an artist who proved it’s never too late to blossom into your potential.

[9A]

Mar 19, 2020

Spring 2020 [Northern Hemisphere]

[9A]

Mar 20, 2019

Fall 2019 [Southern Hemisphere]

[9A]

Jun 03, 2022

Dragon Boat Festival 2022





Today’s Doodle celebrates the annual Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Jie. The festival always occurs on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This year, June 3rd marks the day when people across Asia gather to watch dragon-shaped boats race along river banks and lakes.

The holiday originated over 2,000 years ago in China to commemorate a beloved poet named Qu Yuan. When the Chu State was defeated in 278 B.C., Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River as a final act of loyalty to the King of Chu. As legend has it, villagers boarded their boats and threw rice dumplings in the water to keep fish away from the body of the poet. The fifth lunar month is also considered a “poisonous” month in Chinese agriculture since summer is the high season for insects and pests. That’s why traditional Duanwu Jie customs involve hanging mugwort leaves and herbs on doors and windows to repel insects.

Today, the festival’s most popular tradition is, of course, the exciting dragon boat race. The boats seat a crews of up to 90, which includes a drummer for morale and pace setting. Locals often watch the race while drinking realgar wine and eating zongi, a sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival to all! Let’s get ready to row.

[9A]

Aug 07, 2023

Celebrating the Bishan Otter Family




While Singapore is renowned for its sky-scraping architecture and well-loved gastronomy, it’s also home to a group of smooth-coated otters who have stolen the hearts of people around the world — today’s hand-crafted Doodle celebrates the original Bishan Otter Family. On this day in 2016, Singaporeans voted in a poll by The Straits Times to select the otters to represent the country on its 51st birthday.

Classified as a critically endangered species in Singapore, five otters were spotted at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore in 2014 — an incredibly rare sighting in the country’s urban area at the time. After clashing with another group of otters, the family of critically-endangered animals moved into Marina Bay that same year. Since then, residents and tourists have gathered to watch the ten otters go about their day. On a typical day, the Bishan family catches fish and basks on the shore. After dinner, the otters play with each other in the water before rolling around in the sand.


The Bishan Otter Family became internationally famous in 2016 when English broadcaster Sir David Attenborough based a documentary on their lives. Since their spotting, more families of otters have emerged around Singapore. The otters’ ability to exist amid urban development has gained the interest of global researchers. Many credit Singapore's reforestation and anti-pollution efforts for the animal’s resurgence in the country. These cute creatures aren't just a testament to the country's environmental conservation—now, they're a symbol of Singapore itself.

[9A]

Mar 01, 2021

St. David's Day 2021



Today’s Doodle is illustrated by Welsh guest artist Elin Manon and inspired by the legend of Dinas Emrys—one of Wales’ most famous historic tales—celebrating St. David’s Day.

Myth has it that in the fifth century, a Celtic king named Vortigen discovered what he thought was the perfect place to build his castle on the Welsh hillside. However, Myrddin Emrys [Merlin, the wizard] convinced Vortigen that there was a catch—a large fire-breathing one! The spot he had chosen was directly above the lair of two slumbering dragons; one red, one white. Upon the castle’s construction, the two dragons were found in a fierce battle. The red dragon emerged victorious and returned to rest in his subterranean lair, allowing Vortigen to complete the building of his fortress once the dust had settled.

The red dragon has since become an immortal symbol of the Welsh people and St. David’s Day, along with the daffodil—the yellow flower surrounding it in the Doodle artwork. Although the tale of Dinas Emrys may sound like nothing but fantasy, a 1945 excavation of the site found remains of a fortress dating back to Vortigen’s time.

So take caution if you ever plan to venture to the ruins of Dinas Emrys... you may awaken a dragon.

Happy St. David’s Day!

[9A]

Dec 20, 2020

Remembering Sudan, the Last Male Northern White Rhino




Today’s Doodle remembers the last surviving male northern white rhinoceros, Sudan, who was known as an affectionate “gentle giant.” On this day in 2009, Sudan and three other northern white rhinos arrived at their new home in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya. Sudan, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 45 [the equivalent of 90 in human years], serves as a cherished symbol of ongoing rhino conservation efforts and a stark reminder of the danger of extinction that so many species face today.

Sudan was born in Shambe, in what is today, South Sudan in 1973 and is believed to be the last northern white rhino born in the wild. In 1976, he was taken to Dvůr Králové Zoo in then Czechoslovakia, where he grew to be 6 feet tall and a whopping 5,000 lbs [roughly the weight of a midsize car] and fathered two daughters.

In 2009, after the northern white rhino was declared extinct in the wild, four rhinos including Sudan, his daughter Najin, and his granddaughter Fatu were transferred back to their native African habitat. Conservationists hoped that the natural Kenyan environment of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy would encourage breeding among the rhinos, but within several years, veterinarians came to the conclusion that natural reproduction would most likely not be possible.

Yet there is still hope, as scientists work to develop in vitro fertilization techniques to save the subspecies from the brink of extinction. For now, Sudan’s legacy rests with Najin and Fatu, the world’s final two northern white rhinoceros.

[9A]

May 19, 2020

Nicholas Winton's 111th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 111th birthday of British humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton, who organized the escape of over 600 children from German-occupied Czechoslovakia in the lead-up to World War II.

Nicholas Winton was born Nicholas George Wertheim in London, England on this day in 1909. In 1938, with World War II looming over Europe, Winton was inspired to do something to help.

He set in motion a huge rescue effort to save primarily Jewish children from the threat of German occupation in present-day Czechia by transporting them to Britain. The dangerous operation required Winton and his collaborators to find homes for the children with British families, raise money, bribe officials, and even forge documents. In March 1939, the first train left Prague, and over the next few months, a total of 669 children were rescued to safety.

For nearly 50 years, the world knew nothing of what Winton had done – not even his wife. That all changed in 1988, when she discovered documents in their attic referencing the daring rescues. Today, Winton’s story serves as an shining example of the power of selfless action to bring about incredible change.

[9A]

Sep 17, 2023

Celebrating Picos de Europa




Today’s Doodle celebrates Picos de Europa National Park. Spread across 11 villages in northern Spain, the park is home to meadows, lakes, and a steep, sloping mountain range. On this day in 2001, the Bulnes cable car was inaugurated, which ended the isolation of the town of Bulnes which is located in the Picos de Europa. The Bulnes train station can be spotted within the second “G” in today’s Doodle artwork!

The park’s natural beauty and abundant resources attract more than millions of visitors annually. From flourishing grasslands to dense forests, its 67,127 hectares provide ideal dwelling places for protected species like bearded vultures, brown bears, and Iberian wolves. The Cantabrian chamois has become the unofficial mascot of the park. Statues of the mountain goat antelope decorate trail signs and lodging throughout. Picos De Europa is also a flower enthusiast's paradise with over 40 orchid species and rare fauna like the pulsatilla rubra — known for its vibrant red petals with golden yellow stamens.

In 2003, UNESCO approved Biosphere Reserve status for the park, establishing it as a site for scientific work. Nearly a decade later, Spain extended the park’s boundaries to its current size. Today, Picos de Europa remains one of nature’s wonders and reminds us why we should protect it.

[9A]

Apr 23, 2023

St. George's Day 2023




Today’s Doodle celebrates St. George’s Day and the lore surrounding him. On this day in 303, St. George passed away, but the tales of his adventures live on.

Legend has it that St. George visited a town in Libya called Silene, where a dragon guarded the only well. When he realised the people’s access to fresh water was heavily limited, he slayed the dragon and liberated the city from it. Bushes with the reddest roses ever seen are said to have begun growing throughout Silene after the dragon was defeated — so some people give a red rose to a loved one on St. George’s Day, or wear one on their lapel. Today’s Doodle artwork [made from hand-cut acrylic glass] features the dragon and roses from the tale of St. George.

Those who celebrate the day may hang a flag featuring St. George’s cross, which is a red cross on a white background. And the celebrations aren’t limited to the United Kingdom — ceremonies take place across Venice, Genoa, Portugal, Ethiopia, and Catalonia on this day as well.

Happy St. George’s Day! 🌹

[9A]

Apr 27, 2023

King's Day 2023




Today's Doodle celebrates King's Day, a Dutch holiday that honors the Netherlands’s rich cultural heritage.

Cafes remain open throughout the night the evening before, as crowds gather in the streets to take part in Koningsnacht [King’s Night] festivities.

Once day breaks, the scent of Dutch treats like special orange tompouce pastries [like the ones in today’s Doodle artwork!] fill the air.

King’s Day may sound like one big Dutch party. But the holiday is ultimately about honoring joy and community. Friends and families reconnect as they attend street parties, listen to live music, and peruse giant flea markets called vrijmarkt throughout the day.

Although festivities take place across the country, the most popular ones occur in Amsterdam — where orange boats float through the city’s famous waterways, causing historical canals to burst into color.

Happy King’s Day to the Dutch!

[9A]

Apr 23, 2020

St. George's Day 2020





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by British guest artist Robin Davey, commemorates St. George’s Day. On the annual celebration of the patron saint, England celebrates St. George and his representation of values like bravery, integrity, and leadership.

According to legend, St. George single-handedly slew a dragon to rescue a city under siege. For centuries, he captured the English imagination; in fact, King Henry V’s veneration for St. George was even immortalized in William Shakespeare’s eponymous play about the monarch.

St. George was declared England’s patron saint in 1348, and in 1415 St. George’s Day was inaugurated as a national feast day in his honor. Today, the special day lives on as a testament to England’s culture and unique traditions through activities like morris dancing [a rural folk custom] and medieval jousting.

Happy St. George’s Day!

[9A]

Jan 18, 2023

Sachio Kinugasa’s 76th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 76th birthday of Japanese baseball player Sachio Kinugasa. He broke the record for most consecutive baseball games played in 1987 and held it for nine more years.

On this day in 1947, Kinugasa was born in Kyoto, Japan, to a Japanese mother and an African American father, and as a young boy, he was taunted for being mixed race.

He began playing baseball at Heian Buddhist high school and gained popularity as an infielder in the national high school tournament. In 1965, he was signed to the Hiroshima Carp baseball team. He was part of the starting lineup a few years later as third basemen and was a consistent hitter with around 15 home runs a year for 20+ years.

Kinugasa was dedicated to the sport and played a record-breaking 2,215 games in a row even sometimes with fractured bones. To him, it was more painful to miss a game than to play a game while injured, earning him the nickname Tetsujin [Iron Man]. While he is best known for his consecutive game streak, Kinugasa was a well-rounded player who ranks seventh in career home runs with a grand total of 504, fifth in career hits and tenth in career runs batted in. In 1975, he helped the Carp win their first ever league championship.

He received many awards for his athletic performance. Kinugasa was named Central League MVP in 1984 for winning the Japanese championship series. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996 and became the second baseball player to receive the People’s Honor Award, given for accomplishments in sports and entertainment, from the Prime Minister of Japan. A lifetime lover of the game, Kinugasa became a baseball announcer for TBS after retiring from the Carp.

Happy birthday to a baseball player who stole countless bases and hearts, Sachio Kinugasa!

[9A]

Oct 12, 2018

Celebrating Roberto Clemente




“I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.”

—Roberto Clemente

In the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month in the US, today’s Doodle by guest artist Roxie Vizcarra, commemorates the life and career of Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican Hall of Fame baseball star, Latinx trailblazer, and passionate humanitarian.

Born the son of a sugar cane worker in Carolina, Puerto Rico on August 18, 1934, Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker grew up in Barrio San Antón. His athletic gifts were obvious from an early age, joining the Puerto Rican amateur league at age 16. His professional career began in 1952, when the then 18-year-old signed with the Santurce Cangrejeros [[Crabbers), a winter league team in the LBBPR [Puerto Rico’s Baseball League].

Soon after graduating high school, Clemente signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliate in Montreal. His first at bat resulted in a game-winning home run on July 25, 1954. He made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates the following season.

A testament to his unique athletic ability, the right fielder accumulated numerous accolades during his pro career including 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, 4 National League batting titles, 3,000 career hits, the 1966 National League MVP Award, 2 World Series rings, and the 1971 World Series MVP Award. In fact, it was on this day in 1971 that Clemente’s performance led the Pittsburgh Pirates to victory against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the series, ultimately contributing to their Series title.

Aside from his talents on diamond, it was Clemente’s mission to help others that has solidified his legacy as one of the most humanitarian athletes to play the game. Whether it was delivering food and supplies to those in need, holding baseball clinics for kids, or making generous donations, he consistently sought to be an agent of positive impact and a role model for the youth of his community.

Unfortunately, it was during the pursuit of this mission that Clemente saw his final moments. When a massive earthquake struck Nicaragua on Dec 23, 1972, he decided to personally airlift relief supplies to the nation to ensure they reached those in need. The overloaded plane crashed shortly after takeoff and Clemente passed away at the age of 38.

A few months after his passing, on March 20, 1973, Clemente was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, becoming the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be so honored. Major League Baseball has honored his legacy since then by presenting the Roberto Clemente Award each year to an outstanding player who shows a strong commitment to community work.

Other posthumous awards Clemente has received include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Roberto Clemente Walker Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Citizens Medal. Sixty years after Clemente’s pro debut, Puerto Rico’s professional baseball league was even renamed the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente—a testimony to the enduring impact he made on his community and beyond.

[9A]

July 31, 2022

Celebrating Pétanque




Interactive version: https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-petanque

Today’s interactive Doodle game celebrates Pétanque, a beloved French outdoor game played around the world. Just click the Doodle to play a random match or challenge your friends!

Long before Pétanque became France’s go-to afternoon activity, Ancient Greeks played games tossing flat stones and eventually stone balls. After modifying the game by adding a target ball, Ancient Roman soldiers and sailors brought the game to France.

The modern game of Pétanque originated in 1907 in Provence, France when a local cafe owner adjusted the rules to accommodate a player whose rheumatism prevented him from running. With a reduced length of the field and a stationary toss, Pétanque spread quickly across the country.

The rules of the game are fairly simple: throw, toss, or roll your team’s metal boules closer to the target boule than the other team. Over a series of rounds, the first player or team to score thirteen points wins! The goal might sound simple, but players can use a number of tactics to gain an advantage over their opponent. “Shooting” is a popular strategy, often used at competitive levels, where players attempt to knock away an opponent's boule from the target.

Nowadays, Pétanque is more than just a leisure activity with friends—the game is played competitively at regional, national and international levels throughout the world. The best players attend showcase events like the Mondial La Marseillaise in France and the La British Open in England.

Click today’s Doodle and get the boules rolling!

[9A]

Oct 12, 2021

Eugenio Montale's 125th Birthday







Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Aosta, Italy-based guest artist Andrea Serio, celebrates the 125th birthday of Italian poet, critic, and translator Eugenio Montale. Renowned for his masterful ability to capture human emotion, he is widely considered one of the greatest poets of contemporary history.

Born on this day in 1896 in the Italian port city of Genoa, Eugenio Montale first pursued a career as a baritone opera singer before finding his true voice as a poet. In a poem from “Ossi di Seppia” [“Cuttlefish Bones,” 1925], his first published collection, Montale used the rocky Italian coast as a symbol to provide both his readers and himself an escape from the anxiety of postwar Italy. This critically acclaimed collection differed from the extravagant language in poems of the time, and represented a turn in the tide for 20th-century literary symbolists.

Although he rejected the label, Montale is considered among the founders of the modernist poetic movement of Hermeticism—a “hermetic” [hidden or sealed] literary style often achieved through purposefully hard-to-interpret analogies and emotional vocabulary. Montale garnered worldwide fame for five volumes of symbolist poetry published during his 50-year writing career. In addition, he worked as an internationally renowned essayist, music and literary critic, and translator of English classics ranging from Shakespeare to Mark Twain.

In 1975, Montale’s uncompromising verse was recognized at the highest level when he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Often alluded to in the work of modern poets—Montale’s famously difficult poetry continues to have a profound effect on the literary world today.

Happy birthday, Eugenio Montale!

[9A]

October 8, 2010

César Milstein's 73rd Birthday





César Milstein was an Argentine biochemist in the field of antibody research. Milstein shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984 with Niels Kaj Jerne and Georges J. F. Köhler for developing the hybridoma technique for the production of monoclonal antibodies.

The major part of Milstein's research career was devoted to studying the structure of antibodies and the mechanism by which antibody diversity is generated. It was as part of this quest that, in 1975, he worked with Georges Köhler [a postdoctoral fellow in his laboratory] to develop the hybridoma technique for the production of monoclonal antibodies—a discovery recognized by the award of the 1984 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. This discovery led to an enormous expansion in the exploitation of antibodies in science and medicine.

[9A]

Sep 30, 2010

Flintstones' 50th Anniversary






As a young kid, I drew a lot of dinosaurs. My dad would bring home reams of dot matrix printer paper from work, which I'd take, fold into stapled booklets, and then fill with dinosaurs doing what dinosaurs did best — eating, leaping about, facing off in epic combat on top of spewing volcanoes. What I didn't know was that dinosaurs were also quite handy. A brontosaurus tail made an excellent water slide, you could walk up a row of plates on a stegosaurus' back like a flight of stairs, and the triceratops' horns were actually cutting-edge can openers. For these paleontological insights into Stone Aged innovation, I have the Flintstones to thank.

The Flintstones is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, which takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbors, the Rubbles. It was originally broadcast on ABC from September 30, 1960, to April 1, 1966, and was the first animated series with a prime-time slot on television.

The Flintstones may have lived in the prehistoric town of Bedrock, but their technology was on par with much of what we use today. Everyone drove human-powered vehicles [zero emissions!], composted scraps in a dinosaur under the kitchen sink, and even wore solar powered watches—that is, if you count sundials. In short, Bedrock was the modern city of the past... and I wanted to live in it! Unfortunately, that didn’t quite pan out, but to be able to pay tribute to one of my favorite childhood TV shows in the form of a Google doodle is easily the next best thing.

On the 50th anniversary of its first airing, we gladly salute “The Flintstones” for inspiring our imaginations and encouraging us to think outside of the box, even if it means taking a look back now and then. I hope you’ll join the rest of us here at Google in a little nostalgia to mark this fun occasion!

Oh, and if you know any saber-toothed tigers looking for an internship as a hole puncher, give me a buzz.

posted by Mike Dutton

[9A]

July 31, 2020

Celebrating Pacita Abad





Today’s Doodle celebrates Philippine artist, feminist, and activist Pacita Abad, renowned for her bold use of color and mixed media as well as her use of art to address global themes. On this day in 1984, Abad made history as the first woman to receive the Philippines’ prestigious Ten Outstanding Young Men award.

Pacita Abad was born on October 5th, 1946 in Basco, in the northern province of Batanes, the Philippines. She pursued graduate studies in San Francisco, California in the U.S. in 1970 and became very involved in the city’s artistic community. Abad went on to study painting and then traveled the world with her art supplies, from Bangladesh to Sudan, and the cultures she encountered had a profound influence on her ever-evolving artistic style. Dedicated to improving the world through art, she used pieces like her 1979 series “Portraits of Cambodia” to raise awareness of societal issues.

Over time, Abad transitioned toward abstract work and pioneered a painting technique called trapunto [Italian for quilting]. To achieve this style, she stuffed her canvases to create a sculptural effect and integrated culturally significant materials discovered during her travels, like shells and fabrics. Abad channeled a passion for public art into her 2003 project “Painted Bridge,” for which she covered Singapore’s 55-meter Alkaff Bridge with an explosion of 2,350 vibrantly colored circles.

Abad crafted over 5,000 pieces of art, and today her colorful legacy resonates in collections in over 70 countries.

Thank you, Pacita Abad, for painting the picture of a brighter tomorrow!

[9A]

Sep 20, 2023

Celebrating Matilde Landeta




Today’s Doodle celebrates Mexican filmmaker Matilde Landeta. Known for her realistic depictions of female protagonists, Landeta was one of the first women to work as a director and screenwriter in the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema.

Landeta was born in Mexico City on this day in 1913. She grew up with her grandma in San Luis Potosí. Landeta’s brother, who later became an actor, introduced her to movies at a young age. She dreamt of being a film director, but the Mexican film industry disregarded female talent at the time. In 1933, she got her foot in the door as a script supervisor.

After over a decade of conflicts with the Directors’ Association, Landeta finally convinced them to let her work as an assistant director. She spent three years collaborating with some of the most notable Mexican directors, but it became clear the government-subsidized film industry wouldn’t allow her to direct a film herself. In 1947, Landeta, her brother, and several colleagues founded Tecnicos y Actores Cinematograficos Associados [TACMA]. It was time to yell, "Action!" on her dream to make independent films.

Landeta wrote a screenplay, Tribunal para menores, that she intended to direct, but those in the association selected a male director instead. However, she did win the prestigious Ariel Award for her screenplay. Finally, Landeta directed her first feature, Lola Casanova in 1949.

Thanks to the film’s success, Landeta earned the chance to direct her own screenplay adaptation of La Negra Angustias. It later received acclaim for its feminist perspective and exploration of class and gender tensions. Landeta made one more feature before she had a falling out with the director of the National Cinematographic Bank. They barred her from making movies for six years.

Landeta was a trailblazer who helped put women in front of and behind the Mexican film cameras. In 2004, the Matilde Landeta Cultural Association started to award screenwriters annual scholarships. Her work and ambition continue to inspire directors around the world.

Happy birthday, Matilde Landeta!

[9A]

Mar 01, 2023

Celebrating Mickey Chen





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Taiwan-based guest artist Dyin Li, celebrates Taiwanese filmmaker and activist Mickey Chen, who focused on telling stories from people that belonged to disenfranchised communities. On this day in 1999, his film Boys for Beauty became the first LGBTQ-themed documentary to be screened at a movie theater in Taiwan.

Chen, fascinated by cameras from a young age, started creating movies in college. At 30, he made his directorial debut with Not Simply a Wedding Banquet [1997], a documentary about the first gay couple to have a public wedding in Taipei. It explored the struggles that members of the LGBTQ+ community faced in Taiwan.

In 1999, Chen released Boys for Beauty, an eye-opening exposé that followed the lives of three gay teenagers from Taipei. The film took a bold stance against gender norms and showcased the societal pressures each subjects’ relatives endured. It was a box office success and a pivotal achievement for Taiwanese cinema.

Boys for Beauty won countless awards and film festival placements, most notably the Audience Award at the 2000 Taiwan International Documentary Festival. Chen gave an inspiring acceptance speech that praised the LGBTQ+ movement and invited several directors to join his on stage in an act of solidarity.

Chen wrote and directed many more documentaries such as Memorandum on Happiness [2003], Scars on Memory [2005], and Fragile in Love [2007]. He also published Taipei Father, New York Mother in 2011, a book about family tragedies that occurred during his youth. Throughout his career, Chen documented significant moments of LGBTQ+ history in Taiwan and opened the eyes of the public to them and Taiwan’s progressive LGBTQ+ societal views are a result of trailblazers like him.

[9A]

Feb 10, 2023

P.K. Rosy's 120th Birthday



Today’s Doodle honours P.K. Rosy, who became the first female lead in Malayalam cinema. On this day in 1903, Rosy was born Rajamma in Thiruvananthapuram, formerly Trivandrum [Kerala’s capital city].

Rosy’s passion for acting began at a young age. In an era when performing arts was discouraged in many sections of society, especially for women, Rosy broke barriers with her role in the Malayalam film Vigathakumaran [The Lost Child]. Though she never received recognition for her work during her lifetime, Rosy’s story is relevant to conversations about representation in the media. Today, her story serves as motivation and inspiration for many.

Thank you for your courage and the legacy you leave behind, P.K. Rosy.

[9A]

Nov 27, 2022

Ronit Elkabetz's 58th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates what would have been Ronit Elkabetz’s 58th birthday, and was illustrated by Israeli guest artist Maya Shleifer. One of the most acclaimed actresses of her time, the Mizrahi star is considered an icon across Israel and France for her work on both sides of the camera.

Elkabetz was born on this day in Beersheba, Israel, in 1964. She grew up speaking Hebrew, Arabic, and French thanks to her Moroccan roots. With piercing good looks and poise beyond her years, 17-year-old Elkabetz began her career as a fashion model in Tel Aviv.

In 1990, Elkabetz auditioned for what she believed was a commercial—it was actually for the film, The Appointed. Despite having no acting training or experience, Elkabetz won the lead role that set her film career into motion. Next, she starred in Sh'Chur as the older sister in a family caught up in superstitions, for which she won her first Ophir Award [the Israeli Oscars].

In 1997, she moved to Paris to study acting at Theatre du Soleil and supported herself by working as a waitress. After completing her training, she starred in the French film Origine contrôlée. Months later, she earned her second Israeli Ophir Award for Late Marriage. Elkabetz's ability to capture emotionally rich characters made her an in-demand actress in both Israeli and French cinema.

After starring in Or, which won the Camera d’Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, Elkabetz became interested in other parts of the filmmaking process. In that year she worked on her debut film as a director and screenwriter, To Take a Wife, which would become the first of a film trilogy she created with her brother, director and actor Shlomi Elkabetz. The Elkabetz trilogy, an Israeli-French co-production, also includes the films Shiva and Golden Globe nominated Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem. It had a tremendous impact on Israeli society and culture, featuring the first authentic portrayal of a Mizrahi family in Israeli cinema and promoting the plight of Jewish women denied a divorce in the rabbinical court system in Israel.

Elkabetz was nominated for thirteen Ophir Awards over the course of her career. She was also awarded the French Legion of Honor for her work. Leaving behind a groundbreaking legacy of strong female leads, Elkabetz conquered complex roles and multiple art forms while popularizing Israeli cinema.

Happy birthday, Ronit Elkabetz!

[9A]

Apr 09, 2022

Nomhle Nkonyeni's 80th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the 80th birthday of Nomhle Nkonyeni, a Black South African actress who overcame discrimination to take the stage during apartheid.

Nomhle Nkonyeni was born on this day in 1942 in Aggrey Road, in the city of Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth. Her notable acting career began as early as age 19 when she co-founded the Serpent Players. This interracial theater troupe’s name was inspired by the abandoned snake pit in which they were forced to first perform due to discrimination. Nkonyeni continued to defy discrimination laws, with the acting group eventually drawing interracial audiences to view political protest theater.

Almost two decades later, Nkonyeni made history by becoming the first Black actress to perform at The CAPAB theater, a major performing arts center in Cape Town. She played the lead role in Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena, which details the struggles of a Black South African woman navigating discriminatory laws. Nkonyeni’s talent became known on the small and big screens as well, where she held numerous roles in television shows and films such as Tsha Tsha, Scandal!, Zulu, and Red Dust—her career spanning over five decades.

Nkonyeni also dedicated her life to empowering the next generation. She volunteered as a drama teacher for homeless youth in her spare time and led youth theater programs in Cape Town. In 2016, Nkonyeni received a lifetime achievement award from the South African Film and Television Awards for her legacy and impact—both on and off the stage.

[9A]

Apr 22, 2023

Earth Day 2023




Today’s annual Earth Day Doodle highlights how individuals and communities can work together in big and small ways to take action against climate change. On this day, people all over the globe honor the achievements of the environmental movement and consider areas where further climate justice is needed.

As depicted today’s Doodle [which is made from real leaves] there’s a spectrum of actions we can take in our day-to-day that can add up to make a real difference. This includes:

at home: opting to air dry laundry instead of using the dryer

how/what we consume: practicing a plant-based diet or opting for plant-based options when possible

how we get around: walking or riding a bike instead of driving, when possible

[9A]

1 April 2020

Dame Jean Macnamara's 121st birthday







Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Sydney-based guest artist Thomas Campi, celebrates Australian doctor and medical scientist Dame Jean Macnamara on her 121st birthday. Dr. Macnamara applied her tireless work ethic to better understand and treat various forms of paralysis including polio, and her work contributed to the development of a successful polio vaccine in 1955.

Annie Jean Macnamara was born in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia on this day in 1899, and as a teenager during World World I felt a strengthened resolve “to be of some use in the world.” Standing just 152cm tall, the forthright Dr. Macnamara proved to be a force to be reckoned with.

Dr. Macnamara graduated from medical school in 1925, the same year a polio epidemic struck the capital city of Melbourne. As a consultant and medical officer to the Poliomyelitis Committee of Victoria, she turned her focus to treating and researching the potentially fatal virus, a particular risk for children.

In collaboration with the future Nobel Prize winner Sir Macfarlane Burnet, she discovered in 1931 that there was more than one strain of the poliovirus, a pivotal step towards the development of an effective vaccine nearly 25 years later.

Dr. Macnamara continued to work with sufferers of the disease—especially children—for the rest of her life, developing new methods of treatment and rehabilitation.

For her invaluable commitment to children’s lives, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire [DBE] in 1935. During her lifetime, Dr. Macnamara's research also played a major role in the introduction of myxomatosis to control rabbit plagues, minimising environmental damage across Australia.

[9A]

2 May 2016

Mario Miranda’s 90th birthday






Mario Miranda was a beloved cartoonist best known for his works in the Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly of India. Based primarily on the bustling cityscape of Mumbai, Miranda’s works often feature complex, multi-layered scenes. Humanity floods the canvas and yet each character maintains their individuality.

Our guest Doodler today is Aaron Renier, another artist known for portraying large crowds. “I approached Mario’s work by pretending I was drawing with him,” says Renier. “I chose his most popular style, very flat with criss-crossing interactions.” In this homage to Miranda, we see a rich litany of people, each unique in their perspective. “That is what I liked most about his work,” Renier explains, “trying to pick out who knows who, who's watching who, who's annoyed by who, who's enamored by who. Hopefully people will see something of [Miranda’s] spirit in it.”

Mario Miranda’s works live on throughout India, and on what would have been his 90th birthday, we honor his legacy.

[9A]

November 23, 2018

Valdemar Poulsen’s 148th Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates Valdemar Poulsen, a Danish engineer whose innovations made magnetic sound recording and long-range radio transmission possible. Many modern conveniences, from telephone answering machines to cassettes, even VHS tapes and floppy disks, used the basic technology that he developed by stringing a steel piano wire at a slight angle between two walls. By sliding an electromagnet down the wire he was able to record sound using a microphone and play it back through a telephone earpiece.

Born in Copenhagen on this day in 1869, Poulsen studied medicine for a time before joining the Copenhagen Telephone Company as a technician. During his time he invented the telegraphone—or telegrafon in Danish–– and was awarded a patent. The cylindrical electromagnetic phonograph was capable of recording up to thirty minutes of speech. In 1900 he showed off his device at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, where he recorded the voice of Austrian emperor Francis Joseph—still the earliest surviving magnetic recording. After winning a Grand Prix in Paris, he founded the American Telegraphone Company, but sales were sluggish as the device was truly ahead of its time.

That same year brought another breakthrough, a “singing arc” radio that would transmit up to 150 miles. Subsequent improvements of this design, capable of reaching 2,500 miles, were eventually used by the U.S. Navy.

Although he dropped out of medical school, Poulsen was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leipzig. He was also a Fellow of the Danish Academy of Technical Science and the Swedish Institute for Engineering Research, and won the Gold Medal of the Royal Danish Society of Science and the Danish Government Medal of Merit. A stamp was issued in his honor and the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences established an annual award in his name.

Happy Birthday, Valdemar Poulsen!

[9A]

Mar 23, 2022

Elena Caffarena's 119th Birthday


Today’s Doodle—illustrated by Chile-based guest artist Catalina Bu—celebrates the 119th birthday of Elena Caffarena, a feminist lawyer who helped Chilean women win the right to vote in national elections. Considered one of the most important Chilean public figures of the 20th century, Caffarena spearheaded Chile’s workers' rights and women’s rights movements.

Caffarena came of age during a time when the working class labored in perilous conditions to earn meager wages. Caffarena attended the University of Chile in the early 1920s and became one of the first Chilean women to earn a law degree. Around this time, she met Luis Emilio Recabarren, a former low-wage worker and union organizer. He deepened her determination to fight for the rights of underserved communities.

In 1935, Caffarena co-founded the Movement for the Emancipation of Chilean Women, the first national group to advocate for equal salaries and opportunities for women. Thanks to a bill that Caffarena co-wrote, the Chilean feminists achieved universal suffrage in 1949.

Today’s Doodle celebrates her birthday and reflects on all she accomplished for the Chilean working class and women!

[9A]

Nov 19, 2022
Celebrating Enrique de la Mora





Today’s Doodle celebrates Enrique de la Mora y Palomar, a Mexican architect who shaped the image of contemporary cities in Mexico, and was illustrated by Mexico-based artist Julian Ardila. De la Mora experimented with hyperbolic paraboloid shell roofs, also known as saddle roofs, to create structurally efficient buildings with a modern aesthetic. On this day in 1946, Enrique de la Mora received the Premio Educación Pública award from the Administrative Commission of the National Prize for Arts and Sciences for his Purísima Concepción Parish design.

De la Mora was born on November 19, 1907 in Guadalajara, a city in Western Mexico. His father, Manuel de la Mora y del Castillo Negrete, was a prominent engineer and architect.

Following his father’s footsteps, the young De la Mora attended the National School of Architecture and graduated in 1933. A year later, he launched his career by designing the El Puerto de Liverpool department store in Mexico City.

De la Mora went on to design more than 100 architectural projects over the next two decades, including major university buildings and churches. His building designs focused on optimizing structures with symmetrical curves such as hyperbolas, parabolas, vaults and arches.

His most notable work was Iglesia La Purísima, the first Mexican church with a modern architectural design. The structural innovation behind the church’s parabolic vaulted ceilings won him a National Architecture Award in 1946.

His other major works include the master plan for the Monterrey Institute of Technology, the Mexican Stock Exchange, and the School of Philosophy and Literature [Facultad de Filosofía y Letras] at the National Autonomous University of Mexico which later became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today, De la Mora is remembered as an important figure in the structural expressionism movement. We can find his exceptional work and influence across major Mexican cities.

[9A]

May 11, 2021

Go Tik Swan's 90th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates Indonesian artist Go Tik Swan, a contemporary master of the ancient art form of designing fabric with hot wax known as batik.

Go Tik Swan was born on this day in 1931 in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia. He came of age frequenting his grandfather’s batik workshops, where he absorbed Javanese cultural knowledge from local craftspeople. Fascinated by his ancestry, Swan further explored his heritage by studying Javanese literature and dance at the University of Indonesia.

It was during one of his college dance performances that Indonesia’s president caught wind of Swan’s family background in batik manufacturing and commissioned him to create a new batik style; one that he believed could transcend division and unite the Indonesian people. In the 1950s, Swan fulfilled the president’s request by combining regional batik techniques to introduce “Batik Indonesia.”

Swan held such high reverence for his craft that he considered each piece of batik to carry philosophical meaning, even developing a motif in the 70s entitled Kembang Bangah [“Rotten Flowers''] as a love letter to his national identity. An expert in Javanese culture, he was also a master of kris [an ancient Javanese ceremonial dagger tradition] and a skilled player of gamelan [a popular orchestral form of traditional Indonesian music]. He gave back so much to his heritage, the Surakarta government honored him with the noble title of Panembahan Hardjonegoro.

Happy birthday, Go Tik Swan!

[9A]

Jul 01, 2020

Celebrating the Litfaßsäule


Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Hamburg-based guest artists Rocket & Wink, celebrates the Litfaßsäule. These iconic advertising pillars were named after the man who first suggested them, Ernst Litfaß [pronounced Lit-fass]. On this date in 1855, to the fanfare of a live orchestra, Berlin’s very first Litfaßsäule was dedicated at the intersection of Münzstraße and what is today Almstadtstraße.

Before the creation of Litfaßsäule, Berlin had a problem with advertisements—they were scattered all over the city, from walls to fences and everywhere in between. The widespread clutter irked Litfaß, and so the clever printer and publisher proposed these dedicated advertising pillars to be placed on Berlin’s busiest corners and plazas as a more organized alternative.

The city agreed to commission 150 pillars as an official system for paid advertisements, and before long the columns were lined cleanly with eye-catching notices for cultural institutions like theaters and dance halls. The unusual, three-meter-tall fixtures were met with huge popularity among Berlin’s residents. Over the decades, the Litfaßsäule came to serve as a symbol of Berlin, and booklovers may even recognize one from the famous cover of Erich Kästner's 1929 children’s book “Emil and the Detectives.”

Today, there are over 50,000 Litfaßsäule—many like those depicted in the Doodle artwork—in use throughout Germany, and they still serve as a popular and practical advertising channel for local events and small organizations. While many of Berlin’s original pillars have since been removed or replaced by newer models, it’s clear that the Litfaßsäule continue to hold a special place in the hearts of the city’s residents.

Danke to all the Litfaßsäulen that have helped make Berlin such a special place!

[9A]

Jul 23, 2018

Ludwig Sütterlin's 153rd Birthday



Today’s Doodle has the “write” stuff and celebrates German graphic artist and font designer Ludwig Sütterlin for creating the Sütterlinschrift, a unified, kid-friendly script that revolutionized the way Prussian and German school children learned to write from 1915-1941.

At the request of the Prussian Ministry of Culture in 1911, Sütterlin developed a handwriting style that would be easier for beginners to use, especially with the steel-spring pen, a modern invention quickly replacing goose-feather quills dipped in ink. As a result, young students could enjoy simple letters, reduced smudging, and fewer reprimands by teachers. Though forbidden by the National Socialists in 1941, Sütterlinschrift was reintroduced and remained as optional in schools until the 1960s so children could read letters from parents or grandparents.

Sütterlin was also a prolific graphic artist and craftsman who designed Art Deco glassware [as depicted in today’s Doodle], iconic promotions like the “Hammer Poster” for the 1896 Berlin Trade Fair, and notable trademarks like the “Goddess of Light” for the AEG electrical company.

Happy 153rd birthday, Ludwig Sütterlin!

[9A]

Sep 12, 2016

Takizo Iwasaki’s 121st birthday


Most of us are familiar with the wax and plastic replica foods that help you decide what to order at a restaurant, but did you know that the practice dates back to the 1920s?

Takizo Iwasaki re-invented a practice that had been around for over a decade, of creating sampuru [or samples] of food served by restaurants. He started with a perfectly 'cooked' omelet made of wax. Reportedly, upon showing it to his wife, she couldn't even tell the difference between the sampuru and the real thing! The omelet was once open for public viewing in his home prefecture of Gifu, where most of the world's replica food is still made.

Although replica foods are now more often made of plastic than wax, the practice is still done by hand and rarely mass-produced. This is to maintain the quality of the sampuru and the unique dishes that each restaurant requests.

Today's doodle celebrates Takizo Iwasaki on what would be his 121st birthday, with an homage to that original omelet that changed the landscape of sampuru forever.

[9A]

Jun 09, 2016

Phoebe Snetsinger’s 85th birthday

The rough animation for the doodle, featuring [left to right] the blackburnian warbler, red-shouldered vanga, village weaverbird, eastern bluebird, and red-capped manakin.

Sometimes it takes dire circumstances to compel us toward action. Phoebe Snetsinger, who would have been 85 years old today, became the world’s most prolific bird-watcher — a feat she achieved by surmounting tremendous odds.

It wasn’t until 1981 — when she was diagnosed with cancer — that Phoebe truly came into her own as a birder. In subsequent years, she scoured the globe for obscure or unknown bird species, ultimately raising her bird count to 8,393, the highest in the world at the time. Some of the notable birds she sighted include the Blackburnian Warbler and the Red-Shouldered Vanga, depicted among many other interesting birds by animator Juliana Chen.

Alternate concepts for the doodle, featuring a portrait and bird nests.

Today, we celebrate the courage of Ms. Snetsigner, and the beauty of life — however hidden it may be.






Sketches of birds both featured and considered for the doodle.

Happy birthday Phoebe!

[9A]

31 Jan 2013

Jackie Robinson's 94th Birthday

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball [MLB] in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. When the Dodgers signed Robinson, it heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

During his 10-year MLB career, Robinson won the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, was an All-Star for six consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1954, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949—the first black player so honored.Robinson played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship.

In 1997, MLB retired his uniform number 42 across all major league teams; he was the first professional athlete in any sport to be so honored. MLB also adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", for the first time on April 15, 2004, on which every player on every team wears No. 42.

[9A]

9 February 2022

Celebrating Toni Stone







In honor of U.S. Black History Month, today’s Doodle illustrated by San Francisco, CA-based guest artist Monique Wray celebrates athlete Marcenia “Toni” Stone, who overcame both gender and racial discrimination to become the first woman in history to play professional baseball as a regular in a men’s major baseball league. On this day in 2021, Stone was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame.

Marcenia Lyle Stone was born in 1921 in Bluefield, West Virginia during an era of pronounced racial segregation in American sports. In 1931, Stone moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she developed her remarkable athleticism in the city’s public playgrounds and baseball fields. By just 15, the all-male semi-pro Twin Cities Colored Giants broke gender convention by bringing Stone onto its roster. In 1946, Stone went to bat with the San Francisco Sea Lions, marking the start of her illustrious professional career.

Her exceptional batting average of .280 earned her a spot on the bench with the Negro League All-Star team while she continued to travel across the United States playing second base for the minor league New Orleans Creoles. In 1953, Stone filled the spot of future Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron as the second baseman for the Indianapolis Clowns, one of the League’s most prestigious teams. Undeterred by taunts during her debut season with the Clowns, Stone hit a single off of Satchel Paige, who is widely considered the greatest pitcher in Negro League history.

Stone played alongside legendary players such as Jackie Robinson throughout her career before retiring from professional baseball in 1954 as a legend. In 1990, March 6 was declared “Toni Stone Day” in her adopted hometown of St. Paul, where future generations of baseball players practice under the lights of Toni Stone Field. She has been honored by several exhibitions in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 1993, was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Here’s to you, Toni Stone—thanks for showing the world what determination and unstoppable love for the game can achieve!

Thank you to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for their support on this Doodle!

Black and white photo of Toni Stone jumping and throwing a baseball

Courtesy of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Courtesy of the Estate of Toni Stone

[9A]

11 February 2021

Celebrating María Grever





Today’s Doodle celebrates Mexican singer and songwriter María Grever, considered to be one of the country’s greatest composers. Grever spent a lifetime producing hundreds of songs that went on to be covered by some of the world’s most famous artists, like Placido Domingo, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra. On this day in 1938, Grever recorded “Ti-Pi-Tin,” a waltz about serenading your loved ones that became one of her biggest hits.

María Joaquina de la Portilla Torres was born in the late 19th century in the city of León in central Mexico. As a child, she moved to Seville, where she studied English, French, and music. Grever’s natural musical abilities were evident as she composed a holiday carol for her school. This led her father to provide her some of the finest tutors, including distinguished composers, Debussy and Lehár. Her first record, “A Una Ola” [“To a Wave,” 1912], sold millions of copies, and was eventually covered by several singers.

In 1916, Grever moved to New York, where she soon composed background music in films for both Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox. All the while, Grever continued to produce songs that married folk rhythms with styles like tango to captivate audiences throughout the Americas and Spain. Some of her biggest hits included “Júrame” [“Promise, Love,” 1926] and “What a Difference a Day Makes” [originally “Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado,” 1934]. The latter went on to win a Grammy in 1959 as sung by jazz legend, Dinah Washington.

In recognition of her contributions to music, the Union of Women of the Americas [UWA] named Grever “Woman of the Americas” in 1952.

Thanks for all the music María Grever; it continues to strike a chord with listeners around the world today!

[9A]

30 June 2016

165th Anniversary of First Firefighter's Corp in Chile





Since 1851, Chile’s bomberos have risked life and limb to keep citizens safe from fire. There are 307 individual fire departments across Chile bonded together by Chile’s National Board of Fire Departments. What makes the bomberos especially unique is that they all serve on a volunteer basis.

It all started on this day in the bustling seaport of Valparaiso, where the city’s most influential citizens came together to form the First Firefighter’s Corp. More fire departments followed, each created by and for the community it represented.

Today’s Doodle was inspired by those who’ve served the people of Chile through their dedication and selflessness. Though they operate independently, the country’s bomberos share a common goal of working hard to protect local neighborhoods and communities.

[9A]

Feb 01, 2024

Alfonso Caso's 128th Birthday



This Doodle celebrates Mexican archeologist and professor Alfonso Caso. He’s best known for excavating the site of Tomb Seven at Monte Albán — one of the richest archeological findings of all time.

After writing books about his findings and methods, Caso returned to the field. He began to focus on the Mixetecs, indigenous people who lived in Mexico. He discovered sites around the country in Yucuita, Yucuñudahui, and Monte Negro. Building upon his previous findings, Caso was ultimately able to decipher Mixtec writings — an astounding achievement in archeology!

Caso served as the Mexican government’s Director of the National Institute for Indian Affairs for 30 years. He was a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophy Society. Given his numerous accomplishments and efforts to inspire students, it’s hard to not dig the guy!

Happy Birthday, Alfonso Caso!

[9A]

Mar 29, 2024

Abbas Attar's 80th Birthday



This Doodle celebrates French Iranian photographer and journalist Abbas Attar. Best known by his mononym Abbas, he earned fame for his photojournalism and essays chronicling conflicts, religions and the plights of communities around the globe. He dedicated himself to documenting societies in conflict, photographing in his iconic black-and-white style to capture the “suspended moment”.

[9A]

Mar 11, 2024

Celebrating the Flat White




This animated Doodle celebrates the flat white, a popular espresso-based beverage which originated in Australia and New Zealand.

Many speculate the drink was first served in Australia and New Zealand during the 1980s when the drink popped up on menus in Sydney and Auckland around the same time.

Traditionally served in a ceramic cup, a flat white is made up of an espresso shot topped with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam. Being “flatter” than a cappuccino or latte, flat whites are popular with coffee connoisseurs who are looking for less foam. Often, baristas will show off their skills and create beautiful artwork with the pour, something that’s a common sight in many cafes across Australia and New Zealand.

Coffee culture has changed a lot over the years and so have ways to make the flat white. Made with whole milk back in the day, today it’s common to see Aussies and Kiwis ordering it with plant-based milk — oat milk is a rising favourite!

The flat white has since spread far across the world, delighting and becoming a staple in many nations. No matter the origins, coffee lovers worldwide agree it’s a favourite morning or arvo [afternoon] pick-me-up!