Google doodles

[9A]

9 August 2020

Celebrating Mekatilili wa Menza




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Nairobi-based guest artist Wanjira Kinyua, celebrates legendary Kenyan activist Mekatilili wa Menza, known for inspiring the Giriama people to resist colonial rule in the early 20th century. Today on the Kenyan coast, the resilient legacy of Menza is commemorated during the festivities of the traditional Malindi Cultural Festival, an annual celebration of local history and pride.

Mnyazi wa Menza was born in the Giriama village of Matsara wa Tsatsu in coastal Kenya during the mid-19th century. By the early 20th century, British colonial rule had threatened the sovereignty and freedom of the Giriama people with forced labor and taxation. At a time when women’s power was limited within her society, Menza was compelled to organize her people against colonial control.

Today revered as one of Kenya’s first Mau Maus [freedom fighters], Menza traveled from village to village spreading messages of opposition, performing the ecstatic native dance of kifudu to draw large crowds and then unleashing her powerful oratory skills to garner support. Today’s Doodle artwork features a depiction of Menza leading the energetic kifudu dance that called so many to action.

Menza’s leadership contributed to uprisings by the Giriama against the British in 1913 and 1914, and despite her multiple arrests and imprisonments, her campaign of resistance proved successful. The British ultimately relaxed control of the region, effectively granting the demands for which Menza and the Giriama had fought tirelessly for.

[9A]

9 August 2016

Singapore National Day 2016



This year, Singapore is putting a futuristic twist on its National Day celebrations. As the country rings in 51 years of independence with the theme Building our Singapore of Tomorrow, new attractions like 3D displays, indoor fireworks, and drones will be featured alongside the holiday’s beloved parade.

Of course, the festivities wouldn’t be complete without Singapore’s favorite mascot. Serving as the centerpiece of today’s Doodle, the Merlion — part lion, part fish — is a nod to the nation’s past as its people come together to look toward the future.

[9A]

9 August 2021

Singapore National Day 2021



Today’s Doodle celebrates Singapore’s National Day, which commemorates the island nation’s sovereignty and cultural heritage each year. On this day in 1965, Singapore declared its national independence.

Today, Singaporeans from all walks of life come together to celebrate their multiethnic national culture and customs. While citizens’ backgrounds vary widely, most find common ground in enjoying the diverse cuisines. Singapore’s hawker culture is a distinctive element in its national identity, and in 2020 this was recognized by its inclusion in the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Well-loved hawker dishes Nasi Lemak [coconut milk rice], chili crab, and roti prata [flatbread] are depicted in the Doodle artwork. Originating from affordable, on-the-go meals served by early migrant street stalls in the 1800s, hawker cuisine is now traditionally prepared in the nation’s 110 hawker centers. These community dining hubs are found across the island and are great spots to get a taste of Singapore!

Happy National Day, Singapore!

[9A]

9 Aug 2022

Singapore National Day 2022



Today’s Doodle celebrates Singapore's National Day. On this day in 1965, Singapore separated from the Federation of Malaysia and officially became a sovereign nation.

Today’s artwork features the national flower of Singapore—the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid. The orchid species was selected as Singapore's National Flower for its vibrant colors, hardiness and resilience—qualities that reflect the Singapore spirit. While Vanda Miss Joaquim is still the popular household name used for the flower, recent taxonomic research revealed the genus of the parents of the national flower to be Papilionanthe—hence the official scientific classification of the flower was updated to "Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim".

The annual National Day Parade is the largest celebration in the country. Singaporeans partake in the parade's processions either in person or by watching the national broadcast of the event. In the months leading up to the celebration, the Singapore Armed Forces rehearse free-fall parachute displays and vehicle demonstrations. The parades usually feature an aerial show with helicopters and fighter planes and song-and-dance performances. As a finale, breathtaking fireworks decorate the night sky. Citizens spend the day at picnics, carnivals and concerts islandwide.

Happy National Day, Singapore!

[9A]

9 August 2022

Luisa de Medrano's 538th birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 538th birthday of Luisa de Medrano, a poet and philosopher who is considered Spain’s first female professor.

De Medrano was born on this day in 1484 in Atienza, Spain which is located in present-day Guadalajara. Her father belonged to the "Twelve Lineages of Soria" military order and died in battle during the Conquest of Granada, a campaign that would unify Spain under Catholic rule.

The Catholic Monarchs honored the family’s sacrifice, and took in Luisa and her siblings to be raised as noble children. Under the guidance of Queen Isabella I, de Medrano learned history, culture and humanist philosophy alongside children of the royal family.

In the early 16th century, when most women could not access education, de Medrano broke new ground by becoming the first female professor at University of Salamanca where she was believed to teach Latin.

To honor her legacy, the Spanish agency Instituto de la Mujer, Castilla-La Mancha awards The Luisa de Medrano International Prize to individuals who advance gender equality. A high school in Salamanca, IES Lucia de Medrano, is also named in her memory.

Happy birthday, Luisa de Medrano! Your story continues to inspire and empower women to break old molds.

[9A]

10 August 2017

Ecuador National Day 2017


The people of Quito, Ecuador declared independence from Spain 208 years ago today. While the city of Quito was relatively small at the time, this declaration laid the foundation for sovereignty for the entire country.

Today, we celebrate Ecuador National Day with a Doodle that features the awe-inspiring Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve – a national park and biodiversity hotspot that’s nearly twice the size of Rhode Island!

If you want to explore the reserve for yourself, you’ll need a boat: the reserve’s forest is submerged in water for two-thirds of the year. This mix of lagoons, swamps, and dry land creates an incredibly diverse ecosystem with over 500 species of birds, 12 species of monkeys, and countless other animals. It’s also just one of 45 protected areas throughout Ecuador, emphasizing the country’s commitment to preserving nature.

In the cities of Ecuador – and especially Quito – the streets come alive during the month of August, celebrating the country’s independence with with parades, concerts, and cultural exhibitions.

Happy National Day, Ecuador!

[9A]

11 Aug 2017

Mountain Day 2017




Mountain climbing as a means of peacekeeping? It’s what Japanese lawmakers envisioned as they made Mountain Day the country’s 16th national holiday.

While Japan is known partly for its hardworking culture and densely packed cities, its people maintain a kinship with nature. Shinto, a religion of the country, ascribes a sacred spirit to natural elements -- including rocks, trees, rivers, and mountains, which cover as much as 70% of the country. As the highest and most well-known mountain in Japan, for example, Mount Fuji’s 8-hour hike to the top is considered an important pilgrimage for tourists and natives alike.

Mountain Day is a time for people to take a break and get in touch with the country’s national beauty.

Doodle by Lydia Nichols

[9A]

15 Aug 2017

South Korea National Day 2017






National Liberation Day, also called Gwangbokjeol [“the day the light returned”], marks South Korea’s independence following the end of WWII. Today, South Koreans embrace their hard-earned nationhood with patriotic fanfare, participating in parades and community festivals. In South Korea’s capital of Seoul, dignitaries and prominent political figures gather at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts for the annual ringing of the bell at 12 PM on the dot to commemorate former leaders.

Today’s Doodle welcomes National Liberation Day with an intricate rendering of a mugunghwa [botanical name: Hibiscus syriacus], Korea’s national flower. Beloved by Koreans for over a thousand years, this bloom symbolizes perseverance and loyalty — the perfect complement to the country’s flag, known as taegukgi, which is emblazoned with a bold blue and red circle representing the harmony of yin-yang.

[9A]

15 August 2022

India Independence Day 2022



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Kerala-based guest artist Neethi, celebrates India’s 75th Independence Day. On this day in 1947, India officially became a democratic country—ending nearly two hundred years of British rule.

The lengthy struggle for freedom resulted in the birth of the largest democracy in the world. Heroic freedom fighters, such as Mahatma Gandhi, led the country’s independence movement through civil disobedience and nonviolent protests. On August 15, 1947, the Indian national flag was raised for the first time at the Red Fort in Delhi.

The biggest annual celebration takes place at the Red Fort in Delhi, where the Prime Minister raises the saffron, white and green national flag in synchronization with a 21-gun salute. After the Prime Minister delivers his televised speech, a patriotic parade honors members of the Indian armed forces and police.

People also celebrate by flying kites—a longstanding symbol of independence. Indian revolutionaries once flew kites with slogans to protest British rule. Since then, recreational and competitive kite flying have become one of Independence Day’s most popular traditions. Indians also commemorate the day by spending time with loved ones and hosting cultural programmes in neighborhoods and schools.

Happy Independence Day, India!

[9A]

17 Aug 2022

Indonesia Independence Day 2022




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Bandung-based guest artist Wastana Haikal, celebrates Indonesia Independence Day. Indonesia officially declared independence on this day in 1945.

Indonesians commemorate the day with parades, carnivals and marching bands. Across the country, the red and white national colors decorate homes and streets in forms of flags and ornaments. The national flag hoisting ceremony, attended by Indonesia's president, is held at the State Palace and kicks off the day’s festivities. Following the broadcasted event, the Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace features public figures, national heroes, and veterans in attendance.

Boat races [Pacu perahus]—like the one featured in today’s artwork—are one of Independence Day’s most popular traditions. The Pacu Jalur Festival hosts the biggest race in the country. After song and dance performances, more than one hundred vibrantly decorated boats row down the Batang Kuantan River. Teams of up to sixty people dress in traditional dance costumes as onlookers gather on the riverbanks.

As a maritime country, Pacu Jalur festival is one of the many traditions that teaches the importance of teamwork. A message that is aligned with Indonesia's national motto, Bhinekka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity].

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia!

[9A]

21 Aug 2022

Azah Aziz's 94th birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates what would have been Azah Aziz’s 94th birthday. She spent her life contributing to the preservation of Malaysian art and tradition. Given her legacy, Aziz was named Tokoh Budayawan Melayu or figure of Malaysian culture.

Aziz was born in Singapore in 1928. Her keen interest in language, culture and the arts had been nurtured by her mother, Azizah, who was from a distinguished Johor family and a pioneer in domestic science studies. Aziz inherited a fine collection of early Malay textiles and garments from her mother which fueled her passion for the culture that lasted throughout her life and paved the way to becoming a respected Malay culture expert.

Aziz became a secretary for a newspaper editor-in-chief, eventually moving up the ladder in the field of journalism. She started Akaz, her own publishing company, where she elevated Malaysian arts and contributed to a number of publications including Malaysia's first Malay daily afternoon tabloid Harian Metro and Malaysia’s oldest newspaper New Straits Times.

Aziz also published books as well as children’s songs and poems, becoming the first woman in Malaysia to do so. By the end of her 10 year career as a journalist, she founded the Malaysian Women's Journalists Association and became the president of the National Writers Association of Malaysia.

In addition to her work as a writer, Aziz was a pioneer for women’s rights. She championed salary equality, separate taxes for working wives, Muslim family amendments and later founded the Islamic Women's Action Organization.

Throughout the years, she collected antique garments and fabrics from the old Malay world. With her in-depth knowledge of costume, jewelry and textiles, she lectured about and introduced Malay culture to art festivals and international seminars. Additionally, she wrote a book on the subject titled Rupa dan gaya: Busana Melayu [2006].

She spent her life elevating Malaysian customs so its culture could continue to thrive around the world. For preserving Malay heritage, Aziz was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree of arts and education.

Happy birthday, Azah Aziz! You uplifted the status of Malay traditions and will always be remembered for your contributions as a cultural icon.

[9A]

22 Aug 2022

Celebrating Cláudia Celeste



Today’s Doodle celebrates the life of Cláudia Celeste, the first trangender actress to appear in Brazilian telenovelas. She won and organized many beauty pageants, and was also a singer, dancer, director, producer and author. Despite the obstacles and challenges she faced, Celeste became an inspiring figure who opened the door for future generations of trangender and LGBTQ+ talent in Brazil. On this day in 1988, was the first time Cláudia appeared in a role as an openly trans woman in the opening episode of "Olho por Olho".

Celeste was born in Brazil in 1952. She started exploring her identity and talents while in the army. After serving, she earned her beauty diploma and became a hairdresser in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro when she was 20. According to her, daily life working at the salon inspired her decision to transition. That same year, she accompanied a friend to a theater audition and was chosen to perform as well. She made her debut as a dancer on the stage of Beco de Garrafas.

In 1973, a theater in Rio de Janeiro called Teatro Rival became the first to obtain a government license to perform “O mundo é das Bonecas”. Celeste was invited as a lead alongside other well-known transgender actors. After the show’s success, other productions recognized her talents and provided opportunities to dance throughout many nightclubs in Brazil.

In 1976, Celeste decided to compete in the Miss Brazil Pop pageant and won the contest. One year later, she was invited to act in a soap opera called "Magic Mirror" after its director saw one of her performances at the Teatro Rival. No one in the cast or crew knew she was transgender, and headlines drew negative attention to the news after her first scene. The show was canceled soon after, and she moved to Europe to pursue other opportunities.

Upon returning to Brazil, Celeste auditioned to star in a soap opera called "Olho por Olho" and won the role over 200 others. Her commitment to the character was unmatched, constantly giving her valuable opinion on the script and narrative. Although she faced discrimination being ousted from the cast when her trans identity was "found out" my management, she pushed forward into new opportunities for the rest of her career, cementing her legacy as a pioneer who fought for the rights of transgender and LGBTQ+ performers everywhere.

[9A]

22 August 2013

Claude Debussy's 151st Birthday




Today, August 22nd, is a very special day. ...my birthday! OK. Well, more than that, it's Claude Debussy's 151st birthday!

We sought out to create an animated doodle to commemorate Debussy as one of the most influential composers of all time. At the outstart, the task of creating and coding visual imagery that does justice to the spirit of his music seemed incredibly daunting. But, as it turned out, all I needed to do was to resurrect my trusty CD player and hit play, and the inspiration would start flooding in. I felt flickering lights, a quiet city and pouring rain set against the magical melody of Clair de Lune.

We started off with a rough prototype that was built with simple shapes synchronized to a MIDI file generated from sheet music. The prototype was well-received despite looking and sounding like something from the 80's:



Early HTML canvas prototype synchronized to a MIDI file.

Next, we needed a recording of Clair de Lune. I enlisted my sister to perform different variations of the piece on a keyboard that was hooked up to a computer. This gave me the data I needed to drive the animations and the final music that would be used to accompany the doodle.




Data from performance used to drive the animations.

Visually, I drew inspiration from cities of the late 1800's. Stylistically, I aimed for a pseudo-flat and graphic look, as influenced by an illustrator from Debussy's time, Andre Halle. And compositionally, my goal was to make a doodle that would look nice as a French wine label.





Thanks to Kris Hom and Mark Ivey for engineering support. Thanks to my sister, Sabrina Hong, for letting me record her performance for the doodle.


— Posted by Leon Hong, Doodler

[9A]

22 August 2008

2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Martial Arts

[9A]

24 Aug 2008

2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Closing Ceremony

[9A]

24 August 2015

Duke Kahanamoku’s 125th Birthday





The story of Duke Kahanamoku--the Hawaiian who, in 1912, first drew the world’s collective gaze upon the art of surfing--reads like mythology. Born in Honolulu in 1890, he is credited in over a dozen feature films, surfed the world’s most imposing swells before Californians knew what surfing was, won five Olympic medals in swimming and was elected sheriff of his beloved home county thirteen times.

The Big Kahuna was a tremendous athlete, to be sure, and by all accounts staggeringly cool, but he also had a proclivity for heroics--one morning in 1925, just as dawn crept into the summer sky over Newport Beach, a 40-foot fishing vessel called the Thelma found herself in the grip of a sudden and violent squall. Waves hammered the Thelma’s deck, and the vessel succumbed to the thrashing breakers, stranding its crew in the surf. The Duke, who watched from the shore as he prepared for that morning’s ride, rushed headlong into the maelstrom with his surfboard and, along with three friends, managed to wrest twelve men from the clutches of the Pacific.

Despite his charisma on the screen and two decades of Olympic triumphs, it is perhaps for moments like these--for his character, his ease in the water, his deep and unending love of Hawaii and her oceans--that Duke Kahanamoku is remembered most. He brought surfing to the world, and by force of his magnetism and singularly Hawaiian spirit helped The Islands achieve statehood. Today, on his 125th birthday, Matt Cruickshank recalls the legend of the “Ambassador of Aloha” with a Doodle of his iconic, 16-foot wooden surfboard and his warm, blithe smile. “Most importantly,” a reverent surfer remarks in a documentary about The Duke, “he was pure Hawaiian”.

[9A]

24 August 2015

Ukraine Independence Day 2015




Today we honor Ukrainian heritage with a reimagining of our logo as a traditional Ukrainian rushnyk. Embroidery has ancient roots in Ukraine, and so does the cultural significance of the kalyna digitally stitched into the center of today’s Doodle. This flowery shrub features prominently in Ukrainian literature, music, and folklore as a symbol of posterity and irrevocable family bonds, and often appears on the rushnyks sewn to celebrate Ukrainian births and weddings.

[9A]

24 August 2014

Ukraine Independence Day 2014




This bountiful harvest scene was illustrated by Ukrainian guest artist, Vladyslav Yerko to celebrate this year's independence day.

[9A]

24 August 2017

Ukraine Independence Day 2017



Today’s Doodle honors Ukraine’s independence day with a colorful celebration of its people. It’s drawn in shades of blue and yellow, Ukraine's national colors, meant to evoke the country's golden wheat fields and blue skies.

Home to nearly 130 different nationalities, Ukraine’s diverse population is represented in each unique letter. Guest artist Sergiy Maidukov says the image is meant to invoke happiness and show different people from across the country working together toward “freedom, peace and respect for each other.” He considers Ukraine’s diversity “a reason to be proud, to meet each other, learn about each other, sing and laugh together, and celebrate.”

Ukrainians may don hutsul shirts, or folk costumes, to attend the parade in Kiev today, or to watch fireworks over the city at night. Other celebrations include art fairs celebrating local craftsmen, historical reenactments, fireworks and live music all over the country.

Happy 26th Independence Day, Ukraine!

[9A]

12 March 2019
30th Anniversary of the World Wide Web



“Vague but exciting.”

This was how Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s boss responded to his proposal titled “Information Management: A Proposal,” submitted on this day in 1989, when the inventor of the World Wide Web was a 33-year-old software engineer. Initially, Berners-Lee envisioned "a large hypertext database with typed links,"named “Mesh,” to help his colleagues at CERN [a large nuclear physics laboratory in Switzerland] share information amongst multiple computers.

Berners-Lee’s boss allowed him time to develop the humble flowchart into a working model, writing the HTML language, the HTTP application, and WorldWideWeb.app— the first Web browser and page editor. By 1991, the external Web servers were up and running.

The Web would soon revolutionize life as we know it, ushering in the information age. Today, there are nearly 2 billion websites online. Whether you use it for email, homework, gaming, or checking out videos of cute puppies, chances are you can’t imagine life without the Web.

Not to be confused with the internet, which had been evolving since the 1960s, the World Wide Web is an online application built upon innovations like HTML language, URL “addresses,” and hypertext transfer protocol, or HTTP. The Web has also become a decentralized community, founded on principles of universality, consensus, and bottom-up design.

“There are very few innovations that have truly changed everything,” said Jeff Jaffe, CEO of the World Wide Web Consortium. “The Web is the most impactful innovation of our time.”

Happy 30th Anniversary to the World Wide Web!

[9A]

12 March 2013

Evert Taube's 123rd Birthday


Axel Evert Taube was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer. He is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most respected musicians and the foremost troubadour of the Swedish ballad tradition in the 20th century.

[9A]

26 Mar 2013

Prokop Diviš's 315th Birthday




Dom Prokop Diviš, O.Praem. was a Czech canon regular, theologian and natural scientist. In an attempt to prevent thunderstorms from occurring, he inadvertently constructed one of the first grounded lightning rods.

[9A]

4 Aug 2014
John Venn's 180th Birthday





John Venn was a logician and philosopher best known for introducing the Venn diagram. In the diagram, circles are used to visually and logically sort groups to illustrate their relationships to each other. For example, one circle may contain things that are mammals. The other circle may contain things that have wings. The overlapping space that both circles occupy would consist of mammals that have wings.

With a concept this simple, you would think it was all fun and games to design an interactive doodle for John Venn’s 180th birthday. And you would be right, but there was also a lot more to it! The doodle team asked the project lead and designer of the Venn doodle, Mike Dutton, a few questions about the creative process.

[9A]

12 Aug 2014

Awa Odori



Our doodle in Japan celebrates “Awa Odori,” the country’s largest traditional dance festival. The event brings in 1.3 million tourists to Japan every year and dancers learn choreography that hasn’t changed in more than 400 years— guess there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel… er, dance?

[9A]

13 Aug 2014

Anders Jonas Ångström's 200th Birthday



Which physicist has a unit of measurement, a top university’s laboratory, a crater on the moon and—here’s the kicker— a conference room at Google named after him? Did you guess Anders Jonas Ångström? Of course you did We’re wishing Ångström a happy 200th birthday on our homepage in Sweden today. Ångström is one of the founders of spectroscopy, the study of the interaction between radiated energy and matter.

[9A]

11 January 2019

Celebrating Earl Scruggs



“Here’s old Earl Scruggs with his fancy five-string banjo,” the introduction for the bluegrass banjo master’s Grand Ole Opry show stated. Today's Doodle celebrates Earl Scruggs, the man who developed the “Scruggs style” [his own three-finger method of picking] on the anniversary of the opening of the Earl Scruggs Center in 2014. His innovation changed the sound of American roots music, but fancy was not a word Scruggs would use to describe his beloved banjo. “It’s just an old hand-me-down,” he said of the Gibson Granada he’d played since the 1940s.

Born in North Carolina on January 6, 1924, Scruggs grew up working on the family farm and playing the banjo. He was 21 years old when he joined Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys band, whose sound coined the term “bluegrass music.” In that band, Scruggs met guitarist Lester Flatt with whom he would launch the Foggy Mountain Boys in the late 1940s. Their televised Flatt & Scruggs Grand Ole Opry show premiered in 1955 and gained a new wave of popularity during the folk music revival, running through 1969.

After Flatt & Scruggs split up in 1969, Earl found new fans when he bridged generations and musical genres by forming the “Earl Scruggs Revue” with sons Gary and Randy. From 1969 to 1980, the Revue was a pioneering band in merging country and bluegrass sounds with elements from rock music. In his latter years, Earl’s musical journey continued with his “Family & Friends” band.

Earl’s wife Louise Scruggs became one of the first female managers in the music industry when she began managing Flatt & Scruggs. The duo’s music appeared in the theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies and their “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” was included on the soundtrack to the 1967 film Bonnie & Clyde.

Scruggs was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. He received several other awards and honors, including the prestigious National Medal of the Arts and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

All because, as Flatt used to put it: “He kind of likes to show off anyway, pickin’ the hot stuff.”

[9A]

15 February 2020

Irena Sendlerowa's 110th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the life of Polish social worker Irena Sendlerowa on her 110th birthday. This courageous humanitarian is credited for saving the lives of Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. She proved to be an excellent strategist and became a symbol of courage and justice by organising the help of those in need, regardless of nationality or religion.

Irena Sendlerowa was born on this day in 1910 just outside the Polish capital of Warsaw. From her father’s work treating tuberculosis patients, Sendlerowa learned at an early age that one should always help those in need—no matter their race, religion, or financial status.

Sendlerowa put those principles into practice, becoming a social worker with the Warsaw City Council in 1939. As World War II progressed, her position gave her unusual access to the Warsaw Ghetto, and she became determined to help save as many Jewish people as possible.

Using ambulances, underground tunnels, and fake identities, Sendlerowa and her colleagues from a secret organisation called Żegota risked their lives to sneak hundreds of children to safety. As shown in the Doodle artwork, written records of the children and their families were buried in the jar under the apple tree, in hopes that the families could be reunited at the end of the war.

Poland honored Sendlerowa’s selflessness in 2003, awarding her the Order of the White Eagle, and in 2008, she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Dziękuję, Irena Sendlerowa, for your bravery in saving the lives of many.

[9A]

1 September 2020

Celebrating Dr. Harold Moody



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Dublin-based guest artist Charlot Kristensen, celebrates Jamaican-born British doctor, racial equality campaigner, and founder of the U.K.'s first civil rights movement Dr. Harold Moody. On this day in 1904, Dr. Moody arrived in the U.K. from Jamaica to pursue his medical studies at King’s College London. Alongside his medical work, he dedicated his life to campaigning for racial equality and advocating against discrimination.

Harold Arundel Moody was born on October 8, 1882, in the Jamaican capital of Kingston. He received early exposure to the medical field while in secondary school through his work for his father’s pharmaceutical business. Determined to become a doctor, he left Jamaica in 1904 to study medicine in London.

Dr. Moody soon came face-to-face with rampant racism in Edwardian London. Even though he qualified to practice medicine, finished top of his class, and won numerous academic prizes, he was repeatedly refused work due to the color bar system that denied people opportunities based on race. Instead, he opened his own private medical practice in Peckham, South East London—the neighborhood that inspired the design of the buildings situated below Dr. Moody in today’s Doodle. The children depicted represent the countless impoverished youth Dr. Moody would treat free of charge, in a time before the U.K. had a National Health Service. In doing so, Dr. Moody earned a reputation as a compassionate humanitarian and philanthropist who would always help those in need.

Dr. Moody’s determination to improve the lives of those around him wasn’t limited to his medical practice—he simultaneously focused his attention on combating racial injustice as well. He founded the League of Coloured Peoples in 1931 with the mission to fight for racial equality both in the U.K. and around the world. The group pushed for change, at a government level, to combat discrimination in its many forms.

Thank you, Dr. Moody, for paving the way towards a more equal future.

[9A]

1 September 2008

Filopimin Finos' Birthday



Filopimin Finos [1908 – January 26, 1977] was a Greek film producer of 186 films and the founder of Finos Film, whose first film was in 1939. He built the first sound recording device in Greece, and shot the first colour film with stereo sound. Finos died in January 1977 after suffering cancer for seven years and he left no heir.

[9A]

27 Aug 2008

Tomato Festival 2008




La Tomatina is a festival that is held in the Valencian town of Buñol, in the east of Spain 30 kilometres [19 mi] from the Mediterranean, in which participants throw tomatoes and get involved in a tomato fight purely for entertainment purposes. Since 1945 it has been held on the last Wednesday of August, during a week of festivities in Buñol.

[9A]

27 August 2013

Natalia Sats' 110th Birthday




Natalya Il'inichna Sats [sometimes spelled Natalia Satz] was a Russian stage director who ran theaters for children for many years, including the Moscow Musical Theater for Children, now named after her. She was a recipient of the USSR State Prize, People's Artist of the USSR award, Lenin Prize, Hero of Socialist Labor medal, and the Lenin Komsomol Prize.

[9A]

31 Aug 2012

Maria Montessori's 142nd Birthday



Legendary educator Maria Montessori pioneered her self-titled teaching technique in the early 20th century, revolutionizing the classroom. Until then, typical curriculum consisted of lectures, rote memorization, and strict testing. There was little to no chance for children to explore concepts on their own or learn at their own pace. Montessori's innovative contribution to educational philosophy consisted of allowing students to be self-directed in their approach to learning. The teacher's role became less directly didactic, more nurturing – educators were there to enable the discovery of knowledge, not to simply repeat facts.

Some of the most iconic embodiments of the Montessori method are the materials used in pre-k learning, some of which can be seen above. I attended a Montessori school from preschool to eighth grade, and researching this doodle made for an evocative trip down memory lane. Looking at pictures of her materials immediately called back memories of playing with number beads and trinomial cubes. These simple, brightly-colored objects taught me the foundations of arithmetic, geometry, spelling, and grammar, not to mention [not pictured] geography, biology, and botany.

Though Maria Montessori's techniques were considered audacious and controversial when she pioneered them, the Montessori method lives on today in more than seven thousand schools worldwide, teaching generation after generation of children to be independent, intellectually curious, and innovative.

Posted by Sophia Foster-Dimino, Doodler

[9A]

14 January 2021

Justicia Espada Acuña's 128th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates Chilean engineer Justicia Espada Acuña, one of the first female engineers in Chile and South America. A symbol of women’s progress in Latin America, Acuña forged a path for generations of women to pursue careers in engineering.

Justicia Espada Acuña Mena was born in the Chilean capital of Santiago on this day in 1893. Her father was a civil builder who encouraged Acuña and her seven siblings to follow their dreams and challenge unjust societal norms. After high school, she studied mathematics, but she soon took an interest in engineering instead. In 1912, she became the first woman to join the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Chile, and she made history when she graduated with a degree in civil engineering seven years later.

The next year, Acuña began her trailblazing career as a calculator for the State Railways’ Department of Roads and Works [Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado]. Excluding a break to raise her seven children, she worked for the company until her retirement in 1954.

To honor her legacy, the College of Engineers of Chile inducted Acuña into its Gallery of Illustrious Engineers in 1981, and around a decade later the Institute of Engineers created an award in her name for outstanding female engineers. In addition, in 2018 the Faculty of Physical Science and Mathematics of the University of Chile renamed its central tower after Acuña to memorialize the faculty’s first female student.

Happy birthday, Justicia Espada Acuña, and thank you for helping engineer a brighter future for women in science.

[9A]

2 March 2021

Wangdee Nima [Wang Tae]'s 96th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Thai musician Wangdee Nima, a performer affectionately known by his stage name Wang Tae.

Born on this day in central Thailand in 1925, Wang Tae inherited a love for music from his parents, both of whom were performers of traditional Thai folk genres. As a child, he became a specialist in Lam Tad, a style of music that originated in his home region. This popular folk genre brings groups of men and women together to alternate singing improvised humorous lyrics to elicit laughs from the audience, all set against the background of instruments like the Klong Ramana, a traditional Thai hand drum.

Wang Tae soon established his own troupe, eponymously named “Lam Tad Wang Te,” which earned him national recognition and widespread appeal. Renowned for his clever lyrics with his cunning use of double entendres, Wang Tae was a true master of the Thai language whose witty performances brought smiles to the faces of audiences across Thailand for close to forty years.

In 1988, Wang Tae was named a National Artist of Thailand, an annual prize awarded by the National Culture Commission of Thailand to the country’s most prestigious performing artists.

Happy birthday, Wangdee Nima!

[9A]

31 August 2011

110th Anniversary of the Lisbon Tram



The Lisbon tramway network [Portuguese: Rede de elétricos de Lisboa] is a system of trams that serve Lisbon, capital city of Portugal. In operation since 1873, it presently comprises six lines. The system has a length of 31 km, and 63 trams in operation [45 historic "Remodelados", 8 historic "Ligeiros" and 10 modern articulated trams]. The depot is located in Santo Amaro, in Alcântara.

[9A]

31 August 2015

Start of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship




To usher in the 37th US Open played at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York, we thought we’d imagine what our letters would look like playing tennis. Fortunately, Serena Williams can’t hit a through-body lob like today’s “O”, but she could be the first woman to win a Grand Slam since Poison had a number-one single. Here’s to a great tradition in American sports and the possibility of a historic moment at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

[9A]

31 August 2016

Malaysia Independence Day 2016




It’s difficult to find a creature with a more regal air than the tiger. Called harimau in Malay, the Malayan tiger is primarily found in southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula.

It’s fitting that the Malayan tiger is also the national animal of Malaysia, a dynamic, robust country. In 1957, Malaysia won its independence from British colonization. Since then, Malaysians raise their flags every year on this day to those who fought valiantly for the nation’s liberation. Happy Independence Day, Malaysia!

[9A]

31 August 2019

Amrita Pritam’s 100th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates Amrita Pritam, one of history’s foremost female Punjabi writers, who “dared to live the life she imagines.” Born in Gujranwala, British India, 100 years ago today, Pritam published her first collection of verse at age 16. She is most remembered for “Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu,” her poem lamenting the traumatic 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. The work’s title translates as “I Call upon Varis Shah Today,” referring to the 18th-century Sufi poet Waris Shah.

Widely considered the greatest 20th-century Punjabi poet, Pritam also published 28 novels including Pinjar, a dramatic tale set during the time of partition which was adapted into a movie. Her autobiography Kala Gulab [Black Rose], referenced in the Doodle art, revealed many details of her personal life, allowing other women to speak more openly about their experiences with love and marriage.

Known for her mastery of the Punjabi language, Pritam lived in Pakistan after the partition, but also wrote many works in Hindi and Urdu, as her work was admired on both sides of the border. Pritam also worked for All-India Radio and edited the literary journal Nagmani. In 1986, she was nominated to Rajya Sabha, the Indian parliament.

Throughout a six-decade career, Pritam received many prestigious awards including the Bharatiya Jnanpith literary award in 1981 and one of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Vibushan, in 2005. That same year a French translation of her novel, The Skeleton, was awarded the La Route des Indes Literary Prize.

[9A]

31 August 2014

Malaysia Independence Day 2014




The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia. It's known as the Bunga Raya in Malay. To help celebrate this year's independence day, guest artist Red Hong Yi created this artful arrangement of Hibiscus flower petals.

She also created a second version using some pink petals that you can see below. It was hard to choose! Both were quite beautiful.

[9A]

1 Sept 2014

First Day of School 2014

[9A]

1 September 2011

First Day of School 2011 - Estonia, Poland, Russia




Originally, I wanted to photograph actual pencil shavings for this doodle, but that was way too difficult... maybe it was the electric sharpener I was using.

posted by Mike Dutton

[9A]

1 September 2007

First Day of School 2007 - Israel

[9A]

2 Sept 2021

Rudolf Weigl's 138th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 138th birthday of Polish inventor, doctor, and immunologist Rudolf Weigl. He produced the first effective vaccine against epidemic typhus—one of humanity’s oldest and most infectious diseases.

On this day in 1883, Rudolf Stefan Weigl was born in the Austro-Hungarian town of Przerów [modern-day Czech Republic]. He went on to study biological sciences at Poland’s Lwów University and was appointed as a parasitologist in the Polish Army in 1914. As millions across Eastern Europe were plagued by typhus, Weigl became determined to stop its spread.

Body lice were known to carry the typhus-infecting bacteria Rickettsia prowazekii, so Weigl adapted the tiny insect into a laboratory specimen. His innovative research revealed how to use lice to propagate the deadly bacteria which he studied for decades with the hope of developing a vaccine. In 1936, Weigl’s vaccine successfully inoculated its first beneficiary. When Germany occupied Poland during the outbreak of the Second World War, Weigl was forced to open a vaccine production plant. He used the facility to hire friends and colleagues at risk of persecution under the new regime.

An estimated 5,000 people were saved due to Weigl’s work during this period--both due to his direct efforts to protect his neighbors and to the thousands of vaccine doses distributed nationwide. Today, Weigl is widely lauded as a remarkable scientist and hero. His work has been honored by not one but two Nobel Prize nominations!

From studying a tiny louse to saving thousands of human lives, the impacts your tireless work had on the world are felt to this day—Happy Birthday, Rudolf Weigl!

[9A]

2 September 2019

Labour Day 2019 [United States]




Labor Day, observed on the first Monday of September in honor of working people all across America, is a time for some well-deserved time off for the nation’s laborers. Today’s Doodle celebrates Labor Day by depicting a wide range of professions⁠—from farming, to construction, to teaching.

A time-honored tradition dating back to before 1894, when President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday, New York City’s Central Labor Union organized a march in early September 1882 that ended in a Manhattan park with an evening of speeches, dancing, and fireworks. Oregon was the first state to legislate its own Labor Day in 1887, with many other states soon following suit.

So to all you working folks: whether you’re planning a long weekend at the beach or hosting a family barbecue, make sure to take it easy and enjoy yourself.

Happy Labor Day!

[9A]

3 Sept 2019

First Day of School 2019 [Canada]



Fresh-faced students don their smartest outfits and step onto their respective campuses. For a day of reuniting with old classmates and meeting new ones, while awaiting the start of class, today’s Doodle celebrates the first day of school!

Students and instructors around the world will return to the classroom today to begin a new year of learning.

Here’s wishing students all the best this new school year!

[9A]

3 September 2021

Sergei Dovlatov's 80th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 80th birthday of Russian journalist and author Sergei Dovlatov. Both at home and abroad, Dovlatov captured the contemporary experience of Soviet citizens and dissidents in his masterful yet irreverent writing—regarded among the most influential and widely read Russian literature of the late 20th-century.

Sergei Dovlatov was born on this day in 1941 in the Eastern Russian city of Ufa and was raised in Leningrad [now St. Petersburg] in a family of creatives. He made his early living as a journalist and wrote fictional short stories that reflected the minutiae of daily Soviet life. Due to government censorship, his prose was first published in the late 1970s via samizdat, an underground publication network.

Dovlatov emigrated to New York City in 1979, carrying a lone suitcase with the hope of literary freedom. He soon established himself in U.S. writing circles as the co-editor of “The New American,” a successful émigré newspaper. The first of his short stories were published in 1980 by “The New Yorker” which introduced a mass readership to Dovlatov’s trademark brand of Russian humor. After this success, he wrote a new book almost annually. This body of work includes “The Suitcase,” referenced in the Doodle artwork. This beloved 1986 collection of witty autobiographical short stories was inspired by the contents of the suitcase he carried with him to the U.S.

Although his work wasn’t published in his home country until 1989, Dovlatov is a household name in Russia today. His legacy is concretized on Sergei Dovlatov Way, a New York City street corner where Dovlatov penned many of his most famous works.

Happy Birthday, Sergei Dovlatov!

[9A]

3 September 2018

Labour Day 2018




All across the United States, Americans observe Labor Day with block parties, barbecues, picnics, parades, and trips to the beach. Although the first Monday in September does signal the end of Summer, a day off from work or school is always cause for celebration!

Amidst all the fun, let’s not forget that Labor Day is a time to honor the social and economic achievements of the American worker. Inspired by the labor movement, Labor Day was intended to celebrate “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations.” First adopted at the state level, it became a federal holiday in 1894.

Today’s Doodle honors all hard-working people—whether they be doctors, cooks, plumbers, construction workers, or of any other profession.

Happy Labor Day!

[9A]

2 September 2022

Vietnam National Day 2022




Today’s Doodle celebrates Vietnam National Day! On this day in 1945, the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam was read aloud to the public, officially recognizing Vietnam as a sovereign nation.

On National Day, citizens are given a day off from work to celebrate this public holiday. Red and yellow banners line the streets to commemorate the holiday, and Vietnam’s National Flag is displayed on every corner of the country. Vibrant firework shows and local parades are also enjoyed in Ba Đình Square and other cities across the nation.

Today’s artwork features Vietnam’s mythical national bird, the chim lac. Chim lac most closely resembles the crane with its long beak and can be found as intricate decorations on traditional Dong Son bronze drums.

Happy National Day, Vietnam!

[9A]

2 September 2018

Vietnam National Day 2018



Rising from beneath the water to open at dawn, the fragrant lotus seen in today’s Doodle is the national flower of Vietnam. A symbol of hope, the pink and white blossom is also associated with purity—which is woven into Vietnamese culture, medicine, architecture, and cuisine. The traditional Lotus Dance dates back to the 1600s, when it was performed in royal palaces celebrating the birth of Buddha. The archways over Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyen Hue Boulevard are giant neon lotus flowers, and many Vietnamese dishes include lotus root slices.

In cities and towns all over Vietnam, friends and family get together in celebration of National Day. Parties and festivities occur all over the Southeast Asian country today, with large celebrations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The warm summer weather provides an ideal setting for people to enjoy their country’s cultural and natural riches – from food to flowers.

Happy National Day, Vietnam!

[9A]

2 September 2020

Vietnam National Day 2020





Today’s Doodle commemorates Vietnam’s National Day in celebration of the date in 1945 when the Southeast Asian nation declared its independence from France.

Featured in today’s Doodle artwork is an idyllic rowboating scene full of traditional Vietnamese symbolism. The man paddling is depicted wearing an iconic Nón Lá, a conical leaf hat that originated thousands of years ago and has since become synonymous with the nation’s culture. Opposite of the man steering the boat, a woman is dressed in the elegant national costume of Vietnam: the Áo Dài, which embodies the pride of the Vietnamese people.

The two are encircled by lily pads and lotus flowers, typical flora found throughout Vietnam’s lakes and ponds. The national flower of Vietnam, the lotus submerges under muddy water at night and resurfaces the next morning. Upon reaching the new dawn’s sunlight, it blooms untarnished by the surrounding mud—even during the most turbulent of times. This act of perseverance demonstrates why many in the country view the lotus blossom as a symbol of strength and optimism.

Not only does this colorful flower brighten the Vietnamese landscape, but it is also deeply ingrained in the nation’s cultural identity, from its towering architecture to its unique cuisine. The lotus’ distinctive shape has found its way into the design of multiple Vietnamese pagodas, temples, and communal houses since the Ly and Tran dynasties, like the prominent One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi. In addition to its enduring symbolic value, the flower is used to make lotus tea, an essential part of many Vietnamese celebrations.

Happy National Day, Vietnam!