Google doodles

Mar 11, 2013
Douglas Adams' 61st Birthday





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1a87wzILF0


Douglas Adams – one of the most celebrated and beloved humorists of the 20th century – had an imagination that defied gravity and soared past Earth's atmosphere. As a young man, he famously got the first inkling of an idea for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy while hitchhiking across Europe, pausing to contemplate the starry night sky.

In the late seventies, this simple yet powerful premise blossomed into a comedy radio broadcast on BBC Radio 4. From there, it took on a life of its own – the series has included books, a TV show, a film, computer games, comic books, and most recently a stage show: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Radio Show, Live! – a performance which captures the magic of the original radio broadcast. In fact, many of the iconic sound effects used in our doodle were kindly provided by the creative folks behind this show.

The world [to be fair, the universe of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is complex, chaotic, and often contradictory, with multiple timelines and probability axes colliding in assuredly comic ways. The various exotic planets, alien races, and intergalactic sociopolitical situations are usually filtered through the lens of the series' most useful piece of futuristic technology – the Guide itself, published out of Ursa Minor Beta. The Guide's task of organizing the galaxy's information struck a chord with us, which is why we gave it special attention in our doodle. Through it, you can get a small peek into the unrelentingly hilarious universe created by Douglas Adams.

But The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in all its many and varied manifestations, is not the limit of Douglas Adams' wit, creativity, and compassion. True fans know and love the episodes he wrote for the British sci-fi show Dr. Who, starring Tom Baker as the fourth doctor. He also created Dirk Gently, protagonist of several genre-defying detective novels. And he co-created, with zoologist Mark Carwardine, the radio documentary and nonfiction book series Last Chance to See, documenting many expeditions to examine near-extinct animals across the globe.

Douglas Adams has entertained and inspired so many generations of people around the world with his warm humor and courageously curious intellect. Happy birthday, you hoopy frood!

May 21, 2020
Celebrating Mbira




https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...635776-2xa.gif


https://www.google.com/logos/2020/mb...4981&gl=uk


Today’s interactive Doodle celebrates Zimbabwe’s national instrument, the mbira, as Zimbabwe’s Culture Week begins. Try your own hand at this instrument that has been played for over 1,000 years, while experiencing a story as told through the lens of a Zimbabwean girl who learns to play the mbira.

Originating in Southern Africa, the mbira has long played an integral role in the traditions and cultural identity of Zimbabwe’s Shona people. It consists of a handheld hardwood soundboard [gwariva] affixed with a series of thin metal keys, which are plucked by the thumbs and forefinger. A large hollow gourd [deze] provides amplification, and materials such as bottle caps or beads can be affixed to the soundboard to create the instrument’s signature buzzing sound.

The music played on the instrument, which is also called mbira, often consists of two or more interlocking and cyclical parts marked by polyrhythmic complexity. Songs lend themselves to improvisation, so no two performances are exactly alike.

The instrument features prominently in a variety of Shona ceremonies, and it remains a vital link to the past through songs that have been passed down over hundreds of years. While the mbira was traditionally played by men, Zimbabwean women have increasingly taken up the instrument in recent years and continue to push its timeless sound in new and contemporary directions.

Jan 26, 2018
India's Republic Day 2018




https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...4776192-2x.jpg


On this day in 1950, India solidified its sovereignty by putting into effect the Constitution of India, a governing document that took nearly three years of careful deliberation to finalize, and whose eventual enactment was joyfully celebrated across the country.

The first Republic Day was commemorated with a grand parade at the Rajpath, a tradition that continues to the present day. An important element of this parade is the celebration of India’s rich cultural history, which serves as the inspiration for today’s Doodle by New Delhi-based illustrator Ibrahim Rayintakath.

The geometrical shapes that form the Doodle's background are inspired by the vibrant colors and patterns of traditional hand-loom draperies from different states. The foreground elements symbolize unique crafts, music and traditional practices from across the country. You can see a man blowing the Sringa, an ancient musical instrument; Kathputli, a form of traditional puppetry used to narrate folk tales; and the spinning wheel, an important symbol of India’s history. Ceremonial dances form an important part of rituals during the many festivals celebrated across India, and today’s Doodle depicts the Bihu dance from Assam. You can also spot the majestic elephant, a key figure in such festive ceremonies in most regions. Finally, the overall outline and motifs are a tribute to Mughal architecture.

All these elements of local culture in bright, warm colors and distinctive patterns are reminiscent of India’s rich cultural heritage, and come together to celebrate a happy 69th Republic Day!

Jan 29, 2018
Teresa Teng’s 65th Birthday



https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...8680960-2x.jpg


Pop singer Teresa Teng was born on this day in 1953 in Taiwan. Her music and talent was a dominant and influential force in Asia throughout most of the 1970s and 1980s. Teng was able to move her audiences as much with the sweetness of her voice as with the power of melancholy emotion. One of the “Five Great Asian Divas”, she was known for driving her audience into rapture, and often tears, over a career that spanned three decades.

Teng’s widespread popularity was also driven by her ability to sing in several languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Indonesian, and English. Evoking for many precious memories of childhood and happier times, her legacy endures to this day.

Today’s Doodle pays tribute to one of Teng’s most well-known songs, "The Moon Represents My Heart." By providing an alternative to the mostly revolutionary songs then prevalent in mainland China, Teng’s emotional rendition of this old Mandarin favorite catapulted her to instant and long-lasting fame that lingers to this day.

Feb 3, 2018
Payom Sinawat’s 109th Birthday


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Today we celebrate renowned textile artist Payom Sinawat, who carried the traditional patterns of Isaan, a region in northeast Thailand, into the present day. Born in 1909 in Thailand’s Sisaket Province, Sinawat worked in Isaan arts and crafts for over 60 years. As she handcrafted silk for the Queen, Sinawat played a crucial role in popularizing traditional textile arts.

One of the Isaan cloths that she handcrafted in traditional looms, and which partly inspired today’s Doodle, is named khit. Khit weaving tends to use certain colors, like red, purple, and dark green, to layer contrasting geometric patterns over a light background.

With an emphasis on quality, Sinawat mixed old and new materials to modernize and conserve traditional textile art. In 1987, she received the title of Thailand National Artist for her excellent craftsmanship, a title annually bestowed upon notable Thai artists. Through sharing her craft with society, she ensured that northeastern Thai weaving techniques and their resulting beautiful silks are conserved for generations to come.

Feb 3, 2018
Elizabeth Blackwell’s 197th Birthday



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“It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating!”-Elizabeth Blackwell

As the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, an active champion of women’s rights, and an abolitionist, Elizabeth Blackwell was nothing if not a pioneer.

Blackwell grew up in Bristol and emigrated to the United States with her family, where she began her professional life as a teacher. Early on, she asserted her moral convictions: when a teaching position in Kentucky exposed her to the brutality of slavery for the first time, she set up a Sunday school for slaves and became a staunch abolitionist.

Years later, the death of a friend prompted her foray into medicine, as Blackwell believed a female physician might have lessened her friend’s suffering. She persisted through seemingly endless rejections from medical schools – at least once being told that she should dress as a man in order to gain admittance. Finally, she was accepted into the Geneva Medical College by a unanimous vote of the all-male student body. She went on to establish a women-governed infirmary, found two medical colleges for women, and mentor several physicians.

Today’s Doodle is by illustrator Harriet Lee Merrion – who happens to be based in Bristol and regularly cycles past the house where Elizabeth grew up! Her illustration shows Blackwell in the midst of her pioneering practice and celebrates the significant positive impact she had on the lives of people around the world.

Feb 6, 2018
Waitangi Day [New Zealand National Day 2018]


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Today, the beautiful country of New Zealand celebrates Waitangi Day, the country’s official National Day. Waitangi Day is named after a small city on the North Island of New Zealand where the Treaty of Waitangi, the country’s founding document, was first signed in 1840. Signing the treaty brought New Zealand’s indigenous Māori tribes and British representatives together into one new government. More than 40 Māori chiefs joined the British for the signing ceremony, and both cultures are still woven together in the fabric of the country today.

Celebrations at Waitangi begin at sunrise with a flag raising ceremony by the Royal New Zealand Navy and continue throughout the day with church services, historic reenactments of the signing, song, and dance. Elsewhere in New Zealand, local communities take the day to learn more about Māori culture and their history, or visit the beach to take in a typical sunny summer day. You’ll even find parties in London, which hosts the largest community of Kiwi expatriates outside of New Zealand. No matter where you may be in the world, if you have roots in New Zealand, we wish you a very happy Waitangi Day!

Feb 7, 2018
Aysel Gürel’s 89th Birthday


https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...4010368-2x.png

There will never be another Aysel Gürel. Born on this day in 1929, in Sarayköy in the Denizli Province of Turkey, Aysel Gürel lived life to the hilt. Buoyant and daring, Gürel ruled the Turkish pop music scene from the late 1970s through the 2000s, penning lyrics about love lost and found for both legendary singers as well as up-and-comers including Sezen Aksu, Nilüfer, Tarkan, and Sertab Erener. New songs are produced from the trove of lyrics she left behind even today!At heart, Gürel was a poet who found her audience through her songs, but she was also a gifted actress, Turkologist, and witty provocateur.

She also made her mark as a feminist and animal rights activist.While stars gave voice to her songs, Gürel wasn’t one to hide in the background. She, too, was made for the limelight. Dressed in her oversized red glasses, pink wigs and head-turning outfits, flirting, and always quick with clever repartee, Gürel was as unforgettable as she was unpredictable.Today’s Doodle celebrates Gürel’s inner [and outer] wild child. Wearing those signature specs, her hair colored in hues of fuschia, her joy is hard to contain on the screen.

Feb 8, 2018
Paula Modersohn-Becker’s 142nd Birthday



https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...2428672-2x.jpg


Renowned German expressionist painter Paula Modersohn-Becker was born on this day in 1876. Her art bears witness to her courage, boldness, and ambition — a temperament that greatly influenced her short but prolific career.

Exposed to the intellectual world from the time she was a young child growing up in Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Modersohn-Becker began her artistic endeavors as a student in Bremen, and at the age of 18, moved to an artist’s colony in Worpswede. There she met her future husband, but hungry to learn more, she moved to Paris to study and urged him to join her.

In the years that followed, her personal life underwent many changes. But through all the turbulence, she continued to paint, producing more than 80 pictures in 1906 alone. Her writings explain this frenetic pace as a necessity to make up for the first two ‘lost’ decades of her life.

An early expressionist, she joined the likes of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse in introducing modernism to the world. Modersohn-Becker was known for her bold choices as an artist — be it her depictions of nude female figures [among the very first women artists to do so], or those of women breastfeeding their children. She tenaciously resisted the strict expectations held of women of her era, preferring exploration and painting over more traditional pastimes.

Today’s Doodle reflects her artistic style depicting domestic subjects, and is illustrated by Berlin-based duo Golden Cosmos.

February 8, 2011
Jules Verne's 183rd Birthday




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A76ULxWTqcM


It wasn’t very difficult for something to spark my imagination when I was a child—whether it was a pile of leaves or a couch of stackable cushions, just about anything could jump-start my creativity. My first encounter with Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, however, sent my imagination into hyper drive.

I first found the novel while browsing through a random aisle in my local library. The cover was dark, murky and a little worn—but it was the most spectacular thing I’d ever seen. A pair of old-fashioned divers drag their feet over the ocean floor, watching a school of fish drift by. They don’t seem to notice the twisting silhouette of a monster inching toward them.

The cover alone pulled me in, but I didn’t want to spoil all of the possible story lines by actually reading the book. Looking back, I realize that what fascinated me most was the unknown: a creative spark and the imaginative exploration that followed. Since then, I’ve become more familiar with his work and still believe that exploration is the essence of Verne’s novels. His stories pull the readers into a world filled with infinite potential—be it in the clouds, on land or under the sea.

Today’s doodle, celebrating Verne’s 183rd birthday, tries to capture that sense of adventure and exploration. Using CSS3 [and with help from our resident tech wizards Marcin Wichary and Kris Hom], the doodle enables anyone to navigate the Nautilus [nearly] 20,000 leagues with the simple pull of a lever. And for those using devices with built-in accelerometers and the latest versions of Google Chrome or Firefox, it’s even simpler—just tilt your device in the direction you want to explore and the Nautilus will follow.

So voyage below [and above] the waves to see what you can discover... just make sure to keep an eye out for the giant squid.

Feb 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day from Google & Robert Indiana. Courtesy of the Morgan Art Foundation / ARS, NY




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/18...3vSOnfN4b=s660



Robert Indiana [born Robert Clark; September 13, 1928 – May 19, 2018] was an American artist associated with the pop art movement. His "LOVE" print, first created for the Museum of Modern Art's Christmas card in 1965, was the basis for his 1970 Love sculpture and the widely distributed 1973 United States Postal Service "LOVE" stamp. He created works in media including paper [silk screen] and Cor-ten steel.

Feb 17, 2011
Lantern Festival 2011




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GU...zTvezwEPg=s660



The Lantern Festival or the Spring Lantern Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar. Usually falling in February or early March on the Gregorian calendar, it marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.

Feb 17, 2011
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena's Birthday



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/95...ATU87lyf8=s660



Guillermo González Camarena [17 February 1917 – 18 April 1965] was a Mexican electrical engineer who was the inventor of a color-wheel type of color television, and who also introduced color television to the world

Feb 19, 2011
Constantin Brancusi's 135th Birthday


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Z8...lp2dRSkbg=s660



My high school art history teacher had always sung the praises of Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, but seeing his work in textbooks couldn't compare to recently viewing the Sleeping Muse in person at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's a piece that commands attention, as it seems to defy gravity with its elegance and poise. Brâncuși's use of bronze imbues his art with a silent, intense energy, as the viewer sees the room - and themselves - reflected and fractured in the surface of the work. And when he turns to marble, it gives his sculptures even more of a quiet dignity, always with powerful undertones of potential movement.

It was an honor to have had the opportunity to celebrate Brâncuși, whose work I've admired for so long. Brâncuși was born in 1876 and spent much of his life in Paris, where he pioneered his distinctive style of simplifying subjects into their most essential geometric forms. This doodle contains a survey of some of his best-known and most characteristic work, from left to right: Prometheus, Leda, The Newborn, Sleeping Muse, Mademoiselle Pogany, Bird in Space, and The Kiss.

Other works for which he is well-known include an ensemble of sculptures in Targu-Jiu, a Romanian city close to his hometown. Of these, the Column of the Infinite, a 98-feet-high cast-iron column, is perhaps one of his most iconic pieces. Fans of Brâncuși can visit the Atelier Brâncuși in Paris, a reconstruction of his workshop that's overflowing with pieces, tools, sketches, and studies.

February 19, 2015
Lunar New Year 2015 [Vietnam]




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Iq...6VKzumChm=s660

Feb 24, 2015
Rosalía de Castro’s 178th Birthday


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F1...FLSJYonWc=s660


Set against the Galician landscape, our doodle features a portrait of Spanish writer and poet Rosalía de Castro for her 178th birthday.

The name Rosalía de Castro has been used by several institutions, public spaces and/or parks, and on consumer goods, thus showing the social influence and impact this poet has had on the region. Today, it is possible to find schools and universities named after the writer in the Spanish Autonomous Region of Galicia as well as other parts of Spain, Russia, Venezuela [Teatro Rosalía de Castro] and Uruguay also have places that bear her name.Furthermore, there are numerous parks, plazas and streets, cultural associations, prizes granted to people that are intimately linked with the Galician and Spanish languages, libraries, folk groups, choirs, and even a wine with the name Rías Baixas.There is also a plane from the airline Iberia, as well as an aircraft belonging to the Maritime Safety and Rescue Society [Salvamento Marítimo], have been given the name of Rosalía de Castro. Moreover, there are a multitude of monuments, commemorative plaques and sculptures dedicated to her in many parts of the world.

On 23 October 1979, the last of the 500 peseta bills was printed, being that in 1987, this bill was to be substituted by a coin of the same value. The bill had the portrait of Rosalía de Castro displayed on the obverse side, created by Pablo Sampedro Moledo: on the reverse side were the House/Museum of Rosalía located in Padrón and a few handwritten verses from Rosalía de Castro's work Follas Novas. With the printing of this bill, Rosalía de Castro became, excepting Isabella I of Castile, the only non-allegorical female to be placed on the obverse side of a Spanish bill.

January 8, 2018
Fearless Nadia’s 110th Birthday


https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...43872.5-2x.jpg



Born Mary Ann Evans on this day in 1908 in Perth, Australia, the blue-eyed blonde actress “Fearless Nadia” earned her nickname as the original Bollywood stuntwoman in the 1930s and 1940s.

After learning the ropes of outdoor living in Peshawar, she first joined a touring dance troupe in Bombay, then the Zarco Circus. After changing her name to Nadia on the advice of a fortune teller, she was cast in cameos before striking upon the winning film formula: Fearless Nadia, action heroine.

In her first lead role, JBH Wadia’s 1935 film Hunterwali [The Lady of the Whip], Fearless Nadia blazed onto the screen in leather shorts, a mask, and cape, performing all of her own stunts. Over the years, she swung from chandeliers, sprang from speeding trains, and even tamed lions. After leaving the cameras behind in the early 60’s, Riyad Wadia’s 1993 documentary Fearless: The Hunterwali Story brought the passionate trailblazer back to the limelight once again.

Gutsy stunt star Fearless Nadia is ready to rumble in today’s Doodle, which was created by Bangalore-based comic illustrator Devaki Neogi. The illustration draws inspiration from the action movie posters of old-time Hindi cinema.

Jan 9, 2018
Har Gobind Khorana’s 96th Birthday



https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...73088.2-2x.jpg


Today’s Doodle celebrates Har Gobind Khorana, an Indian-American biochemist whose passion for science started under a tree in the small village of Raipur, India, and grew into Nobel Prize-winning research on nucleotides and genes.

Dr. Khorana was born in 1922 as the youngest of five children. His father instilled the importance of learning by helping his children to read and write, which wasn’t common for villagers at the time. Scholarships helped propel the budding scientist through his scholastic journey, obtaining his doctorate in organic chemistry in 1948.

Dr. Khorana conducted research at universities in England, Switzerland, and Canada, and it was at the University of Wisconsin that he and two fellow researchers received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968. Together, they discovered that the order of nucleotides in our DNA determines which amino acids are built. These amino acids form proteins, which carry out essential cell functions.
His accomplishments didn’t stop there. Fewer than five years later, Dr. Khorana made a second scientific breakthrough when he constructed the first synthetic gene. He received a host of awards during his lifetime, including the National Medal of Science.

Bangalore-based illustrator Rohan Dahotre drew today’s Doodle, which celebrates Dr. Khorana’s pioneering work in understanding our DNA.

Jan 9, 2018
25th Anniversary of Rafflesia Arnoldii



https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...914560-2xa.gif


If screens emitted scents, you’d be in for quite the stench. The pale green fumes bursting from today’s Doodle evoke the odor of Rafflesia arnoldii, an Indonesian plant that produces the largest flower in the world. This day marks the 25th anniversary of its distinction as a national rarity in its native Indonesia.

Known as bunga bangkai, or “the corpse flower” among locals, Rafflesia arnoldii gives off the aroma of rotting flesh, which baits the carrion flies that pollinate it. Its plump, red-brown petals, freckled with white spots, only emerge from Tetrastigma, the vine-like plants that host it, when it’s ready to reproduce — making it an incredibly uncommon sight. Once in the open, Rafflesia arnoldii grows to around 3 feet [1 meter] in diameter and blooms for just a few days.

But there’s more to this parasitic plant than its pungent perfume. Rafflesia arnoldii was named an Indonesian national “rare flower” in 1993’s Presidential Decree No. 4. This wondrous species is represented in the intricate patterns of traditional Indonesian batik, especially in the Bengkulu province of Sumatra, where it is often found.

Oct 31, 2018
40th Anniversary of Titicaca National Reserve



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Today’s Doodle honors the 40th anniversary of the La Reserva Nacional del Titicaca [Titicaca National Reserve], which protects one of the rarest ecosystems on earth. Lake Titicaca is one of the planet’s few remaining ancient lakes, estimated to be 3 million years old. Situated in the Andes mountains some 3,810 meters above sea level, it holds the title for highest elevation of any major lake in the world and largest freshwater lake in South America.

Funded by the Peruvian state, the Titicaca National Reserve also supports the ancient civilization of the Uros people, who live on floating islands made from reeds, like the one seen in today’s Doodle. The Uros moved to these islands when the Incas expanded onto their land, and still live and fish there.

The National Reserve is also a living zoo of rare animals that require protection, including the Lake Titicaca frog, whose baggy skin enables it breathe under the surface of the lake. In the national reserve there’s also the Ballivian Sponge, which has been living there for 7,000 years; 60 species of birds; and mammals including the wild guinea pig, the vizcacha [a chinchilla-like rodent], and Andean wolves, llamas, alpacas, skunks, and foxes.

This truly amazing place is unlike any other on Earth, rich in biodiversity and culture — and the reserve is invaluable to its continued survival.

Oct 28, 2018
Simón Rodríguez’s 249th Birthday

https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...2720768-2x.png

Today’s Doodle honors the life and legacy of Simón Rodríguez, a scholar, humanist, philosopher, and educator who traveled the world seeking knowledge, building schools, and working tirelessly to further the principles he held dear.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela on this day in 1771, Rodríguez was a gifted and precocious student, deeply inspired by the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, particularly his landmark treatise Emile, or On Education. In 1791 Rodríguez received his first teaching position in Caracas, and three years later presented a critique of the school system as well as a plan for its reform.

The young teacher proposed creating new schools, with well-trained and fairly compensated instructors and incorporating more students of all ethnicities and social backgrounds. Among his students was Simón Bolívar, to whom he became a friend and mentor as well, shaping the sensibilities of the future statesman known throughout South America as El Libertador.

Reunited with his student as an adult, Rodríguez worked alongside Bolívar during his quest to create independent states in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and the Republic of Bolivia, always focused on the importance of education as a fundamental human right.Within a few years, Rodríguez fled from Venezuela under an assumed name, having provoked the powerful elites with his unwavering dedication and unwillingness to compromise his ideals.

After setting up a what he called a “workshop-school” in Columbia, Rodríguez was summoned to Peru by Bolívar. Rodríguez soon became its “Director for Public Education, Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Arts" as well as "Director of Mines, Agriculture and Public Roads.”

Rodríguez traveled restlessly in search of a place to apply his ideas, living in Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. In 1828 he began publishing Sociedades Americanas, subtitled “how they are and how they should be in the centuries to come.” The work comprised a summary of his ideas about on education, human rights, and citizenship in practice.

Applying in South America the bold educational ideas that transformed Europe, Rodríguez devised innovative methods of childhood education that shaped the future of his homeland for centuries to come.

Oct 28, 2018
100th Anniversary of Czechoslovakia




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Today’s Doodle honors Czechoslovakia, the Central European country known for its ancient castles, classical music, and its rich art and design tradition. Founded soon after World War I, Czechoslovakia celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Although the Czech Republic and Slovakia became two independent nations in 1993, both honor the anniversary of their independence from the Austro-Hungarian empire on October 28, with schools and businesses closing in observance of the occasion.
In Prague, where the original proclamation of independence was issued, there are streets are named “October 28.” Historical exhibitions are on display at the ancient Prague Castle, official home of the Czech Republic’s president.

Bratislava Castle, a 10th century edifice named for Slovakia’s capital city, will be another focal point of festivities. Here you will find the Slovak installation of a joint exhibition curated by the Slovak National Museum and National Museum of the Czech Republic, highlighting a 100 years of shared history from both nation’s perspectives.

The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra is marking the 100th anniversary with a series of concerts by Czech composers at the Rudolfinum in Prague. The renowned orchestra will also perform at New York City’s Carnegie Hall on October 28. Outdoor concerts are also planned throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Czech and Slovak celebrations alike are sure to include potato dumplings — a favorite food of both nations. And today’s a great occasion for a toast with beer made from the famous Saaz hops, the key to a great pilsner.

Oct 28, 2018
39th Anniversary of the MassKara Festival



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Today’s Doodle marks the 39th anniversary of the MassKara festival in the Philippines, a popular celebration known for its vibrant masks, feathers, costumes [like the one’s seen in Today’s Doodle] and dancing on the streets.

While the festival is at its peak on this particular day, it is a month-long celebration that includes, in addition to street dancing and singing, contests for pig-chasing, pole-climbing, and fireworks shows.

MassKara [Spanish-derived portmanteau of “a mass of people” and “face”] was started as a city government’s effort to uplift the city of Bacolod, located on the island of Negros. At the time, the prominent sugar industry was suffering and an economic depression had set in. The celebratory festival was intended to bring back joy and laughter in the lives of the people. It was not just embraced but has since become an integral part of the culture and a tourists delight,

Oct 27, 2018
Stella Adadevoh’s 62nd Birthday




https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...43040.2-2x.jpg

Today’s Doodle celebrates Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the physician whose expertise and heroic efforts curbed the spread of Ebola in Nigeria in 2014.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria on this day in 1956, Dr. Adadevoh descended from a long line of respected scientists and statesmen. Dr. Adadevoh completed her residency at Lagos University Teaching Hospital West African College of Physicians and Surgeons credential before doing a fellowship in London. Following her fellowship in endocrinology at Hammersmith Hospital, she returned to Lagos, Nigeria where she spent 21 years at the First Consultants Medical Center and served as the Lead Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist.

In July 2014 a Liberian-American attorney arrived in Lagos on a flight from Monrovia heading to a conference on economic development and collapsed in the airport. The patient was taken to First Consultant Medical Center, where one of Dr. Adadevoh’s colleagues first diagnosed him as suffering from malaria. Although no Nigerian doctor had seen a case of Ebola before, Dr. Adadevoh suspected the patient might have been exposed to the highly contagious virus and subsequently ordered blood tests to confirm while also alerting Nigerian health officials.

While awaiting test results, Dr. Adadevoh was pressured by Liberian government officials to let the patient go so he could attend the conference as planned. Despite threats of lawsuits, Dr. Adadevoh stood firm, stating that she would not release the patient “for the greater public good.”

The test results came back positive for the Ebola virus and while the patient could not be treated in time, Dr. Adadevoh’s medical insight and the courage of her convictions ensured that other exposed patients could be treated rapidly and that the outbreak was contained. Unfortunately, in treating the initial patients, Dr. Adedevoh contracted the virus and passed away, along with three of her colleagues at the medical center.

Her legacy lives on through DRASA [Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh] Health Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to public health that works with communities and health workers to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and ensure that Nigeria is well prepared for future outbreaks.

May 26, 2021
Celebrating Swing Dancing and the Savoy Ballroom!



https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YVn37IfH6Qk/maxresdefault.jpg


https://www.google.com/doodles/celeb...savoy-ballroom [Interactive game]


Go behind-the-scenes of today’s Doodle below! [Turn on your sound.]


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI-I3XkoZ-k


Today’s interactive game Doodle celebrates swing dancing and the Savoy Ballroom—an iconic Swing Era dance hall that thrived from the 1920s to 50s in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. On this day in 2002, Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, two of members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, unveiled a commemorative plaque where its entrance once stood.

The Savoy Ballroom made history as one of the first racially integrated public spaces in United States when it opened its doors with a no-discrimination policy in 1926. In the early 20th century, Harlem housed a predominantly Black community, including those who migrated from other parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean. This community’s impact was prevalent throughout Harlem, as the neighborhood thrived as a site for creativity and culture—and the home of the Savoy Ballroom. Albeit a white-owned institution, the Black community of Harlem made the Savoy the cultural heartbeat of the neighborhood and an epicenter of innovation for swing dance and music worldwide.

The Savoy’s ballroom awaited guests up two marble staircases on the second floor, featuring a 10,000-square foot mahogany and maple dance floor that was a city block long. The glamorous dance hall sparkled as a hub of jazz and jive. The Savoy’s twin bandstands hosted seamless live music as many of the world’s acclaimed jazz musicians—including the likes of Chick Webb, Count Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald—trumpeted out the soundtrack for thousands of dancers each night [and over 700,000 annually!]. In step with the big band energy, patrons powered the nightclub with the electricity of ever-evolving swing dance styles. The Charleston, the Big Apple, and in later years the Mambo, were among dances enjoyed at the Savoy, but the most popular was the vivacious Lindy Hop, which was born and bred in the ballroom.

The Lindy Hop is characterized by a swinging rhythmic connection between partners, a flurry of acrobatic air steps in the performance version, and footwork that contributed to one of the Savoy’s signature nicknames: “The Home of Happy Feet.” With the synergistic life forces of jazz dance and music, the Savoy Ballroom shined as a melting pot of Harlem nightlife during a time of racial segregation for the next three decades.

In 1958, the Savoy Ballroom closed its doors for good but its international impact is still felt to this day. At its historic location in between 140th and 141st Street on New York City’s Lenox Avenue, a commemorative plaque honors the Ballroom and its legacy as a home of cultural innovation.
Here’s to all the memories swingin’ at the Savoy!

Nov 11, 2013
Veterans Day 2013


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UL...b5BsH3OOn=s660


Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

Nov 18, 2013
Latvia Independence Day 2013



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Zm...2yQFeVv2g=s660

Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia is celebrated annually on 18 November. It marks the anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of Latvia by the People's Council of Latvia in 1918.

Nov 18, 2013
Juan Carlos Castagnino's 105th Birthday



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e0...1qLkBt5Ug=s660

Juan Carlos Castagnino was an Argentine painter, architect, muralist and sketch artist.

He received numerous awards, including the Grand Prize of Honor of the Argentine National Hall [1961], the Medal of Honor at Expo '58 [Brussels, 1958], and a special mention for his drawings at the II Mexico City Biennale of 1962. His illustrations for a EUDEBA [University of Buenos Aires Press] edition of José Hernández's Martín Fierro [the national poem of Argentina], gained wide recognition.

Castagnino died in Buenos Aires in 1972. Following its relocation to the landmark Villa Ortiz Basualdo, the Municipal Museum of Art in his native Mar del Plata, to which the artist had contributed over 130 works, was renamed in his honor in 1982.

Nov 19, 2013
Helena Zmatlíková's 90th Birthday




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cx...fFoA9ZjSQ=s660


Helena Zmatlíková was a Czech illustrator, especially of children's books. For her works she received numerous awards. She also participated in the 1958 World Exhibition.

Nov 20, 2013
Selma Lagerlöf's 155th Birthday




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/he...4aJH9v3kw=s660


Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author and teacher. She published her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she was awarded in 1909. Additionally, she was the first woman to be granted a membership in the Swedish Academy in 1914.

Nov 20, 2013
Children's Day 2013 [Multiple Countries]




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bj...iefi8V9w0=s660

Nov 23, 2013
Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary




http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4pk...Sm06zLwpg=s660


https://www.google.com/doodles/docto...th-anniversary [animated]

The Doctor Who doodle started life as a request from a huge fan at Google. It seemed daunting- 11 Doctor's, 50 years of adventures, countless enemies and time travel!

But we loved the idea of science fiction, technology and fun coming together, so we set about creating a multiple level game. The game was always a simple premise- those dastardly Daleks have stolen the Google letters and we need Doctor Who to retrieve them.

Artists don't make games, programmers do. I provided the designs and various pieces of animation but without the engineers the game would only exist in another dimension! I was fortunate to work alongside people that genuinely cared:

Engineering Gurus - Rui Lopes, Corrie Scalisi, Mark Ivey
Additional support - Doug Simpkinson, Jonathan Shneier
All things D of 3 - Leon Hong
Deity of rain, lava & lightning - Kevin Laughlin
Additional game ideas - Gregory Capuano
Sounds - The BBC, Tom Tabanao, Manuel Clement and Cody!
Creative consultant - Chris Dibona
User testing - Jennifer Zamora

We thank the BBC for trusting us and also helping us whenever needed. So what are you waiting for?! Jump in your TARDIS [Time and relative "doodle" in space] and become the fastest time lord in the universe!

Nov 24, 2013
Teacher's Day 2013 [Turkey]





https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OV...ue3_JAF38=s660

Nov 25, 2013
Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky's 175th Birthday

https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...4113920-hp.jpg



Ivan Semenovych Nechuy-Levytsky was a well-known Ukrainian writer.

Nov 30, 2013
Saint Andrew's Day 2013



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/K_...aRcg3tdM4=s660


Saint Andrew's Day is the feast day of Saint Andrew. It is celebrated on 30 November.

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew's Day is Scotland's official national day. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated St. Andrew's Day as an official bank holiday.

Although most commonly associated with Scotland, Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of Greece, Romania, Russia and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

In Germany, the feast day is celebrated as Andreasnacht ["St. Andrew's Night"], in Austria with the custom of Andreasgebet ["St. Andrew's Prayer"], and in Poland as Andrzejki ["Andrews"].

Dec 2, 2013
Maria Callas' 90th Birthday




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/x4...m7Rlv9dJQ=s660

Maria Callas Commendatore [born Sophie Cecilia Kalos; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977] was an American-born Greek soprano who was one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised her bel canto technique, wide-ranging voice and dramatic interpretations. Her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini and Rossini and, further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, to the music dramas of Wagner. Her musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina ["the Divine one"].

Dec 2, 2013
Carlos Merida's 122nd Birthday




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7F...sPPrPsoSc=s660


Carlos Mérida was a Guatemalan artist who was one of the first to fuse European modern painting to Latin American themes, especially those related to Guatemala and Mexico. He was part of the Mexican muralism movement in subject matter but less so in style, favoring a non-figurative and later geometric style rather than a figurative, narrative style. Mérida is best known for canvas and mural work, the latter including elements such as glass and ceramic mosaic on major constructions in the 1950s and 1960s. One of his major works, 4000m2 on the Benito Juarez housing complex, was completely destroyed with the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, but a monument to it exists at another complex in the south of the city.

March 26, 2019
Bangladesh Independence Day 2019



https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...5658368-2x.jpg


Today’s Doodle celebrates Independence Day in Bangladesh, the South Asian nation situated on the Bay of Bengal and a deltaic nation with almost 700 rivers flowing through it!

On this day in 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, often titled Bangabandhu [which translates to “friend of Bengal”], signed a declaration that made the former East Pakistan the sovereign and independent country of Bangladesh with its own unique language and culture. This founding document followed Bangabandhu’s historic speech, delivered on March 7.

A public holiday in Bangladesh, Independence Day is commemorated with parades, fairs, and concerts as well as patriotic speeches. A festive spirit fills the capital city of Dhaka, where the Bangladesh flag flies proudly, and many government buildings are lit up with the national colors: green and red. The green symbolizes Bangladesh’s abundant flora and the potential of the nation’s youth while the red circle in the middle of the flag represents the sun rising over the relatively new and developing country.

April 4, 2018
2018 Commonwealth Games



https://www.google.com/logos/doodles...5344.2-2xa.gif


The 2018 Commonwealth Games are officially underway on Australia’s Gold Coast. Over the next two weeks, thousands of athletes from 70 Commonwealth countries and territories will compete in 18 sports and 7 para-sports. Today’s Doodle jumps right into the action as one of the Google “Os” takes us through various sports in the Games, including boxing, lawn bowls, para-cycling, and netball.

This multi-sport event started in 1930, when 11 countries from the Commonwealth of Nations sent athletes to Ontario, Canada to partake in what were then called the British Empire Games. The inaugural Games included six sports: athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming and diving, and wrestling.

Though competitive by nature, the Games were meant to foster camaraderie and sportsmanship. Since 1930, they’ve taken place every four years, excluding 1942 and 1946, and have grown in teams, athletes, events, and traditions.

2018 is already setting records: this year features the largest integrated program of events and para-events, and for the first time, women will compete for the same number of medals as men.

Apr 4, 2018
Dr. Maya Angelou’s 90th Birthday



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bda20UYsPdM

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.”-Dr. Maya Angelou

In a life rich with experiences and stories, author, poet, memoirist, and activist Dr. Maya Angelou touched the lives of millions around the globe through her teachings, her writings, her voice, and her actions.

Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in 1928, her incredible story began with tragedy when a sexual assault at the age of seven rendered her mute for five years. During those years, however, books and poetry became her solace and constant companions, eventually helping her find her voice again to embark upon an intellectual and creative journey that defies description.

In her her teens and early adult life Dr. Angelou saw more experiences than many do in a lifetime: from motherhood, to becoming San Francisco’s first female and black streetcar conductor, to touring the world as a cast member of the opera Porgy and Bess — all while mastering several languages. She sang and danced in professional cabarets, worked as a journalist in Africa, and became one of the most prominent civil rights activists of her generation.

The success of her first book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” in 1969 brought her mainstream attention as an author. Six other autobiographical works followed, in addition to poetry, children’s literature, and non-fiction [even cookbooks!].

Through her works, Dr. Angelou gave a voice to millions. She championed women’s rights and gender equality. She redefined black beauty and celebrated African-American oral traditions. She advocated against war and campaigned for universal peace.

She was also the recipient of numerous honors during her lifetime. She became the first poet to make an inaugural recitation in three decades when Bill Clinton became President in 1992. Her vast impact on popular culture was also felt through a host of award nominations, public accolades, and more than 50 honorary degrees.

Today’s video Doodle celebrates Dr. Maya Angelou on what would have been her 90th birthday. Set to her poem “Still I Rise,” the Doodle includes her own voice along with the voices of other individuals whose lives she has inspired, and who aspire to live by her legacy today.

Special thanks to these project partners who include [in order of appearance]: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cF...6KTAho1NacA=s0

​“Maya Angelou, I love her so much. Everything she represented as a woman, her creativity, her story, who she is. She was a renaissance woman of all types, she recreated though levels, all angles, all places in her mind. She is brilliant...I am honored to be able to say her words."https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Zt...BMtJzMxfVEC=s0https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Kk...W3-A8rYKlDr=s0

"Being around Maya was so powerful and inspiring. I count myself very blessed to be one of the ones chosen to be a part of this. For some reason she took a liking to me and went out of her way to extend herself to me and I am forever grateful for that."https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Rw...iFTrlbBWa-w=s0https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/U1...DjjaN7kX4ag=s0

"Dr. Angelou's work is filled with such incredible wisdom and spiritual teachings. It feels like the ultimate privilege to have the opportunity to speak her words. She is a national treasure we should always celebrate.”

“Maya Angelou is not what she has done or written or spoken, it's how she did it all. She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence, and a fiery, fierce grace and abounding love.”

Here’s to Dr. Maya Angelou for her courage, compassion, and words, which continue to inspire hope around the world.