Google doodles

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Feb 23, 2020

Ca Trù's Founder Commemoration Day 2020




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Ho Chi Minh City-based guest artist Xuan Le, celebrates Ca Trù’s Founders Commemoration Day, a time to honor the genre widely considered to be Vietnam’s most revered traditional form of music.

A style that fits somewhere in between the geisha ceremonies of Japan and the dramatic performances of opera, Ca trù’s unique sound has roots that stretch back to the 11th century. First gaining popularity as entertainment for the aristocracy of Vietnam’s royal palaces, it later made its way into the inns and communal spaces of what is now modern-day Hanoi.

The ensemble is composed of at least three performers, including one female singing intricate poetry while tapping a phach [[a small bamboo box), two musicians playing traditional instruments, and occasionally dancers. Ca trù is now found in cities across Vietnam.

Performed in designated Ca trù clubs and at annual festivals, the genre has seen a recent revival due to a concentrated effort from state-run organizations and international agencies. Preservation of Ca trù is elusive due in part to it being a strictly oral tradition that is passed down only through one elite practitioner to the next generation after years of committed study.

Taking into account the precious nature of an invaluable historical relic and the difficulty of its safeguarding, UNESCO is dedicated to protecting the practice and inscribed Ca trù on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.

[9A]

Dec 17, 2023

Celebrating Ha Long Bay


This animated Doodle celebrates Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, known for its 1000+ limestone islands that rise out of the sea. It celebrates Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, one of the seven new natural wonders of the world. Ha Long Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin and was formed some 3 million years ago. Its name in Vietnamese, Vinh Ha Long, means “where the dragon descends to the sea.”

Ha Long Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin within the Quang Ninh province and was formed some 3 million years ago. Legend has it that a mythical dragon stomped down hard into the earth to create giant valleys that were filled with water, and only a few jagged mountain peaks stayed undisturbed above the surface. The breathtaking seascape now consists of almost 2,000 islands and islets, and is home to hundreds of different species from fish to monkeys to hawks to frogs.

Its limestone pillars and emerald green waters attract millions of bucket-list visitors each year, making it one of Vietnam’s national treasures. Many delve down into the depths of Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave in the bay, while others enjoy more nautical adventures like fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba diving.

Ha Long Bay was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a new age wonder of the world. It’s an invaluable cultural phenomenon that has helped scientists understand the movement of geologic plates and the history of climate change on earth.

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Sep 30, 2023

Celebrating the Ain Ghazal Statues



Today's hand-crafted Doodle celebrates the Ain Ghazal statues — roughly 9,000 years old and considered one of the earliest large-scale representations of the human form. On this day in 1983, the statues were discovered in Jordan.

Why did ancient sculptors create these statues? Researchers still don’t have concrete answers. However, it is known that after the statues served its purpose, our prehistoric ancestors strategically buried the sculptures, aligning them east to west.

Archeologists discovered the first cache of underground statues in 1983 and a second group of sculptures in 1985 at ‘Ain Ghazal, a Neolithic site in Jordan.

The Ain Ghazal figures depict men, women, and children with intricate human features such as almond-shaped eyes, prominent noses, and realistic legs, toes, and toenails.

The statues have gained global appeal and can be viewed today at galleries such as the Jordan Museum, Jordan Archaeological Museum, British Museum, and Louvre Abu Dhabi to ponder the mysteries of the past.

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Sep 29, 2023

Mihály Csíkszentmihályi's 89th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 89th birthday of Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, a Hungarian-American psychologist who pioneered the scientific study of happiness and creativity as well as coining the term “flow”: the mental state of completely absorbing oneself in an activity. It’s a state of optimal performance and well-being that is characterized by focus, enjoyment, and fulfillment.

Csíkszentmihályi was born on this day in 1934 in Fiume [then part of Imperial Italy]. His family struggled financially as a result of the economic downturn caused by WWII. Consequently, Csíkszentmihályi dropped out of school to help support his family. The profound suffering that Csíkszentmihályi witnessed during the war inspired him to dedicate his life to understanding the science of happiness. He turned to art, philosophy, and religion as he sought answers. In this exploration, he stumbled upon a lecture by Carl Jung, who spoke of the traumatized psyches of Europeans after World War II, and how their mental states caused them to project the UFO sightings into the sky. This interesting study led him to psychology.

He moved to the U.S. at 22 to study psychology at the University of Chicago. His interest in flow began during his graduate studies, when he observed painters so absorbed in their work they lost track of time and would disregard basic survival cues for food, water, and sleep. Several of his interview subjects described their experiences through the metaphor of a water current, thus the term “flow state” was born. He graduated with a PhD in Positive Developmental Psychology in 1965.

Csíkszentmihályi's book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience was published in 1990 and has since been translated into more than 20 languages. Business leaders, presidents, and sports coaches have praised its scientific insights into the nature of productivity and well-being.

Csíkszentmihályi went on to become a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. He founded and co-directed the Quality of Life Research Center. He was also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and earned several prestigious awards, including the Clifton Strengths Prize and the Széchenyi Prize.

Happy 89th birthday, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi!

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Mar 25, 2022

Emma Godoy's 103rd Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates Mexican writer, poet, psychologist and broadcaster Emma Godoy, who was born on this day in 1918 and used her voice to defend the rights and dignity of the elderly.

Godoy initially got a master’s degree in Spanish Language and literature. She then earned a Doctorate in Philosophy from the esteemed National Autonomous University of Mexico, in addition to studying Psychology and Pedagogy. She was also a professor of Literature there.

Much of Godoy’s life was spent balancing teaching, writing novels, poetry, art criticism and philosophical essays. Her novel, Érase un hombre Pentafácico, was given the Ibero-American Novel Award sponsored by The William Faulkner Foundation in 1962.

In 1973, she founded and presided over the Association for the Dignification of Old Age, one of the first organizations to address senior rights. Godoy regularly broadcasted on XEW1 radio in Mexico and further spread awareness of her ideas. This led to the Mexican Government establishing the National institute for Older Adults in 1979. The institution is supported by Emma Godoy’s principles and continues to benefit millions today.

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Sep 15, 2023

Celebrating Luisa Moreno




In honor of US Hispanic Heritage Month, today’s Doodle celebrates Guatemalan American labor organizer, journalist, and activist Luisa Moreno. The artwork, depicting Moreno linking arms with people from the various communities she tirelessly advocated for, was illustrated by Guatemala City-based guest artist Juliet Menendez.

Moreno was born “Blanca Rosa Lopez Rodrigues” in Guatemala City on August 30, 1907. As a child, her family immigrated to Oakland, California. She moved back to Guatemala as a teenager, but her education was halted as women were not allowed to attend universities at the time. In response, Moreno organized a group to lobby for a woman's right to pursue higher education. Winning this civil rights campaign sparked her lifelong passion for activism.

Moreno pursued her interest in social issues as a journalist in Mexico City for a few years before moving to New York City in 1928. Shortly after her move, a group of Latino protesters were brutalized and killed by police after speaking out against a Warner Brothers film perpetuating anti-Mexican sentiment; She later stated this incident motivated her work to unify Spanish-speaking communities. When the Great Depression struck, she began working as a seamstress at a garment factory to support her family. She immediately saw the need for labor reform as workers were underpaid for long hours and endured dangerous working conditions.

In 1935, Moreno joined the American Federation of Labor as a professional organizer. Within that role, her work with the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing and Allied Workers of America [UCAPAWA] took her across the country, helping workers such as cigar factory workers in the east, sugar cane laborers and pecan shellers in the South, and beet farmers and tuna packers in the West. She was eventually elected vice president of the UCAPAWA in 1941.

In addition to her labor rights work, Moreno advocated for racial and ethnic equality. In 1938 she founded the National Congress of Spanish-Speaking Peoples — the first national Latino civil rights assembly. The group advocated for the fair treatment of Latino employees and the desegregation of schools and neighborhoods. Notably, in 1942, she established a defense committee who successfully fought for the dismissal of charges against a group of Mexican American teenagers who were arrested without evidence.

Despite Moreno’s tireless efforts to improve the lives of thousands of US workers, her status as a labor leader made her a target for the Immigration and Naturalization Services [INS]. The INS began threatening her with deportation unless she testified against fellow union leaders. Refusing to do so, she was forced to leave the US and returned to Latin America. There, she continued her work by unionizing workers in Mexico, Cuba, and Guatemala.

Thank you for dedicating your life to improving conditions for every community you touched. Here’s to you, Luisa.

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Feb 06, 2024

Waitangi Day 2024


This Waitangi Day Doodle features whānau and friends celebrating at a kapa haka festival.

This Doodle honors Waitangi Day, the national day of Aotearoa [the Māori name for New Zealand]. The artwork was illustrated by Canterbury-based guest artist Vincent Egan of Māui Studios and depicts whānau and friends celebrating at a kapa haka festival.

On this day in 1840, Māori chiefs and British Crown representatives signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi [the Treaty of Waitangi], a founding document that aspired to bring peace to the region. This landmark event shaped the course of New Zealand's history and the Treaty Grounds remain a focal point for annual Waitangi Day commemorations.

At dawn, people of all backgrounds kick off celebrations with a ceremony at Te Whare Rūnanga, a traditional Māori meeting house in Waitangi. A lively celebration of Māori heritage follows at the Waitangi Day Festival, showcasing captivating cultural performances and food stalls filled with traditional delicacies like rēwana [sweet bread].

For many, the day serves as a unifying force that brings people from all walks of life together. Ngā mihi o te wā.

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Feb 01, 2024

Alfonso Caso's 128th Birthday


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

Caso attended what is now known as the National Autonomous University of Mexico [NAUM], where he earned a law degree. While studying there, Caso helped found Mexico City's "Society for Conferences and Concerts,” which promoted students to participate in cultural activities. After graduation, he went on to teach at NAUM.

In his free time, Caso frequently visited pre-Columbian Xochicalco archaeological sites. He became fascinated with Mexico’s past and took more classes on the subject. After earning a master’s degree in Philosophy at age 29, Caso chose to focus on archeology as a career. His rigorous methods of interpretation earned respect from his fellow faculty and he quickly became the university’s leading voice in archeology.

Caso headed NAUM’s department of archeology and later became the director of its museum. He started to lead excavations across the country, including the site of the ancient Zapotecs in Monte Albán. After analyzing the burial offerings in the iconic Tomb Seven [known for being one of the richest burial sites ever found], Caso formed a rough chronology of Monte Albán’s history dating all the way back to the eighth century.

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

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

Happy Birthday, Alfonso Caso!

[9A]

Jan 10, 2024

Louis Joseph César Ducornet's 218th Birthday



This Doodle celebrates French artist Louis Joseph César Ducornet, a renowned painter in the 1800s who paintedsolely with his foot due to limb differences from birth.

Ducornet was born with a phocomelia, which causes malformations in one’s arms and legs. Ducornet didn’t have arms or a left leg but had four toes on his right foot. Ducornet’s father carried him around throughout his childhood since he couldn’t walk. After picking up a piece of charcoal with his toes, Ducornet began experimenting with sketches. This started a lifelong passion for painting.

After becoming a proficient illustrator, Ducornet attracted the attention of local schools and artists. He received training and the government provided him with a pension so he was able to study under renowned painters in Paris. Early in his career, he focused on biblically-inspired pieces such as Repentance [1828] and St. Louis administering Justice. The Lille Museum features both paintings to this day.

Ducornet’s disability prevented him from earning awards through the Prix de Rome, a French scholarship foundation. However, he did earn several awards from the prestigious Salon d’Art. In 1840, he painted Mary Magdalene, which the French government purchased. He followed up with one of his most famous works — a self-portrait of him painting with his foot. His historical scenes and portraits continue to grace some of the most storied art museums.

Happy birthday, Louis Joseph César Ducornet!

[9A]

Apr 20, 2024

NBA Playoffs 2024




This Doodle celebrates the start of the 2024 NBA playoffs — a four-round, best-of-seven tournament to decide the NBA champion!

Time to sport your favorite team’s jersey because today’s Doodle celebrates the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs! Each year, the National Basketball Association’s 82-game regular season culminates in the playoffs tournament.

The tournament starts with eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences battling for the top position within their Conference. The winners from each will go head to head in the final round of the playoffs for the championship trophy.

Good luck to all of the teams!

[9A]

Jan 15, 2021

Celebrating Dr. James Naismith




Today’s Doodle celebrates Canadian-American physical educator, professor, doctor, and coach Dr. James Naismith, who invented the game of basketball in 1891. On this day of the following year, Naismith announced the new game and its original rules in the pages of “The Triangle,” a Springfield College school newspaper. From its humble beginnings in a school gymnasium, the sport has grown into an international colossus played in over 200 countries today.

James Naismith was born on November 6, 1861, near the town of Almonte in Ontario, Canada. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from McGill University, and in 1890 took a job as an instructor at the YMCA International Training College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Here, he was tasked to develop an indoor game that could occupy students during the unforgiving New England winters. With two peach baskets, a soccer ball, and just ten rules, the game of “basket ball” was born.

Introduced to Naismith’s class on December 21, 1891, the game initially featured teams of nine players and combined elements of outdoor sports such as American football, soccer, and field hockey. Despite initial skepticism, the sport exploded in popularity over the following years, and in 1936, basketball made its Olympic debut in Berlin, Germany. None other than the sport’s founder—James Naismith—threw the ball for the tip-off to commence the first game.

Naismith envisioned basketball as a way for all students to better themselves physically and mentally. The sport was introduced in a time when schools were segregated, but Naismith saw everyone as someone with potential for the game. In his lifetime, he took steps to help basketball reach more young people, and it has since evolved into a global phenomenon that crosses racial and gender barriers.

In 1959, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was incorporated in Springfield, Massachusetts, and this mecca of basketball history carries on Naismith’s legacy to this day.

Here’s to Dr. James Naismith—thank you for creating one of the world’s favorite pastimes!

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Aug 08, 2012

Basketball 2012




Feels like a good day to play some sports, innit?

With the 2012 Summer Olympics underway in London, we couldn’t help but celebrate in Doodle style. Best of luck to all of the athletes!

To join in on the fun, click today’s Doodle to shoot some hoops!

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Sep 24, 2000

2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney - Basketball


The Doodle 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney - Basketball launched Sep 24, 2000

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Nov 09, 2019

Celebrating the Edmonton Grads





The Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club, better known as “The Grads,” started as a high school girls basketball team and became a sports dynasty. Today’s Doodle celebrates The Grads’ induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame on this day in 2017. It was a fitting honor for a team that holds arguably one of the best winning percentages in North America—approximately 95 percent over 25 years—in any sport.. With outstanding sportsmanship and determination, The Grads also defeated stereotypes that had discouraged women from participating in competitive sports.

Teacher Percy Page started the team in 1914 as a physical education program for the 60 girls at McDougall Commercial High School in the Canadian city of Edmonton. In their first season, they won the provincial championship, and when some of the graduating seniors indicated that they’d like to continue playing, Page was inspired to set up The Grads after they graduated in 1915.

During the next quarter century, The Grads went on to win 23 of 24 Provincial Championships and racked up stats that would be the envy of any team, including earning winning streaks of 147 and 78 games, separated by just a single loss. They went undefeated in the Western Canadian Championships from 1926 to 1940 and won 29 of 31 games in the Canadian Championships, never losing a series. After the Grads won the Underwood International tournament, also known as the “North American championship,” for 17 years straight, tournament organizers decided to let them keep the trophy permanently.

The Grads additionally won seven of nine games against men's teams and went unbeaten in 27 exhibition games at four Olympic Games—though they never won a medal since women’s basketball was not yet an Olympic sport.

When The Grads first started, basketball was a fairly new sport, having been invented in 1891 by Canadian James Naismith. He would later recognize the Grads as “the finest basketball team that ever stepped out on a floor.”

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1 May 2011

160th Anniversary of the first World's Fair





An event that housed the latest and greatest inventions and cultural treasures of its time, the first World's Fair at the Crystal Palace in London was packed with thousands of wonders. This doodle is a sampling of what the visitors saw when they stepped into the glass building. Amongst the trove are the world's largest diamond, a steam engine, high fashion dresses, textiles, indoor trees, and a gigantic fountain. Users can roll over the doodle to zoom in on the scene and catch hidden animations.

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1 May 2010

World Expo Opens in Shanghai





Expo 2010, officially the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, was held on both banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China, from 1 May to 31 October 2010. It was a major World Expo registered by the Bureau International des Expositions, in the tradition of international fairs and expositions, the first since 2005. The theme of the exposition was "Better City – Better Life" and signifies Shanghai's new status in the 21st century as the "next great world city". The Expo emblem features the Chinese character 世 ['world', Chinese "shì"] modified to represent three people together with the 2010 date. It had the largest number of countries participating and was the most expensive Expo in the history of the world's fairs. The Shanghai World Expo was also the largest World's Fair site ever at 5.28 square km.

By the end of the expo, over 73 million people had visited – a record attendance – and 246 countries and international organizations had participated. On 16 October 2010, the expo set a single-day record of over 1.03 million visitors.

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23 July 2009

The 40th Anniversary of Comic-Con - Designed by Jim Lee © DC Comics



A comic book convention or comic con is an event with a primary focus on comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels, or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels, with a larger number of attendees participating in cosplay than most other types of fan conventions. Comic book conventions are also used as a vehicle for industry, in which publishers, distributors, and retailers represent their comic-related releases. Comic book conventions may be considered derivatives of science-fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s.

Comic-cons were traditionally organized by fans on a not-for-profit basis, though nowadays most events catering to fans are run by commercial interests for profit. Many conventions have award presentations relating to comics [such as the Eisner Awards, which have been presented at San Diego Comic-Con International since 1988; or the Harvey Awards, which have been presented at a variety of venues also since 1988].

At commercial events, comic book creators often give out autographs to the fans, sometimes in exchange for a flat appearance fee, and sometimes may draw illustrations for a per-item fee. Commercial conventions are usually quite expensive and are hosted in hotels. This represents a change in comic book conventions, which traditionally were more oriented toward comic books as a mode of literature, and maintained a less caste-like differentiation between professional and fan.

The first official comic book convention was held in 1964 in New York City and was called New York Comicon. Early conventions were small affairs, usually organized by local enthusiasts [such as Jerry Bails, later known as the "Father of Comic Fandom", and Dave Kaler of the Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors], and featuring a handful of industry guests. The first recurring conventions were the Detroit Triple Fan Fair, which ran from 1965–1978, and Academy Con, which ran from 1965–1967. Many recurring conventions begin as single-day events in small venues, which as they grow more popular expand to two days, or even three or more every year. Many comic-cons which had their start in church basements or union halls now fill convention centers in major cities.

Nowadays, comic conventions are big business, with recurring shows in every major American city. Comic book conventions in name only, the biggest shows include a large range of pop culture and entertainment elements across virtually all genres, including horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.

San Diego Comic-Con International, a multigenre entertainment and comic convention held annually in San Diego since 1970, is the standard bearer for U.S. comic-cons. According to Forbes, the convention is the "largest convention of its kind in the world;" and is also the largest convention held in San Diego. According to the San Diego Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the convention has an annual regional economic impact of $162.8 million, with a $180 million economic impact in 2011. However, in 2017, SDCC lost its record of the largest annual multigenre convention to São Paulo's Comic Con Experience [first held in 2014].

Internationally, the world's largest comic book convention, in terms of attendees, is Japan's Comiket [first held in 1975], which boasts annual attendance of over half a million people. Italy's Lucca Comics & Games [first held in 1965] and France's Angoulême International Comics Festival [first staged in 1974] are the world's second and third largest comic festivals, respectively.

[9A]

29 July 2011

Medellin Flower Festival 2011







The Flowers Festival [Spanish: Feria de las Flores] is a festival that takes place in Medellín, Colombia. The festival is the most important social event for the city and includes a pageant, automobiles, a Paso Fino horse parade and many musical concerts.

This flower parade represents the end of slavery when slaves carried men and women on their backs up steep hills instead of flowers. The first silleteros parade also took place with some 40 men from the corregimiento of Santa Elena carrying on their backs flower arrangements to the exposition site.

[9A]

11 Jul 2013

Anibal Troilo's 99th Birthday





Aníbal Carmelo Troilo was an Argentine tango musician.

Troilo was a bandoneon player, composer, arranger, and bandleader in Argentina. His orquesta típica was among the most popular with social dancers during the golden age of tango [1940–1955], but he changed to a concert sound by the late 1950s.

Troilo's orchestra is best known for its instrumentals, though he also recorded with many well-known vocalists such as Roberto Goyeneche, Edmundo Rivero and Francisco Fiorentino. His rhythmic instrumentals and the recordings he made with vocalist Francisco Fiorentino from 1941 to 1943, known as milongas, were some of the favourites in tango salons. The renowned bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla played in and arranged for Troilo's orquesta típica during the period of 1939–1944.

The bandoneon is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It is a typical instrument in most tango ensembles. As with other members of the concertina family, the bandoneon is held between both hands, and by pulling and pushing actions force air through bellows and then routing air through particular reeds as by pressing the instrument's buttons. Bandoneons have a different sound from accordions, because bandoneons do not usually have the register switches that are common on accordions. Nevertheless, the tone of the bandoneon can be changed a great deal using varied bellows pressure and overblowing, thus creating potential for expressive playing and diverse timbres.

[9A]

Apr 22, 2024

Earth Day 2024


This annual Earth DayDoodle features aerial photos of the planet's natural beauty and biodiversity and reminds us of the importance ofprotecting it for future generations.

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April 22, 2016

Earth Day 2016

Tundra and Polar Bear

The vastness of Earth’s diversity makes it an intimidating topic, but in the end I chose to highlight Earth’s five major biomes: the tundra, forest, grasslands, desert, and coral reefs. In each illustration, you’ll find one animal who’s been singled out for their 15 minutes of fame. Each time you visit Google.com, you’ll randomly receive one of the five doodles. Scroll down to admire a different side of Earth’s immense beauty.

Scientists estimate the Earth’s age at over 4.5 billion years, but its Day has only existed for 46. Earth Day inspires all of us to appreciate our big blue and green orb with events big and small, ranging from family hiking trips to citywide recycling initiatives.

Originally conceived by peace activist John McConnell in 1969, Earth Day as we know it was established by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson a year later. Concerned about humanity’s impact on the natural world, Nelson sought to raise public awareness of environmental issues by devoting a day to environmental events and education. Since its inception, Earth Day has spread to nearly 200 countries, with millions of celebrants all around the world.

Forest and Red Fox

Grasslands and Elephant

Desert and Tortoise

It’s a day to reflect. I am personally in awe of nature’s persistence and creativity. Our planet – with its alternate scorching heat and bitter cold, its jagged peaks and deep trenches – may not always be kind to its inhabitants. Yet somehow the flora and fauna of Earth manage to thrive. On a day like this, we remember and celebrate our home in this great and stunning ecosystem.
We live on a beautiful planet, and it’s the only one we’ve got. Happy Earth Day!

Aquatic/Ocean, Coral Reef and Octopus

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Apr 22, 2023

Earth Day 2023



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

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

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

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

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

Acting now and together to live more sustainably is necessary to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Go here to learn more about climate change and other ways you can take action.

Around the world, people are increasingly searching for ways to be more sustainable. This Earth Day, see the top trending searches around sustainability and discover how our work at Google is helping people make more sustainable choices.

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Sep 20, 2023

Celebrating Matilde Landeta




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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy birthday, Matilde Landeta!

[9A]

Jul 17, 2022

Quino's 90th BirthdayThis Doodle’s Key Themes




Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón, better known by his pen name Quino, created the iconic comic strip Mafalda. It provided a voice for Latin America in times of political instability and censorship. Today’s Doodle celebrates the Argentinian-Spanish cartoonist's 90th birthday and is illustrated by Buenos Aires-based guest artist Azul Portillo.

Quino was born in Mendoza, Argentina in 1932. The Son of pro-democracy Spanish immigrants, he grew up trying to make sense of his country’s unstable government and institutions. His artistic ambition was encouraged by his uncle Joaquin, a painter and graphic designer. Quino got his nickname to help distinguish him from his uncle who shared the same name.

At age 12, Quino enrolled in art school only to drop out three years later when his father passed away. He moved to Buenos Aires where he dreamed of becoming a cartoonist. After fulfilling his mandatory military service, Quino published his first cartoon in 1954. He spent the next decade honing his craft and released a compilation of cartoons called Mundo Quino.

Thanks to Mundo Quino’s success, he was commissioned to create a comic strip as part of an advertising campaign for a home appliance brand. In developing the campaign, Quino created Mafalda– a curious six-year-old Argentinian girl with a knack for noticing the world’s injustices and befuddling her parents. The campaign was canceled, but Quino held onto the cartoons.

In 1964, Mafalda debuted in Buenos Aires Weekly and rapidly gained popularity in Spanish-speaking countries around the world. The cartoon used child characters to provide humorous, scathing commentary on authoritarianism, censorship and inequality. Mafalda captured Latin America’s changing political landscape until 1974 when Argentina’s militant government began targeting and detaining state opponents. Due to the volatile political situation, Quino ended the comic strip and went into self-imposed exile in Milan.

Until his retirement in 2006, Quino created cartoons while splitting his time between Madrid and Buenos Aires. While he didn’t revive Mafalda, his later work followed a similar tone focusing on themes of privilege and the plight of the working class told through the use of dark humor.

Quino’s cartoons have been translated into 26 different languages and Mafalda is still being printed today. In 2014, Quino received Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award and France’s Legion of Honor. His cartoons are sold online and in bookstores around the world. After his passing, many Argentinians honored his life by leaving flowers at the foot of the Mafalda statue in Buenos Aires.

Happy 90th Birthday, Quino—you’ve created a comic character whose legacy can never be stripped.

[9A]

Apr 27, 2019

Abraham Valdelomar’s 131st Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates Abraham Valdelomar, the Peruvian writer, illustrator, and founder of literary journals who was a fixture of the cultural life centering around the Palais Concert, a famous café in downtown Lima.

Growing up in the small coastal town of Pisco, Peru, Valdelomar moved to the capital city with his family at age 5, and published his first magazine while still in school. By 1906, he was working as an illustrator for the magazine Applause and Whistles. While serving in the Peruvian Army, he chronicled the conflict with Ecuador for the publication El Diario. In 1913 he worked with the Peruvian Embassy in Rome, writing a newspaper column called “Chronicles of Rome.”

A witty caricaturist who authored books, short stories, essays, and journalistic pieces, Valdelomar is fondly remembered for his cuentos criollos, or local stories set in his beloved Pisco. The most famous of these is El Caballero Carmelo, the tragicomic tale of an old fighting rooster, first published in the newspaper La Nación de Lima.

In 1916, Valdelomar founded the literary magazine Colónida, which included his own work as well as that of a new wave of young literary talent in Perú, including the poet José María Eguren.

Today, Valdelomar’s legacy lives on through his prolific writings. His image also appears on Perú’s 50 Sol note, a testament to his standing as one of the country’s most esteemed authors.

[9A]

Mar 18, 2018

Erich Ohser's 115th Birthday


Cartoonist Erich Ohser’s mighty pen was not only his sword, but his shield. Born on this day in Vogtland, Germany, in 1903, Ohser was raised in the industrial town of Plauen. He attended art school at Leipzig’s esteemed Academy of Graphic Arts and Book Trade [Akademie für graphische Künste und Buchgewerbe] before finding his voice as a cartoonist and book illustrator in Weimar Republic–era Berlin.

The artist’s work blossomed through his bond with writer Erich Kästner and journalist Erich Knauf, who shared his political ideology and modern sense of aesthetics. Ohser’s impassioned cartoons and caricatures, which appeared in Knauf’s articles and other popular publications, became his vehicle for expressing his antipathy towards the National Socialists. As making such declarations became increasingly dangerous, Ohser found refuge in drawing the lighthearted, and highly successful, comic strip Vater und Sohn [Father and Son].

From 1934 through 1937, Vater und Sohn captivated readers of the weekly news magazine Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung with its irreverent wit, scratchy pen strokes, and playful antics. Plucking a page from his past, Ohser signed it with a pseudonym that stuck: E.O. Plauen.

Today’s Doodle, rendered by German cartoonist Nadine Redlich, captures the spirit of Ohser’s beloved strip, featuring a pot-bellied father and his playful son, with the artist’s hand within the frame.

[9A]

Mar 24, 2016

William Morris’ 182nd birthday




It's nearly impossible to sum up William Morris' contributions to British design, arts, and aesthetics. A true prodigy, Morris dove deeply into each of his many interests, leaving us a rich legacy in multiple fields.

Starting with graphic art, Morris' detailed drawings paved the way for modern surface design. His intricate patterns flow across pages, walls, and fabric with a seamless effect. But Morris didn't stop there — he believed that quality production was the essence of great craftsmanship: from patterning to type design to furniture to bookbinding.

A relentless creative, Morris played with patterns in words as well. In 1856, he founded the Oxford and Cambridge Magazine, writing and publishing many of his early poems there. He lectured publicly on socialism, art, architecture, and founded or held titles in multiple artists groups, such as the Hammersmith Socialist Society and the Art Workers Guild.

Morris, along with other figures in the Arts and Crafts Movement, believed the success of a society was based on providing useful and meaningful work. By focusing on the end-to-end production of goods by passionate artisans instead of machines, he built a powerful political case for worker's rights. His advocacy left an indelible mark on British culture in the face of rapid industrialization.

In many ways, Morris' life's work is reflected in his prints: a lush journey through interrelated pursuits. To highlight his iconic style, Doodler Lydia Nichols recreated five different Morris designs. Each appears randomly as the page is refreshed. May these designs honour the distinct and varied ways in which Morris' point of view shaped our world. For more, check out the William Morris Gallery.

[9A]

May 01, 2021

Labour Day 2021

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May 01, 2023

Labour Day 2023

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Sep 05, 2022

Labor Day 2022



Today’s Doodle celebrates Labor Day in the United States and Canada. The federal holiday honors the hard work and achievements of working people, and recognizes their immense contributions to society.

During the Industrial Revolution, many Americans arduous shifts, seven days a week to make a living. This led to the birth of the labor movement, as workers formed labor and trade unions to advocate for rights. Through strikes and rallies, they protested the dangerous working conditions, minimal breaks and poor pay.

The holiday originated in the late 19th century as the labor movement was gaining momentum across the U.S. On September 5th, 1892, the Central Labor Union organized a parade in New York City's Union Square—where thousands of workers took unpaid time off and gathered for the first unofficial celebration of Labor Day. After the Union Square parade inspired similar events across the country, the U.S. government officially declared the first Monday in September as a federal holiday in 1894.

People commemorate the holiday today with parties, picnics and vacations. While the three-day weekend is a chance for one last break before summer ends, it is also a reminder of how far our country has come in advancing workers’ rights. Thanks to all the past and current labor activists who have raised our nation’s standard of living!

Happy Labor Day to all!

[9A]

May 01, 2019

Labour Day 2019

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May 01, 2020

Labour Day 2020 [Multiple]



Also known as May Day or International Workers’ Day, Labour Day is celebrated on May 1st in many countries around the world. Today’s Doodle celebrates the day by illustrating a handful of the many professions across the labor force.

Recognized around the world, Labour Day originated from the 19th-century labour movement. First declared a holiday by trade unions in 1889, Labour Day commemorates worker’s rights and their fight for weekends, better working conditions, and shorter working days.

Here’s to everyone contributing to the livelihoods of those around them each and every day.

Happy Labour Day!

[9A]

Mar 31, 2015

126th Anniversary of the public opening of the Eiffel Tower






On this day 126 years ago, construction of the Eiffel Tower came to an end–marking the arrival of one of the most famous and recognized landmarks on the planet. Guest doodler Floriane Marchix depicts this anniversary on our homepage today.

[9A]

May 07, 2023

Johannes Brahms's 190th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 190th birthday of German composer and pianist Johannes Brahms who is widely considered one of his era’s most important artists.

Brahms was born on this day in 1833, in Hamburg, Germany. The son of a horn and double-bass player, Brahms began studying music with his father at seven years old. Just a few years later, Brahm composed his first piece. He spent his adolescence playing in dance halls and inns across Hamburg to help support his family financially.

In 1853, a mutual friend introduced Brahms to renowned composer Robert Schumann. He praised Brahms’ compositions in the periodical Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, and soon after a German music publishing house began to circulate his work. With his newfound recognition in the field, Brahms taught piano and became the conductor of a women’s choir in Hamburg in 1860.

Brahms then led the Singakademie, a choral society in Vienna. In his free time, he developed popular compositions like Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor and String Sextet in B-flat Major. His success earned him a conductor position at Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde [Society of Friends of Music]. He simultaneously directed the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for three seasons.

In 1868, Brahms debuted Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem] in Bremen. The composition became his most famous choral work, and many consider it one of the most significant music pieces of the 19th-century.

The Symphony No. 1 in C Minor was one of Brahms’ first orchestral compositions and received widespread praise. Brahms earned new fans around the world and continued to create more ambitious compositions, such as his famous Hungarian Dances [Danzas Húngaras], as he toured Switzerland, Hungary, and Poland. In 1875, he retired from his director position and focused on composing for the rest of his life.

Throughout his career, Brahms paid homage to traditionalist compositions with innovative techniques that evolved the Romantic moment. His work continues to influence modern-day musicians and composers.

[9A]

Mar 02, 2023

Lola Cueto's 126th Birthday


Today’s animated Doodle celebrates the 126th birthday of Mexican artist Lola Cueto. This tapestry designer, toy collector, engraver, teacher, and puppet master was born in Mexico City on this day in 1897 as María Dolores Velázquez Rivas.

Lola Cueto’s creativity was evident when she was very young. At age 12, she became one of the first women to enroll at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes [National School of Fine Arts] at San Carlos Academy. Her art training continued after the Mexican Revolution at the Santa Anita Outdoor Painting School, where she was the only woman in her class.

Cueto broke into the male-dominated embroidery field by combining traditional designs from Indigenous culture with new technology in the form of embroidery machines. She moved to Paris in 1927 with her husband, an avant-garde sculptor, where the pair became involved in a community of artists. Cueto’s intricate tapestry work was displayed at their joint exhibitions, and she used the chain technique to depict French cathedrals in her embroidery.

She moved back to Mexico City with her husband and two daughters in 1932, where she mastered engraving, pioneered puppet theater, and began to teach art at Mexico City College. Cueto was one of the artists that founded the League of Revolutionary Writers and Artists [LEAR], a cohort of creatives against the censorship of art. Through this, she created the first glove puppet dolls in Mexico. Her interests spanned into theater as well, with Cueto founding three puppet theater companies called Rin Run, El Nahual, and El Colorín. She used her puppet shows to entertain and educate children in fun ways.

A variety of her work can be viewed and enjoyed today. The dozens of puppets she fashioned are at the National School of Fine Arts, while the Met Museum houses several of her etchings and tapestries. Some of her toy collection and paper cuttings are at the Cultural Center at Santa Domingo.

Happy birthday, Lola Cueto! Thank you for pushing the needle forward for female artists.

[9A]

Jun 11, 2022

Francesca Sanna Sulis's 306th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 306th birthday of Donna Francesca Sanna Sulis. She was an Italian fashion designer who defied gender stereotypes in the 18th century by building a highly successful business. Known as the Mulberry Woman, she used mulberry silk to design exquisite dresses for notable women across Europe.

Sulis was born on this day in 1716 in southern Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Growing up on her family’s farms, she learned how to manage a business. At age 19, she married her husband and they moved to his family’s estate on a mulberry tree farm that cultivated silkworms. Pretty soon, Sulis was overseeing the entire silk production chain — from ensuring the worms had enough mulberry leaves to eat, to extracting silk threads from cocoons. As Sulis took over the business, she invested in modern looms and transformed the estate into an advanced silk manufacturing site.

Little did she know, her business would revolutionize the entire fashion industry. Before Sulis started designing dresses, society expected noble women to wear traditional gowns that were rigid and heavy. If women refused to wear such uncomfortable dresses, they risked being outcasts.

Refusing to let women suffer in painful dresses, Sulis challenged oppressive fashion trends by designing mulberry silk gowns that were both elegant and comfortable. Her designs became so popular that the princesses from the House of Savoy, Italy’s last royal family, and Catherine the Great became her customers.

When she wasn’t designing gowns for royalty, she dedicated her free time to empowering women in her community. She ran a vocational school that taught hundreds of women the lucrative arts of spinning, weaving, tailoring and even botany. Upon completing the courses, women received a free loom and financial independence. Today, you can find Sulis’s historic dresses on display at the Donna Francesca Sanna Sulis Museum in Muravera and at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where there is a portrait of Catherine the Great donned in one of Sulis’s gowns.

Happy birthday, Donna Francesca Sanna Sulis!

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May 04, 2021

Geta Brătescu’s 95th Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Bucharest-based guest artist Irina Selaru, celebrates multidisciplinary Romanian artist Geta Brătescu on her 95th birthday. Credited as one of the first conceptual artists in Romania, Brătescu rose to international prominence with a series of exhibitions celebrating her prolific career in the 80s.

Georgeta Ann Comanescu was born on this day in 1926, north of the capital city of Bucharest in Ploiești, Romania. She worked as a children’s book illustrator in the 1950s, and later in the decade joined the Union of Fine Artists, a state organization through which she travelled the country to sketch Romanians in their everyday lives. A testament to her talent in design, in the early ‘60s she was named the artistic director of the prestigious literary magazine Secolul 20.

But it was in the studio that Brătescu created much of her best-known work across a variety of mediums, including drawing, photography, film, and collages of commonplace materials. She was known for tackling themes like the relationship between art and life with a characteristic dry humor, though she frequently resisted categorization of her work. In 1978, Brătescu opened up her space and process to the world in one of her most famous works, the meta black-and-white film, “Atelierul” [“The Studio”].

In 2017, at the twilight of her seven-decade-long career, Brătescu was given the honor to represent Romania at the prestigious Venice Biennale, and in the same year she was awarded the Ordinul Naţional “Steaua României” [National Order of the “Star of Romania”], the country’s highest civilian honor.

Here’s to an artist who refused to color within the lines–happy birthday, Geta Brătescu!

[9A]

Apr 09, 2021

Amácio Mazzaropi's 109th Birthday





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Brazilian guest artist Arthur Vergani, celebrates Brazilian actor, screenwriter, producer, and director Amácio Mazzaropi on his 109th birthday. Through his signature role as the beloved character “Jeca Tatu,” Mazzaropi used humor to address serious topics and became a fixture of Brazilian cinema.

Born on this day in São Paulo in 1912, Mazzaropi spent time as a child visiting his grandfather’s country home, which influenced the on-screen persona he later developed. As a teenager, the future icon of Brazilian comedy left home to work for Circo La Paz, a traveling circus. There he came up with the idea to perform as a hillbilly, embodied in Marazzaropi’s future performance as Monteiro Lobato’s character Jeca Tatu.

Mazzaropi produced content for radio and television for many years before appearing in his first film, “Sai da Frente” [“Get Out of the Way,” 1952]. With his film career off the ground, and after several other roles, Mazzaropi bought Fazenda Santa, a farm turned studio that also served as the location for many of his films. It was here that Mazzaropi opened his own production company in 1958. Mazzaropi wove social commentary into simple language and covered important subjects to great effect, which caused audiences to flock to his productions for over 20 years.

Interestingly, while Mazzaropi became one of Brazil’s most acclaimed comedic actors, he was also a major supplier of milk to Leites Paulista. Today, Fazenda Santa is Hotel Fazenda Mazzaropi, home to the Mazzaropi Museum, which has a collection of over 20,000 items.

Happy birthday, Amácio Mazzaropi!