Google doodles

[9A]

11 July 2013
Anibal Troilo's 99th Birthday





Aníbal Carmelo Troilo [July 11, 1914 – May 18, 1975] 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.

[9A]

9 Jul 2013
Saturnino Herrán's 126th Birthday





Saturnino Herrán Guinchard [July 9, 1887 – October 8, 1918 was a Mexican painter influential to Latin culture in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Herrán completed majestic paintings of Mexican Indigenous people, giving them heroic strength, beauty, and dignity. In 1910 he participated in the exhibition commemorating the Centennial Anniversary of Mexico's Independence. A desire to be a mural painter appeared during his career, and in 1911 he completed commissioned large-scale, mural-like paintings.

[9A]

9 July 2017
Argentina National Day 2017








Happy National Day Argentina! On this day, 201 years ago, thirty three congressmen gathered in Tucuman, Argentina and declared it to be finally independent of Spain. To celebrate Argentina’s national day this year, we’re diving into the musical instruments and traditions that are dear to its people.

One of these is the milonga, a local event where couples gather to dance tango all over Argentina. If you were to walk past one, you may hear the deep bellow of a bandoneon, the accordion-like instrument stretching between the fingers of the gentleman in today’s doodle. The instrument was brought over by German immigrants to Argentina in the 19th century and is essential to tango dancing. The bandoneon and the tango reflect the rich cultural heritage of Argentina, with deep European and African influences respectively. Tango may not be an easy dance for all to master, but nearly all Argentinians will agree on the importance of keeping this tradition alive.

Illustrated by guest artist, Liniers

[9A]

8 July 2018
Celebrating Shirley [Mum Shirl] Smith







Today marks the start of NAIDOC week, a time when Australia recognizes the culture of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. In keeping with this year’s theme, “Because of Her, We Can!” guest artist Cheryl Moggs, a proud descendant of the Bigambul people of Goondiwindi, created this Doodle celebrating the vibrant spirit of “Mum Shirl.”

Colleen Shirley Perry Smith was born on November 22, 1921, in Erambie Mission, an Aboriginal community in New South Wales. Diagnosed with epilepsy at an early age, Shirl dedicated her life to community activism that resulted in social reform for Aboriginal Australians and other minority communities throughout the country.

After her brother Laurie was arrested, Shirl began visiting Sydney’s Long Bay Correctional Complex to check on him and other Aboriginal inmates. When guards asked how she was related to the prisoners she wanted to visit, she’d say she was their “mum”—and a legend was born.Her work was not limited to prisons, however; Shirl was a founding member of the Aboriginal Children’s Service, the Aboriginal Housing Company, the Aboriginal Medical Service, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, and the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Mum Shirl resided in Sydney for the majority of her life, often travelling to educate Australians on issues affecting Aboriginal communities. Revered for her humanitarian work, this captivating speaker was recognized as a National Living Treasure by Australia’s National Trust in 1998. “Many people have told me they think I’m an exception,” she wrote in her autobiography. “I’m not… There are many fine Aboriginal people who, with half a chance, would be doing what I am now doing.”

Thanks to her, many more have.

Guest art by Cheryl Moggs.

[9A]

21 December 2018
Connie Mark’s 95th Birthday





Today’s Doodle honors the life and legacy of trailblazer Connie Mark, who served in the women’s branch of the British army in Jamaica during World War II. Later moving from her native Jamaica to England, she became a community activist, promoting Caribbean culture and ensuring that the women and people of color who contributed to the war effort received equal recognition.

Connie Mark was born Constance Winifred McDonald in Kingston, Jamaica on this day in 1923. While her family tree included ancestors from Scotland, Calcutta, and Lebanon, Mark also had roots in Africa and grew up speaking Jamaican Patois [also known as Jamaican Creole] with roots in the Ghanaian language Twi.

At age 19, Mark was recruited to work in the British Military Hospital of Kingston as a medical secretary, typing reports of battle injuries. Although she was promoted twice during her service spanning a decade, Mark was denied the usual pay raise for unknown reasons. Due to this, she became an unwavering advocate for fair pay and continued advocating for proper recognition of Caribbean servicewomen throughout her life.

After settling in Britain in the 1950s, Mark became even more passionate about Caribbean culture and joined several charitable and educational projects. She organized community events, using oral history and poetry to instill pride in the youth of Caribbean and African descent.

At the age of 68, Mark received the British Empire Medal, and two years later was given a Member of the British Empire [MBE] award in recognition of a lifetime of public service.
Here’s to Connie Mark on what would have been her 95th birthday.

[9A]

17 June 2015
130th Anniversary of France delivering the Statue of Liberty to the United States

[July 4, 2021 -Scroll down to see Mini Statue of Liberty joins its big sister.]



Born in France, made in the USA. Relive the creation of the Statue of Liberty on the Google Cultural Institute.

Nearly 130 years ago, France gifted the U.S. with one of the most prolific symbols of freedom the world over. Since then, it has welcomed millions of people searching for a new life on unfamiliar shores.

Today, the Statue of Liberty is more than just a symbol of solidarity. It’s a reminder that all countries thrive on the exchange of ideas and culture. The National Park Service's dedication to maintaining and restoring the statue ensures that message will live on.

Though the statue was actually shipped in separate pieces and then assembled upon delivery, we've drawn a more playful take on the occasion by portraying Lady Liberty crossing the Atlantic fully constructed on a steamer much too small for her.

Mini Statue of Liberty joins its big sister

[9A]

1 Jul 2021
Canada Day 2021






Today’s Doodle celebrates Canada Day, previously known as “Dominion Day.” On this day in 1867, the British North American act joined the three individual territories of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick to form the unified Dominion of Canada. With the Canada Act of 1982, the country gained complete independence from Britain, and the observance was officially renamed Canada Day [Fête du Canada].

Across the 13 provinces and territories that comprise Canada today, annual celebrations include parades, fireworks displays, and the prominent display of the national colors of red and white. These colors adorn national symbols including the coat of arms and national flag. In today’s Doodle artwork, the latter of these can be seen clutched by another well-known Canadian ambassador: the beaver.

As the emblematic species first appeared on a Nova Scotian coat of arms in 1621, this semi-aquatic animal has been a representative of the North American nation longer than the maple leaf! Today, the beaver is protected by the 1975 National Symbol of Canada act and extensive conservation efforts, allowing the population of millions to thrive “A Mari usque ad Mare”—Canada’s official Latin motto, which translates to “from to sea to sea.”

Happy Canada Day!

[9A]

1 July 2009
Canada Day 2009

[9A]

1 July 2017
Canada National Day 2017



On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act was passed, uniting the three distinct colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Originally called Dominion Day, Canada Day was not officially celebrated until its 50th anniversary in 1917.

The diversity of those three distinct colonies was not lost or diminished. Canadians take great pride in their country’s multicultural, integrated, and inclusive citizenship. In recognition of these fundamental beliefs, Canada enacted the Multiculturalism Policy of Canada in 1971. The first of its kind in the world, this policy confirmed the rights of Aboriginal peoples and the status of Canada’s two official languages.

Today’s Doodle depicts celebratory desserts that reflect the country’s vast regional and ethnic diversity by highlighting the 13 provinces and territories.

Bonne Fête Canada!

Indulge your sweet tooth with the delights depicted in the Doodle:

• German krapfen
• Chinese mooncake
• Portuguese pasteis
• Italian tiramisu
• English jelly
• French chocolate eclairs
• Turkish delight
• Spanish churros
• Inuit bannock
• Punjab jalebi
• American doughnuts

[9A]

18 Mar 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 Zeitungwith 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]

7 Jul 2013
Vladimir Durov's 150th Birthday







The Durov Animal Theater or Grandpa Durov's Corner is a circus/theatre in Moscow, Russia. It was founded on January 8, 1912 by Vladimir Durov , who also founded the famous Durov's circus dynasty. Durov was a well-known animal trainer and zoologist who developed his own system of training, that did not involve any punishment of the animals. His theatre also included a natural history museum and a science laboratory.

The theatre building was designed in 1894 by the architect August Weber. The theatre is currently located in the same facility; the street had been renamed in Durov's honour in 1927.

[9A]

7 July 2009
Anniversary of the publication of Pinocchio






Pinocchio is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio [1883] by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan village. He was created as a wooden puppet but he dreams of becoming a real boy. He is notably characterized for his frequent tendency to lie, which causes his nose to grow.

Pinocchio is a cultural icon. He is one of the most re-imagined characters in children's literature. His story has been adapted into many other media, notably the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio. Collodi often used the Italian Tuscan dialect in his book. The name Pinocchio is a combination of the Italian words pino pine], and occhio [eye]; Pino is also an abbreviation of Giuseppino, the diminutive for Giuseppe [the Italian form of Joseph]; one of the men who greatly influenced Collodi in his youth was Giuseppe Aiazzi, a prominent Italian manuscript specialist who supervised Collodi at the Libreria Piatti bookshop in Florence. Geppetto, the name of Pinocchio's creator and “father,” is the diminutive for Geppo, the Tuscan pronunciation of ceppo, meaning a log, stump, block, stock or stub.

[9A]

7 July 2008
Marc Chagall's Birthday - images used with the permission of the Artist Rights Society





Marc Chagall [born Moishe Shagal; 6 July1887 – 28 March 1985] was a Russian-French artist of Belarusian Jewish origin. An early modernist, he was associated with several major artistic styles and created works in a wide range of artistic formats, including painting, drawings, book illustrations, stained glass, stage sets, ceramics, tapestries and fine art prints.

[9A]

4 Jul 2014
Fourth of July 2014







“Some of my earliest memories are of bands--no joke,” laughs doodler Betsy Bauer. “When I was a toddler, my dad was a high school band director and a baritone player in a couple of community ensembles. I have a lot of fond childhood memories of chasing fireflies during lawn concerts on town squares. It’s no surprise that I joined the high school marching band myself.”

“I was incredibly excited to be able to combine two of the greatest influences in my life into this doodle-- hand drawn animation and marching band,” she adds.

Bauer says that she knew that she wanted to make an animated short, and knew that she wanted to incorporate the song “Stars and Stripes Forever.” “Arguably, nothing is more symbolic of The US’s Independence day than John Philip Sousa’s iconic march.”

For art direction, she chose to emulate UPA’s classic 1950’s exaggerated design and animation style. This seemed appropriate because it is snappy, fun, and totally in the spirit of “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Google would additionally like to thank "The President's Own" United States Marine Band for providing the music recording, and engineer Mark Ivey for helping this doodle launch.

Have a great July 4th!

[9A]

4 July 2019
Fourth of July 2019






Batter up!

Today’s interactive Doodle celebrates U.S. Independence Day with a backyard BBQ ball game—and classic American summertime snacks are stepping up to the plate for a chance to hit it out of the park!

Looks like H-Dog’s on a roll! Lettuce hope he can help his team ketchup! Will Power Pop hit a pop fly? Can Wild Slice slice one into left field? Could Cobbra bat as well as Ty Cob?

[9A]

8 Jul 2019
Celebrating Women's World Cup 2019 Champions: the United States of America




Congratulations to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions: The United States!

Over the past month, players from the women's national teams of 24 countries competed for top rank across nine cities in France. Today, the games culminated at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines-Charpieu, a suburb of Lyon, France, where the United States Women’s National Team has won to become the 2019 Women’s World Cup champions!

This year's Doodle series celebrated the rich cultures and talent of all 24 participating countries by featuring guest artists hailing from each nation. We hope you've enjoyed all 24 Doodles throughout the games, each capturing the local excitement of the World Cup competition as well as what soccer means to the guest artist personally.

Today's Doodle celebrating the big win is a unique creation by our US-based guest artist Roxie Vizcarra.

Cheers to all the talented players around the world. See you next time!

[9A]

8 July 2011
Jean de la Fontaine's 390th Birthday







Of all the fables adapted by Jean de la Fontaine, “The Tortoise and the Hare” appealed to me the most for the persistent relevance of its message. I drew stylistic inspiration from traditional storybook etchings, and also looked at some of my heroes of illustration -- Arthur Rackham and John Tenniel.

Though the style is old-fashioned, the moral is still true! You go, little guy!

[9A]

7 Jul 2011
Miroslav Krleza's 118th Birthday







For this doodle, I worked closely with a Googler in our Hungary office to learn more about Miroslav Krleza and his works. His most iconic character is the folk ballad musician, Petrica Kerempuh, who I ended up depicting in the final artwork. The style itself is based on my personal admiration of Eastern European illustration. This style has often been used to depict Kerempuh in bright, cheerful costume, in some ways to contrast the complex, multi-layered, [and sometimes darker) themes in Krleza’s exploration of Croatia’s historical experience.

[9A]

17 May 2017
Norway National Day 2017







Hurray for the red, white and blue! On Norway’s National Day, celebrated today, local children carry tri-color flags and stride with marching bands in school parades, some even passing by Oslo’s royal palace. Buildings are also cloaked in Norwegian flags, while parade-goers wear red, white and blue ribbons or bunad [traditional folk garments]. Music fills the air, with repertoires including songs such as “Norway in Red, White and Blue” and “Seventeenth of May I’m So Glad.” And of course there’s food, glorious food, especially favorite junk food treats like hot dogs and ice cream.

National Day was first established in 1814 to recognize the signing of the Constitution of Norway in Eidsvoll, which made Norway an independent kingdom under Swedish rule. By the 1860s, the day had transformed from a patriotic tribute to a celebration for children, with the first barnetog [children’s parade] held in Christiania [Oslo] in 1870. This historic day belongs to Norway’s children.
Colored in the hues of the national flag, our upbeat Doodle cheers on the young Norwegians who make this day such a joyous celebration.

[9A]

22 May 2017
Richard Oakes’ 75th Birthday




Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Richard Oakes made a stand for the rights of American Indians. Over his time as an activist, he fought peacefully for freedom, justice, and the right of American Indians to have control over their lands.

Oakes grew up on the Mohawk Indian reservation in Akwesasne, on the Canadian / New York border. When he was 18, he moved to San Francisco, and enrolled in San Francisco State University shortly after. There, his passion for empowerment through education led him to play an integral role in creating one of the first American Indian studies programs in the nation.

Oakes went on to be a champion for social justice in his community. His most powerful protest happened in 1969 when he led a group of activists occupying Alcatraz Island. The aim was not only to set up a community, complete with a university, museum and cultural center, but also for the government to acknowledge the rights of American Indians to claim the out-of-use federal land as their own.

Although Richard didn't succeed in gaining the deeds to Alcatraz for his people, he brought their issues into the media spotlight and made a substantial impact on the treatment of American Indians in the US. He also went on to assist the Pit River Tribe in their claim for land in Northern California.
Today's Doodle recognizes places that were important in his life's story and mission, depicting the Akwesasne reservation, Alcatraz Island, and Pit River.

Here's to Richard Oakes, for his unwavering dedication to his community and social justice.

[9A]

31 May 2017
Celebrating Zaha Hadid






Today’s Doodle honors architect Zaha Hadid, who captured the world's attention and shattered glass ceilings [in addition to designing some] by becoming the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize on this day in 2004. She was also the first woman awarded the Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Born in Iraq in 1950, Hadid learned about abstract art and architecture at the Architectural Association in London. There, she found inspiration in unconventional forms. Before computers made her designs easier to put on paper, Hadid's studio was known to use the photocopier in creative ways to bend lines and create new shapes. The type in today's Doodle finds inspiration in Hadid's energetic sketches, which explored both form and function.

Hadid broke new ground on modern architecture using the surrounding landscape for building inspiration. The straight lines and sharp angles of the Vitra Fire Station in Germany were inspired by nearby vineyards and farmland, while the roof of the London Aquatic Centre forms the shape of a wave. You can see the London Aquatic Centre and some of Hadid's other impressive work in Google Earth's interactive exhibit.

The Heydar Aliyev Center, pictured in today's doodle, sets itself in contrast to the block-like structures that surround it in Baku, Azerbaijan. At the same time, this cultural center takes inspiration from historic Islamic designs found in calligraphy and geometric patterns to create something entirely new. The building takes an open form to invite the public into its space. The center has played host to modern art by Andy Warhol and Tony Cragg, and world-class performances from Kitaro and Alessandro Safina.

In her early work, Hadid visualized her projects through paintings that resembled abstract modernist art. She famously said, "There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?" You can explore some of these early concepts - including via virtual reality - on the Google Cultural Institute.

Today we celebrate Dame Zaha Hadid's contributions over her lifetime to the world of architecture.
Thank you, Dame Zaha Hadid, for all you've done to bring people together in the service of art and culture!

[9A]

4 July 2016
Mudik 2016





Beep, beep! Indonesia’s streets are busier than usual today due to Mudik, the mass migration of city dwellers to their rural hometowns.

Coinciding with the end of Ramadan, Mudik sends millions of travelers weaving through the country via car, bus, motorbike, and train. Today’s Doodle captures the excitement of this journey and the gifts that are exchanged at the end of the road.

Safe travels to all this year!

[9A]

11 November 2018
Miriam Tlali’s 85th Birthday








Born in Doornfontein, Johannesburg on this day in 1933, Miriam Tlali was raised in Sophiatown, a black cultural hub that was demolished by the South African government in the 1950s, forcing residents to relocate to Soweto. Tlali was inspired to write by her experiences as a black woman in South Africa during the apartheid regime. She was also encouraged by the example of her father’s family, who owned a printing press in Lesotho and published a newspaper for many years.

Tlali was a gifted student but struggled to afford her education. Finding work as a bookkeeper and typist in a furniture store, she drew on her experiences to write the novel Muriel at Metropolitan, published in 1975. Although she was unhappy with the title [[she intended her book to be called Between Two Worlds)and with the fact that her publisher deleted several chapters from her manuscript, the novel made history as Tlali became the first black South African woman to publish a novel.

Despite the fact that her first book was banned in South Africa, Tlali returned in 1980 with Amandla, which focused on a young activist named Pholoso, inspired by the example of Steve Biko to rally a youth movement against the racial divisions of the apartheid regime. Courageously speaking out against injustice made her a target of government-backed forces that harassed and arrested Tlali in an attempt to intimidate her. She would sometimes bury her manuscripts underground to avoid having them confiscated, but she never backed down.

Tlali helped establish Skotaville Press, which published her 1984 collection of stories and essays Mihotli. She was also co-founder of Staffrider, a black literary journal for which she wrote the column “Soweto Speaking.” Life in the black township was an ongoing interest for Tlali, who published a collection of short stories called Footprints in the Quag: Stories and Dialogues from Soweto in 1989, when she also worked as a visiting scholar at Yale University’s Southern African Research Program.

By the early 1990s apartheid legislation was repealed and South Africa had its first multiracial democratic elections in 1994. In 1995 Tlali was honoured by the South African government's Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology with a Literary Lifetime Achievement Award, and received the Order of Ikhamanga from the President of South Africa in 2008.

Happy Birthday, Miriam Tlali

[9A]

11 November 2012
Roberto Matta's 101st Birthday






Roberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren, better known as Roberto Matta, was one of Chile's best-known painters and a seminal figure in 20th century abstract expressionist and surrealist art.

[9A]

11 November 2014
Kemal Sunal's 70th Birthday





Today’s doodle in Turkey celebrates the 70th birthday of actor Kemal Sunal. A beloved comedian in his country, Sunal is best remembered for the four stock characters [the funny one, the naive kid, the rebel and the totally confused guy] he portrayed in his films.

[9A]

13 Nov 2014
Seok Joo-myung's 106th Birthday





In Korea, our doodle features a butterfly in honor of entomologist Seok Joo-myung's 106th birthday. Seok dedicated his life to the study of butterflies and made important contributions to the species’ taxonomy.

[9A]

14 Nov 2014
Children's Day/Doodle 4 Google 2014 – India Winner

[9A]

18 Nov 2020
Celebrating Fanny Eaton







Today’s Doodle celebrates Jamaican-British artist muse Fanny Eaton. Eaton modelled throughout the 1860s for a variety of notable English painters in work that helped redefine Victorian standards of beauty and diversity. On this day in 1874, it is recorded that Eaton sat for life classes at the Royal Academy of London, sessions which were integral to the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

Fanny Eaton was born Fanny Matilda Antwistle in Surrey, Jamaica on July 13, 1835. She moved with her mother to Britain during the 1840s, towards the beginning of the Victorian Era. In her 20s, she began modelling for portrait painters at the Royal Academy of London, and she soon captured the attention of a secret society of rising young artists called the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Eaton made her public debut in Simeon Solomon’s painting The Mother of Moses, which was exhibited in 1860 at the Royal Academy. Over the following decade, she was featured by a variety of prominent Pre-Raphaelite artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, and Rebecca Solomon.

The group held Eaton up as a model of ideal beauty and featured her centrally at a time when Black individuals were significantly underrepresented, and often negatively represented, in Victorian art.
Eaton’s modeling career lasted through much of the decade, and Millais’ 1867 work Jephthah is believed to feature her last known appearance in a painting.

Thank you Fanny Eaton, for helping move artistic inclusion forward.

[9A]

24 June 2016
Juan Manuel Fangio’s 105th birthday








As a child, he was El Chueco – ”the bandy-legged one” – due to his gravity-bending soccer skills. But a lifetime of racing victories made him El Maestro – The Master. Such was the transformation of legend Juan Manuel Fangio, who would be 105 today.

A native son of Balcarce, near Buenos Aires, Fangio’s command of the wheel emerged while driving for the military. Post-service, he kept at it, dedicating himself to punishing routines to make up for lost time and compete with his younger opponents. The result: winning the World Championship of Drivers not once, but a record-breaking five times in the 1950s.

Today’s vintage, poster-inspired Doodle commemorates his dedication and commitment to Balcarce, Argentina, and the timeless art of racing.

[9A]

24 June 2014
World Cup 2014 #30








Japanese tech fans come up against a Columbian vulture!

[9A]

25 June 2015
Mozambique Independence Day 2015








Mozambique succeeded in achieving independence on June 25, 1975, after a civil resistance movement known as the Carnation Revolution backed by portions of the military in Portugal overthrew the Salazar regime, thus ending 470 years of Portuguese colonial rule in the East African region.

[9A]

25 June 2013
Antoni Gaudí's 161st Birthday





Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Catalan architect known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works have a highly individualized, sui generis style. Most are located in Barcelona, including his main work, the church of the Sagrada Família.

[9A]

4 Jul 2013
4th of July





Because the US is such a driveable country full of so many distinct landmarks, I thought that a road-trip-themed doodle could be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the geographic and cultural diversity within the US this Independence Day. I wanted to highlight some of the notable tourist destinations as well as some of the small [but just as important] in-between places experienced only by seasoned road-trippers [and maybe native Midwesterners.]

I chose to depict a dog family for a couple of reasons. First, the idea of dogs traveling in cars seemed to fit nicely alongside a road trip theme. Everyone has seen a happy dog with its head hanging out the window of a moving car! Second, dogs are perhaps the most physically diverse creatures on the planet and for this reason provide so much design potential.

[9A]

21 March 2018
Guillermo Haro’s 105th Birthday







If you’re stargazing tonight, look for three stars, closely aligned. These are known as the 'Three Sisters', and they are part of the constellation Orion, representing Orion's belt. They belong to an astral region that pivoted Mexican astronomer Guillermo Haro to fame.

Born in Mexico in 1913, Haro grew up during the Mexican revolution and graduated in philosophy before embarking upon a career in astronomy. Amongst his biggest contributions to the science was the discovery of a type of planetary nebulae named Herbig-Haro objects. He also discovered flare stars - red and blue bright stars - in the region of the Orion constellation. These contributions led to Haro becoming the first Mexican elected to the Royal Astronomical Society, in 1959.

Haro's legacy endures to this day through the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics, which he established to support science students in their professional careers. The institute also runs an observatory named after him in the Mexican state of Sonora.

[9A]

21 Mar 2018
Ustad Bismillah Khan’s 102nd Birthday






Today we celebrate the birthday of Ustad Bismillah Khan, shehnai maestro and one of India’s most beloved musicians.

Born in Bhirung Raut Ki Gali, Bihar to a family of court musicians, it is said that his grandfather exclaimed “Bismillah!” upon seeing his grandson, and the name stuck. In subsequent years, as his mastery over the shenai grew, the public added the honorific, Ustad [master] to his name.

Both India’s declaration of independence from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 1947 and the creation of the Indian republic three years later in 1950 were heralded by Ustad Bismillah Khan’s shehnai. To this day, Republic Day celebrations are broadcast to the opening notes of his music.

Though he started playing in public at the age of 14, Ustad ji’s performance at the All India Music Conference at Kolkata in 1937 became a defining moment in his career. Three decades later, when he performed at the Edinburgh Music Festival, the shehnai acquired a global audience, and in the minds of millions, became synonymous with its player.

Ustad ji was famously devoted to his art and often referred to his shehnai as his begum [wife]. He is one of the few musicians to receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor in addition to all four Padma awards. Despite the fame, Ustad Bismillah Khan remained a simple man, living his whole life in Varanasi and dreaming of a world unified by music.

“Even if the world ends, the music will still survive… music has no caste.”

[9A]

22 Mar 2018
Katsuko Saruhashi’s 98th Birthday

“There are many women who have the ability to become great scientists. I would like to see the day when women can contribute to science & technology on an equal footing with men.” -Katsuko Saruhashi

A young Katsuko Saruhashi sat in primary school watching raindrops slide down a window and wondered what made it rain. Her journey for answers led her to become the first woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Tokyo in 1957.

Saruhashi is renowned for her groundbreaking research as a geochemist. She was the first to accurately measure the concentration of carbonic acid in water based on temperature, pH Level, and chlorinity. Named ‘Saruhashi’s Table’ after her, this methodology has proved invaluable to oceanographers everywhere. She also developed a technique to trace the travel of radioactive fallout across the oceans that led to restricting oceanic nuclear experimentation in 1963.

During a career spanning 35 years, Saruhashi became the first woman elected to the Science Council of Japan in 1980, and the first woman honored with the Miyake Prize for geochemistry in 1985 - among many other awards. She was deeply committed to inspiring young women to study science, and established the Saruhashi Prize in 1981, recognizing female scientists for distinguished research in natural sciences.

Today on her 98th birthday, we pay tribute to Dr. Katsuko Saruhashi for her incredible contributions to science, and for inspiring young scientists everywhere to succeed.

[9A]

22 March 2005
World Water Day 2005




World Water Day is an annual United Nations [UN] observance day held on 22 March that highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme of each day focuses on topics relevant to clean water, sanitation and hygiene [WASH], which is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The UN World Water Development Report [WWDR] is released each year around World Water Day.

[9A]

22 March 2021
Elena Lacková's 100th birthday






Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Czech guest artist Filip Posivac, celebrates the centennial birthday of Slovakian-Romani writer and dramatist Elena Lacková, who is widely considered the first author in post-war Czechoslovakia to tell the story of the Romani people and the persecution they faced throughout World War II.

Born on this day in 1921 in Veľký Šariš, Czechoslovakia [modern-day Slovakia], Elena Lacková was raised in a settlement of Romani people—a historically oppressed European ethnic group of Indian origin. Although she was unable to pursue higher education due to anti-Romani laws, Lacková became a talented writer of her own accord, penning poems by moonlight as the only girl out of the 600 children in her settlement with the ability to read.

In 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia and persecuted its Romani settlements as part of the regime’s Roma Holocaust. Lacková survived these atrocities and became determined to reinvigorate Roma pride through theatre. Her first published work of literature—a play entitled “Horiaci cigánsky tabor” [“The Gypsy Camp Is Burning,” 1947]—depicted the collective hardships of the Romani people during the Holocaust, while providing a new perspective into their culture.

Lacková’s work continually uplifted the Romani community through literary mediums such as short stories, fairy tales, and radio plays. In 1970, she achieved yet another milestone as the first Romani woman in Czechoslovakia to graduate from university. A pioneer who received countless accolades, Lacková became the first Romani woman to receive one of Slovakia’s highest honors, the Order of Ľudovít Štúr III, awarded in 2001.

[9A]

25 July 2020
Dolphy’s 92nd birthday







Today’s Doodle celebrates the 92nd birthday of Philippine comedian, actor, producer, and philanthropist Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon, dubbed the country’s “King of Comedy.” The star of over 200 movies and multiple long-running television series, Dolphy warmed millions of Filipinos’ hearts for over six decades.

Rodolfo Vera Quizon was born on this day in 1928 in Manila, the Philippines. Soon, what started as a modest childhood gig selling peanuts and watermelon seeds at movie theaters turned into a full-blown obsession with the performing arts. Able to watch movies for free, Quizon became fixated on the prospect of becoming an actor, which led him to land his first small movie role at age 19.

After years of success in film and radio, Quizon got his television start with the 1960s series “Buhay Artista” [“Actor’s Life”], which he followed up with one of his most iconic roles in the family sitcom “John en Marsha” [“John and Marsha”]. The series ran through the ‘70s and ‘80s and was so popular that Quizon went on to produce nine spin-off films through his own production company. An actor who never went out of style, he saw big success the following decade as the single father Kosme in the classic series “Home Along da Riles.”

In honor of his contributions to the Filipino entertainment industry and a lifetime of philanthropy, Dolphy was conferred the Philippines' Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart in 2010.
Happy birthday, Dolphy! Thank you for sharing the gift of laughter across generations.

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25 July 2013
Rosalind Franklin's 93rd Birthday




Rosalind Elsie Franklin [25 July 1920 – 16 April 1958] was an English chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose work was central to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA [deoxyribonucleic acid], RNA [ribonucleic acid], viruses, coal, and graphite. Although her works on coal and viruses were appreciated in her lifetime, her contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA were largely recognised posthumously, for which she has been variously referred to as the "wronged heroine," "the dark lady of DNA," "the forgotten heroine," a "feminist icon,¨ and "the Sylvia Plath of molecular biology."

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12 June 2018
Eugénie Brazier’s 123rd Birthday







Today’s Doodle celebrates Eugénie Brazier, also known as “La Mère Brazier” [the Brazier Mother]. Brazier was a French chef who was famously awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide.

Eugénie Brazier was born in a mostly rural region of eastern France, in the late 19th century. When her mother passed away, Brazier relocated to a nearby farm where she looked after the cows and pigs and began her exploration into the local cuisine. Later, at age 20, Brazier gave birth to her son Gaston, and left for Lyon to pursue an apprenticeship and refine her skills.

Eight years after moving to Lyon, Eugénie Brazier opened La Mère Brazier which quickly developed a reputation as an elegant culinary destination for politicians and celebrities. La Mère Brazier expanded many times to accommodate the massive increase in customers. Eventually, she expanded the business west to Col de la Luère, where her restaurant’s lack of running water or electricity didn’t stop it from achieving the highest degree of praise.

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12 June 2021
Russia National Day 2021





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Moscow-based guest artist Ksenia Kopalova, commemorates Russia’s National Day or simply “Russia Day.” On this day in 1990, Russia proclaimed state sovereignty and adopted its modern declaration, flag, and national anthem. Although Russia Day has been celebrated since 1992, it is considered one of the country’s youngest holidays due to its official renaming on February 1, 2002.

Many Russians view today as the informal start of the summer season and take advantage of the day off work as a perfect opportunity to spruce up their gardens or view firework displays. For those with cottages in the countryside known as dachas, Russia Day serves as a chance to enjoy the summer weather with friends and family while taking in the rolling rural landscape, which is reflected in the colorful scene depicted in today’s Doodle artwork.

С днем России! Happy Russia Day!

[9A]

14 December 2018
Dolores Olmedo’s 110th Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Dolores Olmedo, a close friend of Diego Rivera and owner of the world’s most important private collection of the modernist master’s work—as well as several xoloitzcuintles, the Mexican hairless dogs she adored. Olmedo also acquired many paintings by Rivera’s wife, Frida Kahlo, and donated her collection to the people of Mexico, where it is displayed in her former home. “I lived with this art for most of my life,'' she said. “Who knows better than me how it should be displayed?”

Born in Mexico City on this day in 1913, Dolores Olmedo was 17 years old when she visited the Ministry of Education with her mother, who worked as a schoolteacher. On the elevator, they bumped into Rivera, who was painting murals in the building. He asked Olmedo’s mother if he could make some sketches of her. The artist completed 27 sketches of Olmedo and established a lifelong connection.

During the 1940s, Olmedo—also known as Doña Lola—went on to become a successful real estate developer, one of the first Mexican women to excel in the field. During Rivera’s final years in the 1950s, he moved into Olmedo’s estate in Xochimilco, a neighborhood in the southern part of Mexico City. The artist sold her dozens of his own paintings and drawings, as well as 25 paintings by Kahlo, in hopes that the work would remain in their homeland. OImedo also oversaw both artists’ estates.

The Museo Dolores Olmedo opened in September 1994, inside her sixteenth-century stone residence, formerly known as the Hacienda La Noria. The museum is also a centerpoint for Day of the Dead celebrations as Olmedo would often organize an ofrenda, or altar, in honor of Diego Rivera. The museum’s collection includes a wide range of Rivera’s works over the many decades of his career as well as the world’s largest collection of Kahlo paintings and illustrations by Angelina Beloff, who worked with Rivera in Europe during the early 20th century. The work is displayed in an intimate setting, amidst Olmedo’s personal furnishings and peacocks strolling through gardens. ''I will always defend his work energetically,'' she wrote about Rivera in her museum's catalog, and she has stood by her word.

Feliz cumpleaños, Doña Lola!
Doodle by Sophie Diao

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14 December 2012
Xul Solar's 125th Birthday






Xul Solar was the adopted name of Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari [December 14, 1887 – April 9, 1963], Argentine painter, sculptor, writer, and inventor of imaginary languages.

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14 December 2015
BKS Iyengar’s 97th Birthday



B.K.S. Iyengar, it’s been said, could hold a headstand for nearly half an hour well into his eighties. He was instrumental in bringing yoga to the West, beloved by followers on nearly every continent [certainly a few of his techniques have reached a base camp somewhere in Antarctica, but we couldn’t be sure], and advised such aspiring yogis as Aldous Huxley, Sachin Tendulkar, and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium. His style--Iyengar Yoga--is characterized by tremendous control and discipline, which he exercised in ways not limited to confoundingly long headstands.

To remember the pioneering and deeply spiritual yogi on what would have been his 97th birthday, Kevin Laughlin used a few of the master’s poses, or asanas, to help complete the logo on today’s homepage.

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14 December 2016
105th Anniversary of First Expedition to Reach the South Pole




Today marks the 105th anniversary of Roald Amundsen's expedition to the South Pole. Known as "the last of the Vikings," Amundsen was a lifelong adventurer with a gift for organization and planning.

"Victory awaits him who has everything in order," wrote Amundsen, and his South Pole journey was a perfect illustration of that principle.

Amundsen's expedition party consisted of 19 people and nearly 100 Greenland sled dogs. The dogs -- along with the use of skis to cross treacherous terrain -- were key to the team's success. And like their canine companions, the explorers knew that playfulness could help them endure the extreme conditions on the icy frontier. While prepping from Framheim, their base camp in the Bay of Whales, the team maintained a sense of fun. They held guess-the-temperature contests, celebrated birthdays, and told stories. When a subset of the crew made the final trek to the South Pole in December of 1911, their camaraderie and careful preparation helped them win the race to "the bottom of the world."

In honor of that achievement, today's Doodle depicts the crew at the finish line, taking a moment to bask in the glory while the Antarctic wind whips outside their tent.

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14 December 2014
Raj Kapoor's 90th Birthday







Raj Kapoor [born Shrishti Nath Kapoor; also known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor; 14 December 1924 – 02 June 1988] was an Indian actor, film producer and film director who worked in Hindi cinema.^[3][4] He received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards in India. The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award is named after Kapoor. He was a two-time nominee for the Palme d'Or grand prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his films Awaara [1951] and Boot Polish [1954]. His performance in Awaara was ranked as one of the top ten greatest performances of all time by Time magazine. His films attracted worldwide audiences, particularly in Asia and Europe.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was bestowed on him in 1987 by the Government of India.

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14 December 2013
Tycho Brahe's 467th Birthday







Tycho Brahe was a Danish nobleman, astronomer, and writer known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical observations. He was born in the then-Danish peninsula of Scania, which became part of Sweden the century afterwards. Tycho was well known in his lifetime as an astronomer, astrologer, and alchemist. He has been described as "the first competent mind in modern astronomy to feel ardently the passion for exact empirical facts". Most of his observations were more accurate than the best available observations at the time.

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3 January 2020
Nabil Ali Mohamed’s 82nd Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates Egyptian pioneer of Arabic language computing, Dr. Nabil Ali, on his 82nd birthday. Dr. Nabil Ali’s innovations in the field of computational linguistics propelled the Arab world into the Information Age by creating programs that enabled computers to understand Arabic in digital form.

Dr. Nabil Ali was born in Cairo on this day in 1938. Expressing an interest in art at a young age, Mohamed was inspired to apply his creative passion for visual aesthetics to the world of engineering. After obtaining his PhD in Aeronautical Engineering at Cairo University, he spent over 20 years working as an engineer with the Egyptian Air Force, as well as with various computer and electronics companies throughout the world.

For Dr. Nabil Ali, digitization of Arabic, with its complex linguistic rules and morphology, was a way to connect Arabic speakers with the world.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Nabil Ali published a number of papers, books, and technical reports in support of the developments he was making in the field of computational linguistics. His work won him several awards, including the prestigious Saudi Arabian award, the King Faisal Prize, in 2012—recognizing his pioneering contributions to the Arabic Language and Literature.

Happy birthday, Dr. Nabil Ali!

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14 Jan 2020
Kaifi Azmi's 101st Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates Indian poet, songwriter, and social change advocate Kaifi Azmi on his 101st birthday. With work ranging from passionate love poems and activist verses to Bollywood songs lyrics and screenplays, Azmi has become one of the most renowned poets of the 20th century in India, and his humanitarian efforts continue to impact people’s lives today.

Amzi was born Syed Athar Hussain Rizvi on this day in 1919 in the Azmargh district of Uttar Pradesh, India. At age 11, he composed his first poem, a ghazal-style piece. Inspired by Gandhi's 1942 Quit India freedom movement, he later left for Bombay [now Mumbai] to write for an Urdu newspaper. He then published his first collection of poems, Jhankar [1943], as well as became a member of the influential Progressive Writers’ Association that used writing to try to achieve socioeconomic reforms.

Azmi was prolific and won numerous awards for his contributions, including three Filmfare Awards for Garm Hawa [“Scorching Winds,” 1973], the prestigious Padma Shri Award for Literature and Education [1974], and one of India’s highest literary honors, the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship [2002].

In one of his early and most famous poems, “Aurat,” Amzi advocated for women’s equality, one of the causes he championed in his lifetime. He also founded the NGO Mijwan Welfare Society [MWS] to support various educational initiatives to improve the lives of rural women and families, and to this day, MWS continues its work in the spirit of its founder.