Google doodles

[9A]

16 December 2014

Wassily Kandinsky's 148th Birthday




Today, our homepage around the world marks the 148th birthday of influential Russian painter Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky. Kandinsky is credited with painting the first purely abstract work of art.

This Google doodle was inspired by the work of Wassily Kandinsky and was used with special permission of the Estate of Wassily Kandinsky, which is represented by Artist Rights Society.

[9A]

6 October 2017

Meret Oppenheim’s 104th Birthday





Although it might not seem so unusual today for a woman to become a professional artist, it was nearly unheard of a century ago. But Meret Oppenheim, born on this date in 1913, knew from an early age that she wanted to make art and challenge accepted ideas. She became one of the foremost surrealists of her time, and she was the first woman to have a piece acquired by the Museum of Modern Art.

Oppenheim grew up in Switzerland in an intellectual family who supported her ambitions. One day Oppenheim's grandmother, also an artist, did a tarot reading for her granddaughter. The cards said it was time to try something new, and that's how Oppenheim ended up moving to Paris to attend art school.

In Paris, Oppenheim kept company with the rising stars of the abstract and surrealist movements: Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, and René Magritte - to name a few. They often asked Oppenheim to model or serve as a muse — women were seen as inspirations for art, not artists in their own right. Despite these expectations and obstacles, Oppenheim believed in herself and worked hard to make a name for herself as an artist.

Today's Doodle, created by guest artist Tina Berning, celebrates Meret Oppenheim on what would have been her 104th birthday. The Doodle nods to one of her most known works, Object, and honors the surrealist tradition of combining unexpected elements to create something new.

[9A]

6 October 2018

2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games




Let the games begin! Today’s Doodle celebrates the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games, held this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over 200 countries will take part this year, sending thousands of athletes age 15-18 to the summer games.

Described by the International Olympic Committee as “an elite sporting event for young people from all over the world,” the Youth Olympic Games [YOG] are much like the Olympic Games [OG] in many respect. They have a mascot—this year it’s Pandi the teen jaguar, who loves sports and is native to Argentina. The games occur every four years in a different city and country with summer and winter editions. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded for first, second, and third place — this year designed by 18-year-old Farid Husen from Indonesia.

This year kiteboarding and BMX freestyle park will make their debuts, as well as a new version of handball that’s played on the beach. Football [aka soccer] is out, in favor of futsal — an indoor game played on a smaller hard court. This year will also feature mixed gender events as well as mixed National Olympic Committee events, bringing athletes from different countries together on the same team. Athletes are not the only young people who can get involved in YOG. There are also opportunities for Young Reporters, Ambassadors and Athlete Role Models. Besides showing off their athletic skills, participants take part in workshops and other activities designed to expose young people to different cultures and instill the Olympic Values: Friendship, Respect and Excellence as well as Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality.


Good luck to all the athletes at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games!


Doodle by Cynthia Yuan Cheng and Vrinda Zaveri

[9A]

6 October 2019

Xuân Quỳnh's 77th Birthday






“Love’s wave does not find itself until it reaches the sea,” wrote Vietnamese poet Xuân Quỳnh in her beloved poem "Sóng" [Waves]. Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Ho Chi Minh City-based guest artists Quang & Lien, celebrates the award-winning writer who’s now considered one of her country’s most important 20th-century poets.

Born in the village of La Khe [now Ha Dong province] on this day in 1942, Nguyễn Thị Xuân Quỳnh was raised by her grandmother and showed a talent for dance. Recruited by the Central Art Troupe in her early teens, she was trained as a dancer and traveled the world to perform. During the 1960s she began pursuing her talent for writing, studying with the Writers’ Association. She worked with the weekly arts newspaper Văn nghệ, the official newspaper of the Hanoi Women’s Union Phụ Nữ Việt Nam, and the publishing house Tác Phẩm Mới.

In poems like “Thuyền và Biển” [Boat and Sea] and “Thơ Tình Cuối Mùa Thu” [Love Song for End of Autumn], Xuân Quỳnh's language evokes a depth of feeling and romantic yearning. She also wrote children’s poetry, collected in the book Bầu trời trong quả trứng [The sky in an egg]. Some of her works have been set to music, and her 1967 poem “Waves” was so influential that it was taught in Vietnamese schools. She married distinguished poet and playwright Lưu Quang Vũ. In 2017 the Vietnamese government awarded Xuân Quỳnh the Hồ Chí Minh Prize, the country’s highest artistic honor.

Happy Birthday, Xuân Quỳnh!

[9A]

6 October 2014

Thor Heyerdahl's 100th Birthday






What would it take to get you to cross the Pacific Ocean in a handmade wooden raft? It didn’t take a lot of persuading for Norwegian explorer and scientist Thor Heyerdahl to do it—in fact, he did it to prove a point. In 1947, Heyerdahl set off on his Kon-Tiki expedition from Peru to French Polynesia to demonstrate that ancient South Americans could have done the same. The jury is still out on Heyerdahl’s conclusion, but we’re grateful for the remarkable story he left behind. Our doodle around the world marks his 100th birthday.

[9A]

30 August 2018

Prayoon Yomyiam’s 85th Birthday







Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Prayoon Yomyiam, a singer affectionately known in Thailand as Mae Prayoon or “Mother Prayoon.” Born on this day in 1933, she began singing at the age of 15 in a style of traditional Thai folk music known as Lam Tad. Originating in central Thailand, this popular form of antiphonal singing involves groups of men and women who take turns playfully poking fun at each other with improvised humorous lyrics, accompanied by a drum called a Klong Ramana.

Renowned for her clever lyrics with dual meanings [a technique known in Thailand as song ngae song ngam] Prayoon Yomyiam never failed to delight audiences. Cassette recordings and videos of her Lam Tad performances circulated widely throughout Thailand, helping to promote the Lam Tad tradition and keep it alive. By 1994 she was named a National Artist of Thailand, a title conferred annually by the National Culture Commission of Thailand recognizing notable artists in the country’s cultural heritage.

Prayoon helped to preserve and popularize the Lam Tad style of music,which once faced extinction before being introduced into nationwide popular culture via television. Aside from helping the music make a comeback domestically, she introduced Lam Tad to other countries as part of Thailand’s state-sponsored tourism campaign. Using her talents to spread laughter and cheer, Yomyiam helped keep Thailand’s folk culture alive for generations to come.


Happy Birthday, Mae Prayoon!

[9A]

31 Aug 2018

Malaysia National Day 2018





Today’s Doodle celebrates Malaysia’s Independence Day. Also known as Hari Kebangsaan or “National Day” it’s a commemoration of the moment in 1957 when Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Chief Minister of Malaya, read the declaration of independence from Great Britain.

This year’s Hari Kebangsaan will be particularly exciting because, for the first time since 1957, Malaysian citizens recently elected a new government. When fireworks explode in the sky above this multicultural southeast Asian country this, proud Malaysian citizens will look forward to the future as they celebrate their nation and their flag, also known as Jalur Gemilang or “Stripes of Glory.”

Malaysia has had many flags over the years, many including the Malayan tiger seen in Today’s Google Doodle. The tiger is part of the national consciousness, representing strength and courage. Of the nine subspecies of tigers, the ones indigenous to Malaysia are slightly smaller, and live in the tropical forest. They are the subject of many Malay folklore. Some stories cast them as humans morphed into animal form: the were-tiger harimau jadian, for example, is a fabled guardian of palm plantations.

The Malaysian flag will be flown today at parades and in households where families celebrate over plates of Nasi Lemak, a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, Malaysia’s national dish. There are many reasons to celebrate this major holiday, which also coincides with lunar new year, and hari raya, the feast that concludes Ramadan.

Happy National Day Malaysia!

[9A]

31 August 2020

Hari Merdeka 2020





Today’s Doodle celebrates Malaysia’s Independence Day, known in Malay as Hari Merdeka, in honor of 63 years of Malaysian autonomy. On this day in 1957, the nation then known as the Federation of Malaya officially gained its sovereignty from British rule.

This holiday, also called Hari Kebangsaan or National Day, is not to be confused with Malaysia Day, which commemorates the date in 1963 when the name Malaysia was officially adopted across the Malay Peninsula. The nation rejoices in their freedom and independence again.

Featured in the Doodle artwork is the orangutan, Asia’s only great ape, which in Malaysia is found in the rainforest of Borneo. These tree-dwelling primates share almost 97% of their genes with Homo sapiens, so they’re considered one of the humans’ closest relatives. This special relationship is reflected in the name “orangutan,” which derives from Malay and translates to “person of the forest.”

Selamat Hari Merdeka! [Happy Independence Day!]

[9A]

31 August 2011

110th Anniversary of the Lisbon Tram






The tramways in the Portugese capital are famous! Many of the trams are more than 100 years ago and still climb steep hills and cope with heavy traffic. The trams run on tracks of 900 mm. There are also new trams in Lisbon, on the route to Belém. Unfortunately, many tramway lines have been closed and are even dismantled; currently the network is only some 31 km long. But it is stil an amazing experience to travel on these old trams through Lisbon's narrow streets up and down the hills, notaby on the tram lines 12 and 28.

[9A]

1 Sept 2011

Tarsila do Amaral's 125th Birthday





Tarsila de Aguiar do Amaral was a Brazilian painter, draftswoman, and translator. She is considered one of the leading Latin American modernist artists, and is regarded as the painter who best achieved Brazilian aspirations for nationalistic expression in a modern style. As a member of the Grupo dos Cinco, Tarsila is also considered a major influence in the modern art movement in Brazil, alongside Anita Malfatti, Menotti Del Picchia, Mário de Andrade, and Oswald de Andrade. She was instrumental in the formation of the aesthetic movement, Antropofagia [1928–1929]; in fact, Tarsila was the one with her celebrated painting, Abaporu, who inspired Oswald de Andrade's famous Manifesto Antropófago.

[9A]

1 September 2016

34th Anniversary of Similan Islands National Park






Today’s Doodle takes you under the stunning waters of Thailand’s Similan Islands. Located northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, the archipelago of 11 islands is famous for its breathtaking dives. Sea turtles, zebra sharks, and blue-spotted stingrays are just a few of the species an underwater adventurer might encounter.

Equally as inviting as the coral reefs are the park’s white sandy beaches. From there, long-tail boats can be spotted navigating the waters against a backdrop of ironwood and gum trees. Also fluttering above sea level, a number of feathered species call the islands home — everything from white-bellied eagles to yellow-browed warblers.

Rich in both wildlife and natural beauty, the Similan Islands were named a national park 34 years ago today. Now it’s time to dive in and celebrate!

[9A]

1 September 2020

First day of school 2020 [1 September]

[9A]

1 September 2015

Google's New Logo

• Learn all about it on the Offical Google Blog & design.google.com...and take a stroll down memory lane with a search for Google Logo History.

[9A]

8 Sept 2012

46th Anniversary of Star Trek's 1st Broadcast







OK, I admit it, I am a die-hard Trekkie. I grew up watching endless reruns of Star Trek, my imagination completely immersed in Gene Roddenberry’s brilliant creation.

Today’s Star Trek doodle is, and Mr. Spock said it best, “Fascinating.” Built using modern web technologies, this beautiful, interactive, multi-scene doodle takes all of us... where no one has gone before. Every scene has hidden surprises you absolutely have to discover for yourself, especially the fate of the Redshirt. A team of outstanding designers and engineers, and numerous Star Trek fans at Google, got really creative with this one.

Working on search at Google has brought me ever so close to realizing my childhood dream of turning science fiction into reality; and Star Trek has played a special role in my journey. Yes! The destiny of search is to become the Star Trek computer, a perfect assistant by my side whenever I need it.

I hope you enjoy today’s magical doodle, and to all my fellow Trekkies, I say... live long and prosper.

Cross-posted from the Google+ post of Amit Singhal, SVP, Engineering


**STAR TREK used under license

[9A]

13 September 2019

Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 [Japan]





“May we live long and share the beauty of the moon together,
even if we are hundreds of miles apart”

—Mid-Autumn Festival Tune by Su Shi [poet from the Northern Song Dynasty]


Today’s Doodle represents the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important annual holidays in East Asia. The event, also known as the Moon Festival, takes place every year on the first full moon after the fall equinox, traditionally the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. Originally celebrated in China for thousands of years, over time the festival spread from the royal classes to the common folk and eventually all across the region, including Japan, where the local culture developed its own special customs and traditions.

No Moon Festival is complete without mooncakes, traditionally baked or steamed at home, but now sold everywhere in a range of flavors from savory—roast pork, egg—to sweet—red bean paste, fruit, nuts, seeds, even chocolate. They are always round like the full moon, a shape that reflects the concept of a family reunion. When a mooncake is shared after a traditional family meal, it must be cut into a specific number of equal parts. At times a piece or two will be saved for an absent loved one to enjoy when they come home.

In Japan, the Mid-Autumn Festival is called Tsukimi or Otsukimi, which translates to “moon viewing,” or Jugoya, meaning the night of the fifteenth. A solemn occasion, Tsukimi is a time to wear traditional garments and visit temples to burn incense and express thanks for the harvest. Children collect reeds and pampas grass, which was once used to make thatched roofs and feed livestock. Placed in a vase by the front door, pampas grass is said to keep evil spirits away. Families share a meal featuring platters of tsukimi dango, small rice dumplings, and mooncakes, which are known as geppei in Japanese.

[9A]

13 September 2013

Karolos Koun's 105th Birthday






Karolos Koun was a prominent Greek theater director, widely known for his lively staging of ancient Greek plays.

[9A]

24 December 2020

Aliye Berger’s 117th birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates Turkish artist Aliye Berger, widely credited as one of the country’s pioneers in the art of engraving. While also known for her paintings and drawings, Berger earned great renown for her expressive and joyful black-and-white carvings. Her work often utilized unconventional materials to provide a unique window into both Turkish life and her inner psychological world.

Aliye Berger was born into a family of artists on this day in 1903 on the island of Büyükada off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey. Although she was fascinated with painting from a young age, Berger instead learned to play the violin as a child. It wasn’t until 1947, after she followed her sister to London, that she first began to study engraving under the mentorship of the artist John Buckland-Wright.

Berger returned to Turkey in 1951 with over a hundred original art pieces and held her first exhibition that year in Istanbul. She soon earned huge critical acclaim when her oil painting “Güneşin Doğuşu” [“Sun Rising”] won a prestigious international competition in 1954. Despite the late start of her artistic career, Berger produced a prolific body of work over the following decades, and her rare gift has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions around the world.

In honor of her contributions to the arts, a large posthumous retrospective of Berger’s work was held at the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts in 1975.


Happy birthday, Aliye Berger. You’ve carved out a special place in the hearts of those from Turkey and beyond.

[9A]

23 September 2017

Saudi Arabia National Day 2017




The 23rd of September is celebrated in Saudi Arabia as National Day, commemorating the country’s unification by King Abdul Aziz Al Saud in 1932.

Today’s Doodle showcases the kingdom’s rich cultural heritage through the lens of national dress. The white ‘thobe’ and black ‘abaya’ symbolize everyday Saudi life. But venture out a bit further and you’ll find treasures and color galore...

Ceremonial attire in Hijaz in Western Saudi Arabia is white. Women embellish their robes with gold thread [zari], splashes of color adorn the men’s headpieces and belts.

Al Ardha, the traditional Saudi sword dance, originates from Najd in central Saudi Arabia, and is performed by men in long embroidered overcoats called ‘dagla’. Women here decorate their clothes with colorful patchwork and beadwork, and wear tasseled face veils.

People in the Southern regions of Jizan and Asir complement their geometrically patterned, multi-colored robes with bright floral headpieces.

Weaving the kingdom’s history and customs into the threads of traditional dress is indeed a beautiful medium to preserve Saudi heritage for generations to come.

Wishing Saudis everywhere a happy National Day!

[9A]

23 September 2016

Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta [El Santo]’s 99th Birthday







Today we’re celebrating what would have been the 99th birthday of the man credited with popularizing wrestling in Mexico, the one and only Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta. More commonly known as “El Santo” [The Saint], this legendary, silver-masked luchador wrestled for nearly five decades and is remembered as one of the greatest sports figures in Mexican history. Through his appearance in film and as the subject of many comic books, he became a cultural icon, representing justice and the fight against evil.

Legend has it that El Santo never removed his silver mask even at home and had a special mask for eating. He went to great lengths to protect his identity, particularly when traveling. He finally removed his mask to reveal his identity on the Mexican talk show, Contrapunto. A week after his unmasking, El Santo died on February 5, 1984. His funeral was one of the biggest in Mexican history, attended by family, friends, and his many fans. Shortly thereafter, a statue of El Santo was erected in his hometown of Tulancingo.

Per his wishes, El Santo was buried wearing his iconic silver mask.


Below you can see a collection of all the scenes from the Doodle:

[9A]

23 September 2016

358th Anniversary of Tea in the UK






Tea drinking is a thoroughly British pastime, whether it’s a mug of steaming builder’s tea or a delicate cup and saucer served with cucumber sandwiches. It’s not known when the first cuppa was enjoyed in the UK, but we do know that the first advert for tea in England appeared on this date in a publication from 1658 describing it simply as a “China Drink.” A couple of years later, English Naval Administrator Samuel Pepys wrote about drinking tea in his diary entry from 1660.

Chinese tea was reportedly drunk by Europeans as early as the 16th century, a trend spearheaded by Dutch and Portuguese traders. British coffee shops were selling tea in the 17th century, though drinking it was considered an expensive, upper-class privilege. By the 19th century, The East India Company was using fast ships called tea clippers to transport leaves from India and China to England’s docks. The Cutty Sark is the only surviving clipper of its kind and can still be visited in Greenwich.

As tea became more readily available, dedicated tea shops began popping up throughout the UK, becoming favorite spots for daytime socialising. Tea was well on its way to becoming a British tradition.

As today’s animated Doodle illustrates, tea cups come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Whatever your favorite vessel may be, we hope you enjoy a cuppa or two of this enduring drink today.

[9A]

19 November 2019

200th Anniversary of Museo del Prado




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 200th anniversary of Madrid’s Museo del Prado. Opened on this day in 1819, the museum is home to thousands of Spanish paintings from the 12th century to the 20th century, including masterpieces by El Greco, Francisco Goya, Diego Velázquez, amongst other European masters.

Designed in 1785 by architect Juan de Villanueva, the building was repurposed by King Ferdinand VII and Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza from a center for the natural sciences to a public gallery in 1819. Originally called the Royal Museum, it was later named Museo Nacional del Prado. With a collection of over 5,000 pieces, the museum pursued an expansion project that increased public access and reduced crowding in the main building.

The nearby Jerónimos Cloister was restored and incorporated to create the Museo del Prado Campus, allowing the museum to showcase the masterpieces of a new era. The Bicentenary exhibit, “A Place of Memory,” pays homage to the museum’s history through some of its darkest periods and offers a glimpse into how the museum has transformed into the institution it is today.

The museum is looking to the future on its 200th anniversary, taking time to ensure that diversity is embraced at the dawn of its third century. Throughout the year, the collection exhibited artists from Latin America such as Matrimonios de Martín de Loyola con Beatriz Ñusta y de Juan de Borja con Lorenza Ñusta de Loyola, an extraordinary example of the viceregal painting, coming from the Pedro de Osma Museum in Lima, Peru, and women in A Tale of Two Women Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana and Twelve Photographers. Guests should be able to see most of the museum in a couple of hours, but they might lose track of time trying to unpack the scenes in Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights.”

Happy two centuries, Museo del Prado!

[9A]

9 February 2017

Carmen Miranda's 108th Birthday






Carmen Miranda is a rare example of a triple threat: talented at acting, singing, and dancing. Born in Portugal and raised in Brazil, Miranda took to the performing arts at a young age. Her father's love of opera and her mother's support led her to pursue a career in show business. Inspired by baianas, Afro-Brazilian fruit vendors, Miranda donned a "fruit hat" when she performed. It would become her signature as her star soared, first in Brazil and then, worldwide.

Miranda’s big break happened following her performance at the National Institute of Music. She landed an audition at a recording studio where she was immediately signed to put out a single. Miranda’s first album was released in 1929, and was immensely popular among Brazilians. Her performing style helped samba gain respect and a place in the Brazilian [and later, the world] spotlight.

By the time she moved to the United States in 1939, Miranda was a national star in Brazil and had the power to ensure her band could travel with her. Hollywood's famous Garuman's Chinese Theatre invited her to leave her hand prints in the cement in 1941, the first Latin American to do so.

Today, we celebrate Carmen Miranda on what would be her 108th birthday.


Doodle by Sophie Diao

[9A]

9 February 2010

Natsume Soseki's Birthday





Natsume Sōseki, born Natsume Kin'nosuke, was a Japanese novelist. He is best known around the world for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat, Kusamakura and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. He was also a scholar of British literature and writer of haiku, kanshi, and fairy tales. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note.

[9A]

30 June 2019

Celebrating Puerto Princesa Underground River






Something strange happens on the Philippine island of Palawan when the Cabayugan River reaches the 1,000-meter [3,280.8-feet] high limestone mountain called Saint Paul: the flowing water vanishes under the earth. Today’s Doodle celebrates the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a Philippines National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site protected by the Ramsar Convention on this day in 2012.

An international body created for the conservation of important wetlands, Ramsar designated this underground river as “unique in the biogeographic region because it connects a range of important ecosystems from the mountain-to-the-sea, including a limestone karst landscape with a complex cave system, mangrove forests, lowland evergreen tropical rainforests, and freshwater swamps.”
The river is one of the world’s longest underground waterways at 8.2-kilometers [5.1-miles]—and one of the few that flows into the sea, creating the largest subterranean estuary in the world. Small boats carry sightseers underground to marvel at dramatic stalactite and stalagmite formations.

The 24-kilometer [14.9-mile] matrix of caves—including the 360-meter [1181.1-feet] long, 80-meter [262.5-feet] high Italian’s Chamber, one of the largest cave halls in the world—is home to some 800 plant species as well as many animals found nowhere else, including giant spiders, crabs, fish, and snakes, as well as bats, swallows, and fossils dating back millions of years. The critically endangered Philippine cockatoo and Hawksbill turtle, and the endangered Green sea turtle and Nordmann’s greenshank are just a few of the protected species who survive in this one-of-a-kind habitat.

[9A]

30 June 2013

Herta Heuwer's 100th Birthday





The invention of currywurst is attributed to Herta Heuwer in Berlin in 1949, after she obtained ketchup [or possibly Worcestershire sauce] and curry powder from British soldiers in Germany. She mixed these ingredients with other spices and poured it over grilled pork sausage.

[9A]

30 June 2021

Celebrating the Wadden Sea




Today’s Doodle celebrates the Wadden Sea, the world’s largest network of intertidal sand and mudflats, which spans the coastlines of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. On this day in 2009, UNESCO designated the Wadden Sea a World Heritage Site in recognition of its unparalleled ecological and geological importance and the decades of effort dedicated to its preservation.

Created by storms during the 14th and 15th centuries, the Wadden Sea is a relatively young wetland environment that comprises one of the world’s last remaining undisturbed intertidal ecosystems. This magnificent stretch of sea and sand houses numerous plant and animal species, including the grey seal and harbor porpoise. Considered one of the most critical regions globally for migratory birds, it’s estimated that the wetlands are visited by over 10 million African-Eurasian birds annually and can harbor up to 6.1 million birds at once!

The Wadden Sea isn’t just a pristine habitat for wildlife—popular ways human visitors enjoy the scenery include exploring the mudflats at low tide or touring the barrier islands by boat. However, it's vital for tourists to respect the site’s essential role in maintaining global biodiversity. Current conservation efforts are grounded in a strategic partnership between UNESCO, environmental NGOs, the Wadden Sea Forum, and the governments of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands so that future generations can enjoy this natural phenomenon.

Here’s to the Wadden Sea and preserving over 4,000 square miles of the natural world!

[9A]

28 December 2019

Iqbal Bano’s 81st Birthday





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Karachi-based guest artist Samya Arif, celebrates Pakistani singer Iqbal Bano, famous for singing ghazal and nazm, forms of lyrical Urdu poetry. Born on this day in 1938 in Delhi, British India, Bano studied with Ustad Chand Khan, a master of classical Indian vocals, and began singing on All India Radio as a teenager. Bano is also often notably remembered for her defiant performance of protest poetry by the exiled Nobel-nominee Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

In 1952, she moved to Pakistan and married a man who vowed to support her musical career, allowing her great freedom for a female artist at the time. She sang on Radio Pakistan, provided vocals as a playback singer for popular movies, and attracted large crowds to her live concerts.

Bano sang in both Urdu and Farsi, earning admirers in Iran and Afghanistan, as well as India and Pakistan. A regular performer at the Jashn-e-Kabul cultural festival in Kabul, her powerful vocals once inspired King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan to give her a golden vase. In 1974, the Pakistani government honored Bano with the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance.

In 1977, President Zia ul-Haq seized power and imposed martial law, strictly censored the press, and suspended political parties in Pakistan. The following year, Bano’s favorite poet, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, wrote a poem critical of the authoritarian ruler which Bano boldly sang before a crowd of 50,000 at a Lahore stadium in 1985. While doing so, she was wearing a black sari—a traditional women’s garment prohibited by the government. Though she was officially banned from singing live or on TV, Bano attracted a cult following, and her message and voice are still heard to this day as a symbol for revolution.

[9A]

28 December 2012

Leonardo Torres Quevedo's 160th Birthday





Leonardo Torres y Quevedo was a Spanish civil engineer and mathematician of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. With his Telekine, Torres-Quevedo created wireless remote-control operation principles.

Torres's experimentation in the area of cableways and cable cars began very early during his residence in the town of his birth, Molledo. There, in 1887, he constructed the first cableway to span a depression of some 40 metres. The cableway was some 200 metres across and was pulled by a pair of cows, with one log seat. This experiment was the basis for the request for his first patent, which he sought in the same year: an aerial cable car with multiple cables, with which it obtained a level of safety suitable for the transport of people, not only cargo. Later, he constructed the cableway of the Río León, of greater speed and already with a motor, but which continued to be used solely for the transport of materials, not of people.

[9A]

9 Jan 2013

150th Anniversary of the Tube






The London Underground [also known simply as the Underground, or by its nickname the Tube] is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

The Underground has its origins in the Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground passenger railway. Opened in January 1863, it is now part of the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. The first line to operate underground electric traction trains, the City & South London Railway in 1890, is now part of the Northern line. The network has expanded to 11 lines, and in 2017/18 was used for 1.357 billion passenger journeys, making it the world's 12th busiest metro system. The 11 lines collectively handle up to 5 million passenger journeys a day.

The system's first tunnels were built just below the ground, using the cut-and-cover method; later, smaller, roughly circular tunnels—which gave rise to its nickname, the Tube—were dug through at a deeper level. The system has 270 stations and 250 miles [400 km] of track. Despite its name, only 45% of the system is under the ground: much of the network in the outer environs of London is on the surface. In addition, the Underground does not cover most southern parts of Greater London, and there are only 29 stations south of the River Thames.

The early tube lines, originally owned by several private companies, were brought together under the "UndergrounD" brand in the early 20th century, and eventually merged along with the sub-surface lines and bus services in 1933 to form London Transport under the control of the London Passenger Transport Board [LPTB]. The current operator, London Underground Limited [LUL], is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London [TfL], the statutory corporation responsible for the transport network in London. As of 2015, 92% of operational expenditure is covered by passenger fares. The Travelcard ticket was introduced in 1983 and Oyster, a contactless ticketing system, in 2003. Contactless bank card payments were introduced in 2014, the first public transport system in the world to do so.

The LPTB commissioned many new station buildings, posters and public artworks in a modernist style. The schematic Tube map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, was voted a national design icon in 2006 and now includes other TfL transport systems such as the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, TfL Rail, and Tramlink. Other famous London Underground branding includes the roundel and the Johnston typeface, created by Edward Johnston in 1916.

[9A]

13 Jan 2013

Aleko Konstantinov's 150th birthday




Aleko Konstantinov was a Bulgarian writer, best known for his character Bay Ganyo, one of the most popular characters in Bulgarian fiction.

[9A]

8 Jan 2013

Rubén Darío's 146th Birthday





Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo [modernism] that flourished at the end of the 19th century. Darío has had a great and lasting influence on 20th-century Spanish literature and journalism. He has been praised as the "Prince of Castilian Letters" and undisputed father of the modernismo literary movement.

[9A]

26 January 2020
Australia Day 2020





January 26th means different things for Australians all around the country. This year, we’re going through a particularly difficult summer, with devastating bushfires affecting many parts of the country.

Today's Doodle on Australia Day is inspired by the spirit of resilience and mateship that binds the country together.

[9A]

30 Jan 2015

Vsevolod Nestayko’s 85th Birthday





Our doodle in Ukraine draws inspiration from the children’s book Toreadors from Vasyukivka for writer Vsevolod Nestayko’s 85th birthday. Nestayko is widely considered to be Ukraine’s best-known author of children’s literature.

[9A]

2 Feb 2015

110th Anniversary of first publication of Bécassine




Bécassine is a French comic strip and the name of its heroine, appearing for the first time in the first issue of La Semaine de Suzette on February 2, 1905. She is considered one of the first female protagonists in the history of French comics.

Bécassine is one of the most enduring French comics of all time, iconic in its home country, and with a long history in syndication and publication.

[9A]

2 February 2011

Vitinho's 25th Anniversary







Vitinho is a famous character in a series of cartoons , who achieved enormous visibility in Portugal due to his daily broadcasts on Radio and Television of Portugal [RTP] between 1986 and 1997 .

The daily broadcast on Portuguese public television of films to put children to sleep entitled "Good night, Vitinho!" , in prime time , attributed to it peaks of audience and a consensual admiration: not only by the children, but also by people of all ages.

[9A]

28 Dec 2019

Thanpuying Puangroi Apaiwong's 105th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates Thai composer Thanpuying Puangroi Apaiwong on her 105th birthday. Of her more than 100 compositions, she is best known for the classic “Bua Kao” [“White Lotus”], which was awarded as “Song of Asia” by UNESCO in 1979 and made her a staple in the national repertoire.

Born Mom Puangroi Sanit Wong in Bangkok on this day in 1914, she learned to play the piano and the guitar at a young age. Composing and playing tunes for her family, she showed an undoubted passion and went on to study music at Trinity College London.

During the first half of the twentieth century, as foreign music like Western classical and jazz gained popularity, a new genre named Phleng Thai sakon [roughly translating to "international-style Thai music"] arose. The genre blended elements from traditional Thai music with instruments of Western classical, and Apaiwong became one of its leading artists. She composed music for plays and movies, for the royal family, and for special national occasions.

Apaiwong devoted her life to music, playing weekly for nearly 22 years with a group of classical musicians to raise funds for various educational institutions. She was also awarded the Performing Arts award by the Board of National Culture in 1986, as well as five royal decorations for her contributions.

สุขสันต์วันเกิด, Thanpuying Puangroi Apaiwong!

[9A]

29 December 2016

Charles Macintosh’s 250th Birthday







It’s a wonder how the weatherbeaten Brits coped before Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh invented his eponymous waterproof coat. His invention, patented in 1823, came about as he experimented with coal-tar naphtha and rubber and realised they could be fused together with fabric to create a waterproof surface. These days in the U.K., it’s common to call any type of raincoat a "Mac."

Today’s Doodle shows Macintosh enjoying a Scottish rain shower whilst testing his ingenious invention.

[9A]

29 December 2017

Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa’s 113th Birthday




Today we celebrate the life and literature of Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, a renowned 20th century Indian poet and author. Known more famously by his pen name Kuvempu, he is considered one of the greatest Kannada writers of his time. The Kannada language is spoken mainly in Kuvempu’s home state of Karnataka, and he strongly advocated for it to be the main medium of education.

Kuvempu loved his writing to reflect the simple wonder of the world around him, especially flowers. To celebrate Kuvempu’s life and work, today’s Doodle by illustrator Upamanyu Bhattacharyya [and Swati Shelar, who helped with the Kannada lettering] shows Kuvempu surrounded by nature in his beloved home.


Happy birthday, Kuvempu!

[9A]

1 February 2019

Celebrating Sojourner Truth

“We have all been thrown down so low that nobody thought we'd ever get up again; but we have been long enough trodden now; we will come up again.”—Sojourner Truth

Today’s Doodle by Philadelphia-based guest artist Loveis Wise kicks off Black History Month by celebrating Sojourner Truth, a powerful advocate for justice and equality in the United States of America during the 19th century who paved the way for future generations.

Born an enslaved person in Ulster County, New York around 1797, Isabella Baumfree endured the horrors of the American slave trade—as well as seeing her children sold into servitude. Despite the hardships she faced, she went on to win her freedom, changing her name to Sojourner Truth, and starting a new life as a traveling and prominent preacher, abolitionist, and suffragist.

During her advocacy journeys throughout the country, Truth met activists William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, who encouraged her to speak out against the evils of slavery. She published a memoir in 1850, which earned her widespread acclaim as an author and speaker. She was even invited to meet with Abraham Lincoln in the White House. In her autobiography, Sojourner Truth recounted the day she escaped with her infant daughter, forced to leave her other children behind. With her daughter, she was taken in by Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen, who helped Sojourner Truth sue for the freedom of her five-year-old son Peter, who had been sold illegally by her former slavemaster. This historic lawsuit made her one of the first black women to successfully sue a white man in the U.S. The courthouse where the case was heard is referenced in today’s Doodle.

After her book’s publication, Truth began a lecture tour that included a women’s rights conference in Akron, Ohio, where she delivered the famous “Ain’t I Woman” speech. Although the exact wording of the speech is still debated, her message came through loud and clear: women of any race, color, or creed are as strong and capable as any man.

Truth’s memory and legacy continues to this day. Most recently, the US Treasury announced that she will be featured on the nation’s ten dollar bill along with other suffragists. The design for the new bill will be unveiled in 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

Here’s to Sojourner Truth, who devoted her life to the cause of speaking truth to power.

[9A]

1 February 2017

Celebrating Edmonia Lewis




Edmonia Lewis wasn’t afraid to reshape convention. As the first woman of African American and Native American heritage to achieve international fame as a sculptor, Lewis is known for incorporating African American and Native American cultural themes into her Neoclassical style sculpture.

Born in New York in 1844 to a father of Afro-Haitian descent and a mother of Mississauga Ojibwe and African American descent, Lewis was adopted by her maternal aunts after her parents’ death when she was nine years old. At age 15, Lewis enrolled in Oberlin College, which is where she became passionate about art. Unfortunately however, her time at Oberlin was fraught with discrimination by many of her peers and the surrounding community. It was due to this that she was prevented from enrolling in her final term, and therefore was unable to receive her degree.

After her time at Oberlin, Lewis moved to Boston in 1864 to pursue a career as a sculptor. She was consistently denied apprenticeship until she met Edward A. Brackett, a sculptor whose clients included some of the most well-known abolitionists of the time. Lewis worked under Brackett until 1864, when she launched her first solo exhibition. Her work paid homage to the abolitionists and Civil War heroes of her day, including John Brown and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Her work was very well received and with her success, she traveled to Rome, Italy.

In Rome, Lewis joined a circle of expat artists and established her own studio. During this time, Lewis began sculpting in marble, focusing on naturalism and themes relating to African American and Native American people. Her work commanded large sums of money, and she continued to receive international acclaim until her death in 1911.

Today’s Doodle art depicts Lewis sculpting one of her most famous works, The Death of Cleopatra, which is on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Her realistic portrayal of Cleopatra’s death received acclaim from critics, who called it “the most remarkable piece of sculpture in the American section" of the show. The vibrant colors of the Google letters also pay tribute to Lewis’s Native American roots - her Native American name was Wildfire.

Decades later, Lewis’s legacy continues to thrive through her art and the path she helped forge for women and artists of color. Today, we celebrate her and what she stands for – self-expression through art, even in the face of adversity.


Doodle by Sophie Diao

__________________________________________________ ________________

Be sure to check out Edmonia Lewis’s new exhibit on Google Arts & Culture for an in-depth look at some of her most iconic sculptures and the ways in which her heritage and surroundings served as inspiration for her prized works, courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

[9A]

1 February 2013

María Elena Walsh's 83rd Birthday






María Elena Walsh [1 February 1930 – 10 January 2011] was an Argentine poet, novelist, musician, playwright, writer and composer, mainly known for her songs and books for children. Her work includes many of the most popular children's books and songs of all time in her home country.

[9A]

3 Feb 2013

Polde Bibič's 80th Birthday



Polde Bibič was a Slovenian stage and film actor, a writer, and an academic professor, best known for his role in the film Flowers in Autumn and his work in theater, Bibič was a recipient of several top awards in the field of arts in Slovenia.

At his death, Bibič was described by other Slovenian actors and writers as a giant, the prince of the theatre, and a legendary acting folk character. A deep admiration of him and appreciation of his work was also expressed by the President of Slovenia Danilo Türk and the Prime Minister Janez Janša.

[9A]

4 Feb 2013
Josef Kajetán Tyl's 205th Birthday





Josef Kajetán Tyl was a significant Czech dramatist, writer, and actor. He was a notable figure in the Czech National Revival movement and is best known as the author of the current national anthem of the Czech Republic titled Kde domov můj.

Tyl was an author of several novels and short stories, but he is most famous for his about 20 theatre plays, which can be divided into several groups.

[9A]

23 February 2017

Seven Earth-Size Exoplanets Discovered!







This just in! Turns out it wasn’t just dust on the telescope lens: NASA just announced the discovery of seven earth-size planets orbiting the same star only 235 trillion miles away. In space terms, that practically makes us next-door neighbors!

This artist's concept shows what each of the TRAPPIST-1 planets may look like.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

What exactly does this new solar system TRAPPIST-1 mean for our universe? Well, three of these newly discovered planets land smack-dab in the middle of what scientists call the habitable zone, or the distance from the star it orbits “where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.” Though scientists have some serious studying to do before we can definitively say whether any of the new TRAPPIST-1 planets are habitable, the potential is very promising.

So if three of these new TRAPPIST-1 planets land in the habitable zone, what about the other four? According to NASA, all seven planets could have liquid water, the most crucial ingredient for life -- assuming the right atmospheric conditions.

Unlike our solar system, the planets in TRAPPIST-1 are very close together. If we’re able to visit one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets one day, we could be able to watch each neighboring planet pass by on its orbital journey! Until then, you can explore TRAPPIST-1 d, the third planet in the TRAPPIST-1 solar system in 3D using your computer or mobile device. If you have a virtual reality device, you can also take a stroll around.

Happy solar-searching!

[9A]

24 Feb 2017

Celebrating Penpan Sittitrai





In the skilled hands of Penpan Sittitrai, a watermelon was far more than a refreshing treat on a summer day: it was art.

Using just a carving knife, she magically transformed melons into graceful swans, mangoes into rabbits, and potatoes into ducklings. Nature was a favorite theme, and she often formed lotus flowers from common foods like yam beans and garlic bulbs. Her intricate sculptures were used as showstopping centerpieces and serving vessels.

Even Thailand’s monarchs tapped Sittitrai for her talents. She once carved water chestnuts into 500 jasmine flowers for a royal wedding, and turned 250 coconuts into urns for a royal dining event.

On February 24, 2010, at the age of 83, Sittitrai was awarded the honorary title of National Artist for her outstanding contributions to Thailand’s arts. Instituted in 1985, “National Artist Day” is celebrated in Thailand on February 24.

In recognition of Sittitrai’s contributions to Thailand’s visual arts, today’s Doodle draws inspiration from her many books, including, “The Art of Thai Vegetable and Fruit Carving.”

[9A]

26 Feb 2017

25th Anniversary of Ujung Kulon Park






There are only about 50 Javan rhinos left in the world, and today, we honor their home: Ujung Kulon, a wildlife refuge at the westernmost tip of Java. Twenty-five years ago, it was named one of Indonesia’s national parks. Spanning 475 square miles, the lush peninsula and neighboring islands are home to a number of other endangered species, too, including the banteng [wild cattle] and the Javan leopard.

Although the park is just a few decades old, some of the land has been protected for nearly a century. In 1883, the eruption of the nearby Krakatoa volcano left the area covered in ash, wiping out wildlife and forcing all humans to evacuate. The people never returned, but eventually, the plants and animals did. Once the jungle was thriving again, the land was declared a nature reserve in 1921. Now, the park boasts Java’s largest remaining lowland forest, as well as pristine sandy beaches and coral reefs.

Showing a one-horned rhino splashing with its calf, today’s Doodle pays tribute to the natural beauty and preservation of this important national park.

[9A]

26 February 2021

Lantern Festival 2021





Today’s Doodle honors the annual celebration, known as the Lantern Festival, a treasured occasion signaling the finale of Lunar New Year celebrations all over the world.

The Lantern Festival tradition has been practiced for more than 2000 years, dating back to China’s Han Dynasty. Once known as Shang Yuan, early lantern festivals were designed as offerings to the gods, and families lit lanterns near their homes to represent a holy place.

Since its inception, the Lantern Festival is now celebrated across Asian and around the globe with illuminating art installations, in addition to lanterns of various sizes and designs. The lanterns are painted with everything from pandas to cats, and each have their own meaning, such as great fortune or luck in a relationship.


Happy Lantern Festival!

[9A]

30 July 2011

Giorgio Vasari's 500th Birthday





Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, architect, engineer, writer, and historian, best known for his Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing, and basis for biographies of several Renaissance artists including Leonardo da Vinci. Vasari designed the Tomb of Michelangelo in the Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence which was completed in 1578.

Based on Vasari's text about Giotto's new manner of painting, Jules Michelet suggested for the first time the term Renaissance in his Histoire de France [1835], a term adopted by historiography and still in use today.

[9A]

2 Aug 2011

Celebrating the Wildebeest Migration by Samuel Githui





The great Serengeti wildebeest migration is the movement of vast numbers of the Serengeti's wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra, and smaller numbers of Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle, eland and impala. These move in an annual pattern which is fairly predictable. They migrate throughout the year, constantly seeking fresh grazing and, it's now thought, better quality water.

The wildebeest , also called the gnu. is an antelope in the genus Connochaetes native to Eastern and Southern Africa. It belongs to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, and other even-toed horned ungulates.

[9A]

17 July 2018

Georges Lemaître’s 124th Birthday




Most people have heard of the Big Bang theory, but fewer recognize the name Georges Lemaître, the man who came up with the hypothesis that transformed our understanding of astrophysics.

Born on this day in 1894, Lemaître was a Belgian Catholic priest who proposed that the universe began as a single primordial atom, or “Cosmic Egg.” Although his thesis was based on calculations derived from Einstein’s theory of General Relativity, Einstein initially dismissed Lemaître’s work, remarking, "Your calculations are correct, but your physics is atrocious." Two years later, Einstein changed his mind.

Lemaître’s 1927 paper theorizing that the universe was expanding was soon substantiated by Edwin Hubble’s observations, which were published in 1929. Trained in physics at Cambridge, Harvard, and MIT, Lemaître accurately estimated the numerical value that astronomers would come to call the Hubble constant—a unit of measurement that describes the universe’s rate of expansion. Compared to Lemaître’s small scientific readership in Belgium, Hubble’s work received much wider circulation. As a result, Hubble’s name is more often associated with the Big Bang, which birthed a whole new branch of science known as relativistic cosmology.

Lemaître was not completely overlooked in his day. In 1934 he received the prestigious Francqui prize, the highest scientific accolade in Belgium [one of his nominators was Einstein himself!]. Several other international scientific awards honored Lemaître’s legacy, and a crater on the moon was named for him in 1970.

Today’s animated Doodle depicts Lemaître within the constantly expanding universe that he first envisioned, surrounded by galaxies expanding outward just as he said they would.


Happy Birthday Georges Lemaître!