Google doodles

[9A]

20 September 2018

Children's Day 2018 [Germany, Austria, Switzerland]

[9A]

1 Apr 2012

13th Anniversary of the 4 unit VLT telescope: Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun





The Very Large Telescope [VLT] is a telescope facility operated by the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It consists of four individual telescopes, each with a primary mirror 8.2 m across, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language. The telescopes form an array complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes [ATs] of 1.8 m aperture.

The VLT operates at visible and infrared wavelengths. Each individual telescope can detect objects roughly four billion times fainter than can be detected with the naked eye, and when all the telescopes are combined, the facility can achieve an angular resolution of about 0.002 arc-second. In single telescope mode of operation angular resolution is about 0.05 arc-second.

The VLT is the most productive ground-based facility for astronomy, with only the Hubble Space Telescope generating more scientific papers among facilities operating at visible wavelengths. Among the pioneering observations carried out using the VLT are the first direct image of an exoplanet, the tracking of individual stars moving around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, and observations of the afterglow of the furthest known gamma-ray burst.

[9A]

1 April 2017

Payut Ngaokrachang’s 88th birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates renowned Thai cartoonist and animation pioneer Payut Ngaokrachang with a depiction of one of his best-known animations, and Thai cinema's first cel-animated feature film, “The Adventure of Sudsakorn.”

Released in 1979, “Sudsakorn” was one of Thailand’s earliest full-length animations, and was based on author Sudthornpu’s book Pra Apai Manee. It follows the exploits of the boy hero as he battles with mythical creatures and other dangerous adversaries. The animation was created on a very tight budget, and the innovative Payut was said to have crafted some of his movie-making equipment using discarded military machinery to keep costs low.

On what would be his 88th birthday, we celebrate Payut Ngaokrachang and his significant contribution to animation.

[9A]

31 Mar 2017

Sergei Diaghilev’s 145th birthday



Born in 1872 to a wealthy Russian family, art critic, visionary, and all-around provocateur Sergei Diaghilev made his mark on the performing arts with his influential Ballets Russes, a trailblazing dance company that united talents from the disciplines of art, fashion, dance, choreography, and music, and vaulted them to dizzying creative heights.

From 1909-1929, the Ballet Russes performed on stages around the globe, mesmerizing, even scandalizing, audiences with its unprecedented costumes, stage sets, compositions, and choreography. In Schéhérazade, which premiered at the Théâtre national de l’Opéra, Paris, in 1910, dancers traded tutus for artist Léon Bakst’s risqué harem pants while Vaslav Nijinsky performed in gold body paint and bejeweled costumes. Firebird, based on Russian fairy tales, marked Diaghilev’s first commissioned score from Igor Stravinsky, kicking off a collaboration that would include the primal work, The Rite of Spring and Pulcinella [[with costumes and sets by Pablo Picasso).

Anna Pavlova, Henri Matisse, Jean Cocteau—all figured into Diaghilev’s sensational productions.

Today, on Sergei Diaghilev’s 145th birthday, we salute his boundless imagination with a Doodle that depicts the impresario flanked by his vividly costumed Ballets Russes dancers against an onion-domed Russian backdrop. Diaghilev wowed the world, both then and now.

Doodle by Sophie Diao

[9A]

26 Mar 2017

Saridjah Niung’s 109th birthday





Sukabumi-born Saridjah Niung, better known as Mrs. Soed, was a well-loved musician, teacher, radio announcer, playwright and batik artist in Indonesia. Her music delighted the ears of young children, and to this day, they can be heard singing along to the tune of her most popular songs: ”Hi Pedicab,” “Strong Kids,” and “Butterflies.”

Along with music for kindergarten-aged kids, she was also revered for her patriotic hymns. She wrote masterpieces during the Dutch colonial years about the Japanese occupation and Indonesia’s independence. Mrs. Soed also wrote the Indonesian national anthem “Fatherland,” and “Berkibarlah Benderaku.”

Today, we celebrate Saridjah Niung Soedibjo Star’s artistic contributions on what would have been her 109th birthday.

[9A]

26 March 2019

Bangladesh Independence Day 2019



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

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

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

Joy Bangla!

[9A]

2 August 2018

Celebrating Mount Olympus




According to ancient Greek mythology, Mount Olympus is the home of the gods. Should mere mortals dare to climb so high? On this day In 1913, three courageous climbers answered “yes,” scaling this 9,573-foot summit sculpted with deep ravines and abrupt upgrades. Swiss photographer Frédéric Boissonnas, his friend Daniel Baud-Bovy, and Christos Kakkalos, a Greek hunter who served as their guide, set off in treacherous weather.

Kakkalos knew the mountain so well that he scaled its sharp inclines barefoot. The Swiss had some experience in mountaineering, but Boissonnas had to lug heavy photographic equipment up the mountain. He and his friend, Baud-Bovy, were tied together with a rope, standard procedure for such expeditions.

During their climb, the summit where Greek gods were said to reside was wreathed with storm clouds, and the climbers mistook a lesser peak for the home of the gods. Thinking their ascent was done, the elated adventurers wrote cards describing their feat and put the notes in a bottle that they buried on a crest they christened Victory Top. When the mist cleared, they spied another, more impressive peak, called Mytikas.

With Kakkalos in the lead, the men continued upward, scrambling across the slippery gorge. Boissonnas later wrote that he was compelled by the fire of Prometheus, who stole fire from Athena and Hephaestus’ workshop on Mount Olympus, gifting it to humans to help them in their labors.

Today’s Doodle celebrates their accomplishment and the fire that inspired them.

[9A]

9 July 2021

Argentina Independence Day 2021




Today’s Doodle celebrates Argentina’s Independence Day. On this day in 1816, a group of regional leaders assembled in the city of Tucumán to proclaim the South American nation’s freedom.

If you plan on celebrating Independence Day in true Argentinian fashion, get ready for a day full of huge portions of traditional food and drink. Authentic feasting for today’s festivities isn’t complete without “locro,” a robust stew consisting of beans, corn, squash, potato, and varieties of meat. Traditionally served piping hot, locro is a perfect meal for keeping celebrants warm, as Independence Day falls in the midst of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

The go-to Argentinian beverage is “mate,” a caffeine-rich tea depicted brewing in the Doodle artwork. Approximately 98% of the nation’s citizens keep this caffeine-rich tea stocked at home, and it's estimated that most Argentines consume close to 14 pounds annually!

Happy Independence Day, Argentina!

[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]

23 April 2020

St. George's Day 2020





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by British guest artist Robin Davey, commemorates St. George’s Day. On the annual celebration of the patron saint, England celebrates St. George and his representation of values like bravery, integrity, and leadership.

According to legend, St. George single-handedly slew a dragon to rescue a city under siege. For centuries, he captured the English imagination; in fact, King Henry V’s veneration for St. George was even immortalized in William Shakespeare’s eponymous play about the monarch.

St. George was declared England’s patron saint in 1348, and in 1415 St. George’s Day was inaugurated as a national feast day in his honor. Today, the special day lives on as a testament to England’s culture and unique traditions through activities like morris dancing [a rural folk custom] and medieval jousting.

Happy St. George’s Day!

[9A]

23 April 2016

Celebrating William Shakespeare



Genius. There are many examples throughout human history, but today we celebrate one particularly brilliant one: William Shakespeare — writer, playwright, and one of the most eloquent voices of all time. Today, we celebrate his life and work.

A creative tour de force, Shakespeare officially wrote 38 plays in his 52 years, performing most of them at The Globe Theatre in London. Over the past four centuries, Shakespeare's poems, plays and other works have taken on a life of their own on stage, screen, and page. You can explore some of his works and those he has has inspired in the Shakespeare gallery of the Google Cultural Institute.

Here's to many more lifetimes of the Bard's great verse.

[9A]

22 Apr 2016

Earth Day 2016




Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, may be the one day that transcends culture, language, and tradition. Doodler Sophie Diao shares some of her thoughts on the day and the paintings she created:

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

Tundra and Polar Bear



Forest and Red Fox

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

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

Grasslands and Elephant





Desert and Tortoise

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

We live on a beautiful planet, and it’s the only one we’ve got. Happy Earth Day!




Aquatic/Ocean, Coral Reef and Octopus

[9A]

15 April 2021

Eugène Poubelle’s 190th birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates Eugène Poubelle, the French lawyer, administrator, and diplomat credited with revolutionizing Paris’s waste management system in the late 19th century. Never afraid to get his hands dirty, Poubelle is forever immortalized in the French word for the trash can: la poubelle.

Born in Caen, France on this day in 1831, Eugène René Poubelle earned a law degree and began his career as a professor before transitioning into public service. In 1883, he was appointed prefect of the Seine, and he soon came to the conclusion that Paris needed to clean up its act.

In 1884, Poubelle decreed that Parisian landlords were required to install large, covered receptacles for their tenants’ household trash, and—far ahead of his time—he even mandated three separate bins to facilitate recycling. In 1890, la poubelle was officially inducted into the French dictionary as the term for “garbage can.”

But Poubelle didn’t stop there. Following a severe cholera outbreak in 1892, he also required all buildings to be connected directly to the city’s sewers, another huge step in the name of urban hygiene. Poubelle’s mandates also catalyzed the development of household waste removal vehicles, early versions of which came in the form of horse-drawn carriages. With the advent of the first automobiles, these prototypical garbage trucks evolved into motorized vehicles in 1897; by the dawn of the 20th-century, this sanitation technology cleared the path for garbage collection to become commonplace not just in French urban centers but nationwide.

Thank you, Eugène Poubelle, for refusing to let your visionary ideas be thrown out!

[9A]

15 April 2012

Wilhelm Busch's 180th Birthday





Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Busch [15 April 1832 – 9 January 1908] was a German humorist, poet, illustrator, and painter. He published wildly innovative illustrated tales that remain influential to this day.

Busch drew on the tropes of folk humour as well as a profound knowledge of German literature and art to satirize contemporary life, any kind of piety, Catholicism, Philistinism, religious morality, bigotry, and moral uplift.

His mastery of drawing and verse became deeply influential for future generations of comic artists and vernacular poets. Among many notable influences, The Katzenjammer Kids was inspired by Busch's Max and Moritz. Today, the Wilhelm Busch Prize and the Wilhelm Busch Museum help maintain his legacy. The 175th anniversary of his birth in 2007 was celebrated throughout Germany. Busch remains one of the most influential poets and artists in Western Europe.

[9A]

15 April 2009

Mimar Sinan's Birthday




Mimar Sinan, also known as Koca Mi'mâr Sinân Âğâ, ["Sinan Agha the Grand Architect" or "Grand Sinan"] was the chief Ottoman architect [Turkish: mimar] and civil engineer for sultans Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II, and Murad III. He was responsible for the construction of more than 300 major structures and other more modest projects, such as schools. His apprentices would later design the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul and Stari Most in Mostar.

His masterpiece is the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, although his most famous work is the Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul. He headed an extensive governmental department and trained many assistants who, in turn, distinguished themselves, including Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, architect of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and Mimar Hayruddin, architect of the Stari Most. He is considered the greatest architect of the classical period of Ottoman architecture and has been compared to Michelangelo, his contemporary in the West.

Michelangelo and his plans for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome were well known in Istanbul, since Leonardo da Vinci and he had been invited, in 1502 and 1505 respectively, by the Sublime Porte to submit plans for a bridge spanning the Golden Horn. Mimar Sinan's works are among the most influential buildings in history.

[9A]

15 April 2016

Samaun Samadikun’s 85th birthday



In today's doodle by Sophie Diao, we pay tribute to Samaun Samadikun, one of Indonesia’s brightest scientific minds. Born in 1931, he earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford, was a professor at Indonesia’s Bandung Institute of Technology and was the founder of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences. His contributions to microelectronics research, space programs, and university engineering still resonate today. A very Happy Birthday to Dr. Samadikun on what would have been his 85th birthday.

[9A]

10 November 2021

Celebrating Ismail Marzuki


Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Indonesia-based guest artist Ykha Amelz, celebrates Indonesian composer Ismail Marzuki, whose patriotic songs established him as a national hero during the nation’s independence movement. On this day in 1968, the Indonesian government honored his legacy with the inauguration of what is now the Jakarta Art Center - Taman Ismail Marzuki [TIM], which serves as a hub for the preservation of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and creative innovation in fine arts, music, theatre, dance, and film.

Ismail Marzuki was born in Kwitang, Central Jakarta, Indonesia on May 11, 1914, when the region was under Dutch colonial rule. Although musical professions were uncommon in this community, Marzuki grew up practicing up to five hours a day to master eight instruments: harmonica, mandolin, guitar, ukulele, violin, accordion, saxophone, and piano. At 17, he composed the first of the over hundreds of songs he would produce throughout his career.

Marzuki’s songs captured the Indonesian struggle for independence with melancholic overtones while representing the nation’s resilience through soaring melodies. He filled Indonesian hearts with pride for years by broadcasting his songs [nine of which became national anthems] on public radio. In 1955, Marzuki took over as the leader of the prestigious Jakarta Studio Orchestra and composed the General Election song, the musical theme of Indonesia’s first independent elections.

To honor his cultural contributions, the Indonesian government named Marzuki a National Hero in 2004. Today, visitors can learn more about Marzuki at TIM, which exhibits his personal collection including handwritten songs and a few of his many instruments.

Here’s to you Ismail Marzuki—thank you for writing the soundtrack for Indonesian independence!

[9A]

10 November 2018

Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu’s 131st Birthday




“The future of women in engineering is great,” declared a 1912 edition of Romania’s daily newspaper Minerva, reporting the news that “Miss Elisa Leonida passed the last final exam with great success, obtaining a Diploma in Engineering.”

On this day in 1887, Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu was born in the Romanian port city of Galați. After graduating with high marks from the Central School of Girls in Bucharest, she earned a baccalaureate from Mihai Viteazul High School. But when she applied to the School of Highways and Bridges, she was rejected because of her gender.

Undeterred, she applied to the Royal Technical Academy in Berlin, where one of the deans said she would be better off focusing on “Kirche, kinder, and kuche” [Church, children, and cooking]. She persisted in earning her degree in three years to become one of the first woman engineer in Europe.

Becoming the first female member of A.G.I.R. [General Association of Romanian Engineers], eventually running laboratories for the Geological Institute of Romania. Zamfirescu oversaw numerous Economic Studies analyzing Romania’s supply of natural resources like coal, shale, natural gas, chromium, bauxite and copper. She was known for paying special attention to the training of staff and spending long hours mentoring young chemists.

The mother of two daughters, she also taught physics and chemistry at the Pitar Moş School of Girls as well as at the School of Electricians and Mechanics in Bucharest. In 1993, her legacy was commemorated in Romania’s capital city by naming a street in her honor.

Happy Birthday, Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu!

[9A]

6 December 2021

Celebrating pizza






Today’s interactive Doodle celebrates one of the world’s most popular dishes—pizza! On this day in 2017, the culinary art of Neapolitan “Pizzaiuolo” was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This pizza puzzle game features a few of the most beloved pizza toppings from all over the world and challenges you to slice based on the type of pizza ordered. But keep a close eye on the requested toppings and number of slices—the more accurate the order, the more stars you earn!

Although flatbread with toppings has been consumed for centuries in ancient civilizations from Egypt to Rome, the southwestern Italian city of Naples is widely credited as the birthplace of the pizza known today [dough layered with tomatoes and cheese] in the late 1700s. It's here that the story of pizza begins: one that is baked together with centuries of global migration, economic development, and technological evolution.

Today, an estimated five billion pizzas [350 slices per second in the U.S. alone] are consumed internationally each year. No matter how you slice it, pizza is here to stay!

Which pizza makes your world go round?


Pizzas featured in today’s Doodle [in order of appearance]:

Margherita Pizza Cheese, Tomatoes, Basil	Pepperoni Pizza Cheese, Pepperoni
White Pizza Cheese, White Sauce, Mushrooms, Broccoli	Calabresa Pizza Cheese, Calabresa, Onion Rings, Whole Black Olives
Muzzarella Pizza Cheese, Oregano, Whole Green Olives	Hawaiian Pizza Cheese, Ham, Pineapple
Magyaros Pizza Cheese, Salami, Bacon, Onion, Chili Pepper	Teriyaki Mayonnaise Pizza Cheese, Teriyaki Chicken, Seaweed, Mayonnaise
Tom Yum Pizza Cheese, Shrimp, Mushrooms, Chili Peppers, Lime Leaves	Paneer Tikka Pizza Paneer, Capsicum, Onion, Paprika
Dessert Pizza ​​Endless Possibilities

[9A]

16 Dec 2010

Jane Austen's 235th Birthday




Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

With the publication of Sense and Sensibility [1811], Pride and Prejudice [1813], Mansfield Park [1814] and Emma [1816], in her lifetime she achieved modest success and, as the books were published anonymously, little fame. She wrote two other novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818, and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and another unfinished novel, The Watsons.

Austen gained far more status after her death, and her six full-length novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her posthumous reputation occurred in 1833, when her novels were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series, illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering, and sold as a set. They gradually gained wider acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience.

Austen has inspired a large number of critical essays and literary anthologies. Her novels have inspired many films, from 1940's Pride and Prejudice to more recent productions like Sense and Sensibility [1995] and Love & Friendship [2016].

[9A]

16 December 2015

Remedios Varo’s 107th Birthday





One of the most accomplished surrealist painters of the 20th century, Remedios Varo is best known for striking oil paintings that blended together elements of science, magic and mysticism.

Varo was born in Spain and moved around a bit before ultimately settling in Mexico, where she created her finest works, including “La Llamada” [The Call], which is replicated in today’s celebratory Google Doodle. Varo lived during a time when male painters viewed their female counterparts as inferior, but she didn’t hesitate to make women the powerful centerpieces of her paintings. Today’s Google Doodle honors Varo on what would have been her 107th birthday, for her extraordinary imagination and complex paintings that allow her rare talent to live on.

[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]

16 December 2003

100th Anniversary of Flight





The Wright Flyer [also known as the Kitty Hawk, Flyer I or the 1903 Flyer] made the first sustained flight by a manned heavier-than-air powered and controlled aircraft—an airplane—on 17 December 1903. Invented and flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright, it marked the beginning of the pioneer era of aviation.


The Wright brothers flew the Wright Flyer four times that day on land now part of the town of Kill Devil Hills, about 4 miles [6 kilometers] south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The aircraft was preserved and is now exhibited in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

[9A]

16 December 2018

Kazakhstan Independence Day 2018





Today’s Doodle depicts the Kazakhstan flag, which was officially adopted in 1992 when the Eurasian country became a sovereign state. Images of sun rays, a steppe eagle, and ornamental patterns of the nation are of golden color against a field of sky-blue, representing honesty, fidelity, and integrity.

Situated between Russia and Europe, Kazakhstan is one of the world’s most diverse nations with more than 130 different ethnic groups and 17 religious confessions. Today Kazakhstan celebrates the anniversary of achieving independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. The entire Kazakh population has the day off from work and school, with festive concerts and cultural events taking place in cities like Almaty and Astana, and family gatherings and feasts all across this country.

Happy Independence Day, Kazakhstan!

[9A]

16 December 2016

25th Anniversary of Independence Day of Republic of Kazakhstan




Today's Doodle celebrates the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence with a depiction of the famous Golden Warrior Monument of the larger Monument of Independence. The statue, situated in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan at the time of independence, stands 91 feet tall. The Golden Warrior was modeled after an ancient noble warrior of Kazakhstan who lived around the 4th century BCE and was discovered in 1969 during an archeological expedition. The warrior is portrayed as it was found: with armor, tools, and jewelry. The Golden Warrior stands atop a snow leopard, a creature ta

Kazakhstan declared its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Independence Day is marked with celebrations including fireworks, traditional Kazakh food and clothing, and gatherings of family and friends.

[9A]

16 December 2014

Tadas Ivanauskas' 132nd Birthday




Tadas Ivanauskas was a prominent Lithuanian zoologist and biologist, and one of the founders of Vytautas Magnus University.

[9A]

12 Jan 2015

11th Anniversary of Kimani Maruge's First Day of School



It’s never too late to learn something new. On this day 11 years ago, Kenyan Kimani Maruge enrolled in primary school at the ripe age of 84, becoming the world’s oldest person to start elementary school. But Maruge’s love for education didn’t end there. In 2005, he boarded a plane–for the very first time–to address the U.N. on the importance of free primary school. 

[9A]

21 Jan 2013

Emma Gad's 161th Birthday





Emma Gad, born Emma Halkier, was a Danish writer and socialite who wrote plays and books that were often satirical. Although she was a prolific writer, many of her works fell into obscurity after her death. One work that remained popular was Takt og Tone, a book of etiquette she wrote in old age.

She received a gold Medal of Merit in 1905. Today her plays are preserved in Denmark's Royal Library.

[9A]

18 June 2019

Celebrating Falafel




Today’s Doodle celebrates falafel, the best thing that ever happened to chickpeas—with the possible exception of hummus, of course.

Although the exact origins of this spicy street food have been lost to the mists of time, falafel has been enjoyed for centuries in many different cultures. India produces the vast majority of the world’s chickpea crop, which currently is in high season. In Egypt, fava beans are ground to make these delicious, crispy balls of fried plant protein, known in Egypt as “ta'amiya.” Israel has a song to celebrate its love affair with the tried-and-true treat, entitled And We Have Falafel.

Over time, more eclectic toppings has been introduced all over the world, ranging from German sauerkraut, to Iraqi fried eggplant, to Indian mango sauce, to Yemeni hot sauce. Even newer variations such as the red falafel—made with jalapeños roasted peppers, tomatoes, and spicy yogurt—or the orange falafel—made with sweet potatoes, cabbage, honey, and ginger tahini—preserve the basic formula of ground legumes, seasoned and fried in oil. The world’s largest falafel, weighing 74.8 kilograms [164.8 pounds] and reaching 152 centimeters [59.8 inches] in height, was fried for 25 minutes at the Landmark Hotel in Amman, Jordan.

Happy chickpea season!

[9A]

18 June 2014

World Cup 2014 #16




Chile v Spain. Inspired by our studio tunes and THIS guy. Everybody needs this guy in their lives.

[9A]

30 May 2013

Potato Day 2013




The potato was the first domesticated vegetable in the region of modern-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia between 8000 and 5000 BC. Cultivation of potatoes in South America may go back 10,000 years, but tubers do not preserve well in the archaeological record, making identification difficult. The earliest archaeologically verified potato tuber remains have been found at the coastal site of Ancón [central Peru], dating to 2500 BC. Aside from actual remains, the potato is also found in the Peruvian archaeological record as a design influence of ceramic pottery, often in the shape of vessels. The potato has since spread around the world and has become a staple crop in many countries.

[9A]

27 August 2019

Gladys Elphick’s 115th Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates Australian Aboriginal community leader Gladys Elphick, known as “Aunty Glad,” who dedicated herself towards social justice in Australia.

Born on this day in 1904 a proud Kaurna and Ngadjuri woman, she became the founding president of the Council of Aboriginal Women of South Australia, bringing about important social reforms. Despite leaving school at age 12, she was a tireless advocate for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women alike, inspiring many to stand up for their rights.

After the death of her first husband, Aunty Glad moved to Adelaide in 1939, supporting her two children. During the 1940s, she joined the Aborigines Advancement League of South Australia, the country’s first group for Aboriginal women. In the mid-1960s, she served on the activities committee supporting important initiatives such as opening a community center for adult education, medical, and legal services. Her efforts led to the establishment of many other institutions, including the College of Aboriginal Education and the Aboriginal Medical Service.

In 1971, Aunty was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire and named South Australian of the Year in 1984. Since 2003, the Gladys Elphick Award has been awarded to recognize Aboriginal women working to advance the status of Indigenous people through a wide range of mediums.

[9A]

9 March 2019

Francisca Reyes-Aquino’s 120th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the life and work of Francisca Reyes-Aquino, the Filipino folk dancer and cultural researcher who helped preserve numerous Filipino cultural traditions including the tinikling— one of the country’s most well-known traditional dances. Countless other regional dance forms might have been lost forever if not for the efforts of Reyes-Aquino, who is often referred to as the “Mother of Philippine Dancing.”

Born on this day in 1899, Reyes-Aquino became interested in preserving the unique folk culture that thrived throughout the 7000+ islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. Earning a degree in Education from the University of the Philippines, she began traveling to rural communities with a small team of researchers to study the Filipino people’s unique songs, games, and dances. Recording and transcribing everything in detail, Reyes-Aquino shared her findings at recitals of the university’s folk dance troupe, helping to popularize and preserve dozens of dance forms through classes held by the university’s department of physical education.

Today’s animated Doodle depicts various Philippine traditional dances Reyes-Aquino helped document and preserve including the cariñosa, singkil, pandanggo sa ilaw, and the national favorite: tinikling. Named after a small, native bird that had long been the nemesis of local rice farmers, the dance is inspired by the bird’s hopping movements. Tinikling performers hop and skip skillfully between bamboo poles, creating a rhythmic combination of footwork and arm movements.

In 1954, Reyes-Aquino was awarded the Republic Award of Merit for her “outstanding contribution toward the advancement of Filipino culture.” She was also named a National Artist of Dance in 1973.

Happy 120th birthday, Francisca!

[9A]

16 March 2021

Sidonie Werner's 161st birthday





Happy 161st birthday to German-Jewish educator, feminist, and activist Sidonie Werner. Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist Lihie Jacob, honors her life and legacy as a champion for women's rights and youth social programs.

Sidonie Werner was born in Poznań, Poland, on this day in 1860. After completing a women’s teacher seminar and attending lessons at a Jewish elementary school, she entered the Hamburg school system, where she remained a teacher until she retired.

In 1893, Werner’s public work as a gender rights activist began in earnest when she co-founded the Israelite-Humanitarian Women’s Association [IHWA]. She also co-founded the Jewish Women’s Association in 1904, an organization she later led as chairwoman. In 1908, she became the leader of the IHWA, where she successfully instituted programs for women and children, such as providing professional training for women to make a living outside of domestic work.


Throughout the early 1910s, Werner strengthened her efforts by serving leadership roles in a number of other organizations including the City Federation of Hamburg Women's Association, the Central Welfare Office of German Jews, and the Hamburg Jewish School Association, where she served as the only woman on the board. In 1929, Werner assembled the World Conference of Jewish Women in Hamburg, which united 200 representatives from 14 countries and increased international solidarity among Jewish women.

Happy birthday, Sidonie Werner!

[9A]

16 March 2016

Caroline Herschel’s 266th Birthday





Caroline Herschel was diminutive in stature--she stood only 4’3”—but her contributions to cosmological science were monumental. The late astronomer’s parents presumed she would spend her life as a housemaid, but her considerable musical talent and formidable intellect intervened. With the help of her brother Isaac, Herschel left Germany in 1772 for Bath, England, where she took work as a soprano in the Royal Court. Her brother—also a skilled musician—started a small business making telescopes in his spare time, and the two took a deep interest in astronomy and observational cosmology.

Herschel was a keen observer of the universe. She discovered hundreds of stars, eight comets [six of which still bear her name], and became the first female astronomer enlisted by the British monarchy. Today’s Doodle by Juliana Chen celebrates Herschel’s remarkable scientific achievements, which include the publication of Catalogue of Stars and a Gold Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society. Today would have been her 266th birthday.

[9A]

9 March 2014

Taras Shevchenko's 200th Birthday [born 1814]





Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko, also known as Kobzar Taras, or simply Kobzar [kobzars are bards in Ukrainian culture], was a Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure, as well as folklorist and ethnographer. His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature and, to a large extent, the modern Ukrainian language, though the language of his poems was different from the modern Ukrainian language. Shevchenko is also known for many masterpieces as a painter and an illustrator.

[9A]

9 March 2016

Clara Rockmore’s 105th Birthday






Clara Rockmore made music from thin air. Trained from a young age as a violinist, Rockmore ultimately gave up the violin due to physical strain. This led her to discover the theremin, a gesture-controlled instrument named after its inventor, Léon Theremin. Not only did Rockmore become the instrument's most well-known performer, she also influenced its development. She convinced Theremin that it should be made more responsive and offer a greater range of notes [5 octaves instead of 3]. Though electronic music was uncommon in formal music settings in the 1930s, Rockmore performed as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony.

Today's interactive Google Doodle was created by artist Robinson Wood, interaction designer Kevin Burke, and engineers Will Knowles and Kris Hom [with support from the larger Doodle engineering team]. The team translated the movement used to play the theremin—one hand controlling pitch and the other volume—to an interactive module, where a point of light controls volume and pitch. Sound designer Manuel Clément helped with the button sound effects.

Engineer Will Knowles explained that the first attempt at recreating the theremin sound was fairly straightforward: just a "single oscillator producing a wave at a given frequency." But Knowles and his team wanted to create a sound quality that resembled Rockmore's own playing. "To accomplish this," he said, "we worked with the Chrome WebAudio team and theremin expert Mark Goldstein to create smooth sliding between frequencies and scaling vibrato to simulate her masterful play style." They also used filters to get across a "a softer, more aged feel."

Robinson Wood and Kevin Burke also reflected Rockmore's world in the visual design of the Doodle, with Art Deco-styled imagery and other period details. "We wanted to give the theremin's controls a feel of realism," Burke said, "so the knob textures were rendered to mimic Bakelite, the early plastic. We chose the wood texture for its similarity to the wood of Clara's RCA theremin."

Today's celebration of Clara Rockmore is a natural accompaniment to Google Creative Lab's launch of the Chrome Music Lab. In the words of designer Alex Chen, the Music Lab aims to "create simple ways for anyone, of any age, to explore how music works."

Have fun playing the theremin! Your playing commemorates Rockmore's 105th birthday.

Very special thanks to the Nadia Reisenberg & Clara Rockmore Foundation and Delos Records.

[9A]

7 Mar 2016

ICC World Twenty20 Opening Day 2016




From Dharamshala to Bangalore and Mumbai to Kolkata, all of India will today kick off one of cricket’s most anticipated events: the ICC World Twenty20.

This is the first time ever that the Twenty20 will take place in India, in legendary settings like Eden Gardens, known as "cricket's answer to the Colosseum,” the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, buried within the Himalayas; and the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, a historic pitch opened in 1883.

Today’s Doodle by artist Jennifer Hom captures the crowds that will fill these venues from the first round to the finals on April 3. Here’s to all 16 participants in this year’s event!

[9A]

7 March 2013

Volodymyr Dakhno's 81st Birthday



Volodymyr Dakhno [Kyiv, Ukraine] was a Ukrainian animator, animation film director and scriptwriter. He was a laureate of the Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine [1988], and a People's Artist of Ukraine [1996]. Dakhno was best known for the animation series Cossacks. He worked at Kievnauchfilm, which has since been renamed Ukranimafilm.

Dakhno was born on March 7, 1932, in Zaporizhzhia, USSR. After school he entered the Kyiv Medical Institute but almost immediately, he transferred to the Kyiv Civil Engineering Institute where he studied in the class of prominent Ukrainian architect Joseph Karakis.

[9A]

7 March 2011

Sendung mit der Maus 40th Anniversary





Die Sendung mit der Maus [The Show with the Mouse] is a children's series on German television that has been called "the school of the nation". The show first aired on 7 March 1971. Originally called Lach- und Sachgeschichten für Fernsehanfänger ["Laughing and Learning Stories for Television Beginners"], it was controversial because German law prohibited television for children under six years of age. The program was initially condemned by teachers and childcare professionals as bad for children's development, but is now hailed for its ability to convey information to children. The show has received over 75 awards. The first doctoral dissertation on the program was written in 1991. On 7 March 1999 the program's Internet site was launched and received 2,400 e-mails and 4 million hits on the first day.

[9A]

7 March 2016

Georges Perec’s 80th Birthday




Where others might feel stifled--even bewildered--Georges Perec felt his most free. The French author and tireless literary innovator saw constraints as a means of liberation. He viewed the craft of writing as a game, a way to upend his readers’ understanding of language and its accepted forms. Perec loved puzzles, and filled his works with anagrams, palindromes, and other verbal trickery.

He belonged to a curious coterie of French writers and mathematicians called the Oulipo, a group of literary experimentalists who proposed things like the S-7 method, a technique that involved rewriting classic poetry by replacing each word with the seventh word after it in the dictionary.

Doodler Sophie Diao’s reimagining of today’s homepage honors Perec’s most challenging, and perhaps most ridiculous experiment--writing an entire novel without using the letter “e”. La Disparition is nearly 300 pages long, and there is nary a hint of our most common vowel in the entire work. That means you won’t find a “the,” a “he,” a “nearly impossible,” or a “Happy birthday, Monsieur Perec.”

[9A]

6 March 2014

Elizabeth Browning's 208th Birthday




Elizabeth Barrett Browning [née Moulton-Barrett] was an English poet of the Victorian era, popular in Britain and the United States during her lifetime.

[9A]

5 Mar 2014

Giambattista Tiepolo's 318th Birthday [born 1696]


Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.

[9A]

5 March 2015

Momofuku Ando’s 105th Birthday




If you’ve ever needed to eat something quickly and cheaply, you may be familiar with this mantra:

"Peel off the lid.

Pour boiling water into the cup.

Let sit for three minutes.

Stir well and serve.”

With these four simple steps, Taiwanese-Japanese inventor Momofuku Ando introduced to the world instant ramen, a dish that not only revolutionized food but also serves as a testament to what hard work and perseverance can achieve. Our doodle for the inventor’s 105th birthday showcases Momofuku’s efforts to make instant noodles, but don’t let the speed of the animations fool you – it took Ando years to figure out the recipe!

“It took 48 years of my life for me to come up with the idea of instant noodles. Each and every event in the past is connected to the present by invisible threads.”

– Momofuku Ando

It was Ando’s passion and dedication that Doodler Sophie Diao wanted to get across in her artwork. Ando, a lifelong entrepreneur who started his first business at age 22, found the inspiration to his greatest success while walking through the streets of post-World War II Japan: People were waiting for hours in long lines, just for a comforting bowl of ramen. Realizing hunger was the most pressing issue facing Japan, he felt a desire to help the people of his country.







“People can only be content when there is enough food.”
– Momofuku Ando


So in 1957, the inventor took on the task of developing a fast, cheap and tasty way to make Japan’s national comfort food – ramen. Ando’s long road to success inspired Diao to use multiple animations for the doodle, since one couldn't possibly do Momofuku justice. She also included the shed where Ando spent countless days and nights experimenting.





“Inspiration leads to invention. Tenacity is the breeding ground for inspiration. There can be no invention in the absence of tenacity.”

– Momofuku Ando


After months of hard work, Ando’s perseverance paid off. He eventually discovered that by flash-frying ramen noodles in tempura oil, tiny holes were created in the noodles that allowed them to cook nearly instantly once combined with hot water. It was a success, and customers were enthusiastic about the time they were saving. It was the first step to achieving Ando’s goal of ending world hunger.

“Peace will come to the world when all its people have enough to eat.”

– Momofuku Ando


Utilizing a style reminiscent of classic Japanese Anime and inspiration from the labeling on food packaging, Diao wanted to turn Ando into a mascot for his greatest invention and display ramen’s universal appeal with a fun and lighthearted spirit.




“When you cast away all your greed and fixation in adversity, you can find unexpected strength.”

– Momofuku Ando


Ando’s labor of love has had a lasting impact on people from all around the world, but he never let success stop him from working to improve instant ramen. In 1971, he introduced the world to Cup Noodles. Not stopping there, Ando then turned his focus toward inventing instant noodles that could be eaten in space. His rationale? “People have to eat no matter where they go, even outer space.” He was in his 90s when he debuted “Space Ram.”






“It is never too late to do anything in life.”

– Momofuku Ando


We hope you’ve enjoyed this tasty homage to a great inventor and humanitarian, whose creativity and devotion to ending hunger have forever changed the way we eat. As Momofuku Ando said, “Mankind is noodlekind.”

[9A]

5 March 2019

Carnival 2019



Happy Carnival 2019!

Marking the beginning of Lent, Carnival is a week-long celebration full of lively parades, vibrant attire, and elaborate music and dance routines. Although observed all over the world, Carnival is especially popular in Brazil. In fact, Rio de Janeiro is home to the largest such celebration in the world, with up to 2 million participants!

It’s also been 69 years since Adolfo Antônio Nascimento aka “Dodô” and Osmar Álvares de Macêdo wired an old Ford four-door with cone-shaped speakers powered by a car battery and rode through the streets of Bahia, Brazil blasting frevo music. The two friends called themselves Dupla Elétrica [Portuguese for “Electric Duo”] and literally electrified the crowds during Bahia’s Carnival celebration with sounds from their electric cavaquinhos [traditional Portuguese four-stringed guitars that they modified into electric instruments].

The following year, they added another cavaquinho player, becoming Trio Elétrico, a trailblazing band whose name would become synonymous with the massive sound trucks that now rumble through the streets of Brazil [[and elsewhere) every Carnival season.

Today’s Doodle pays tribute to these musical pioneers, whose innovations set off a cultural revolution. Over the past 69 years, sound trucks have evolved dramatically in terms of design, musical style, and sheer power. In 1975 the popular Brazilian singer Moraes Moreira became the first to perform atop one of the booming vehicles. Modern sound trucks are now fitted with luxurious components, including swimming pools. But the fundamental concept remains the same: taking the music to the streets.

[9A]

5 March 2015

Gerardus Mercator’s 503rd Birthday



In 1569, cartographer Gerardus Mercator created the first map that portrayed sailing rhumbs as straight lines, a technical trait of great value to navigation. Our doodle in Belgium marks his 503rd birthday.

[9A]

5 March 2012

Heitor Vila Lobos' 125th Birthday


Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music". Villa-Lobos has become the best-known South American composer of all time. A prolific composer, he wrote numerous orchestral, chamber, instrumental and vocal works, totaling over 2000 works by his death in 1959. His music was influenced by both Brazilian folk music and by stylistic elements from the European classical tradition, as exemplified by his Bachianas Brasileiras [Brazilian Bachian-pieces] and his Chôros. His Etudes for classical guitar [1929] were dedicated to Andrés Segovia, while his 5 Preludes [1940] were dedicated to his spouse Arminda Neves d'Almeida, a.k.a. "Mindinha". Both are important works in the classical guitar repertory.

[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. Quevedo was a pioneer in the development of the radio control and automated calculation machines, the inventor of a chess automaton, and a innovative designer of the three-lobed non-rigid Astra-Torres airship and the Whirlpool Aero Car located in Niagara Falls. With his Telekine, Torres-Quevedo created wireless remote-control operation principles. He was also a famous speaker of Esperanto.

[9A]

5 March 2003

Michelangelo's 528th Birthday





Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known simply as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work had a major influence on the development of Western art, particularly in relation to the Renaissance notions of humanism and naturalism. He is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his rival and elder contemporary, Leonardo da Vinci. Given the sheer volume of surviving correspondence, sketches, and reminiscences, Michelangelo is one of the best-documented artists of the 16th century and several scholars have described Michelangelo as the most accomplished artist of his era.

He sculpted two of his best-known works, the Pietà and David, before the age of thirty. Despite holding a low opinion of painting, he also created two of the most influential frescoes in the history of Western art: the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and The Last Judgment on its altar wall. His design of the Laurentian Library pioneered Mannerist architecture. At the age of 74, he succeeded Antonio da Sangallo the Younger as the architect of St. Peter's Basilica. He transformed the plan so that the western end was finished to his design, as was the dome, with some modification, after his death.