Google doodles

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23 December 2020

Celebrating the National Theatre





Today’s Doodle celebrates the Thai National Theatre, an iconic arts venue located in the country’s capital of Bangkok. The theater was inaugurated on this day in 1965 with an opening ceremony of Thai dance performed before an audience that included members of the nation’s royalty—the first of many cultural events held there in the decades since.

The National Theatre was first conceived in 1932 as a space for performing artists to share Thailand’s rich cultural heritage of music and dance with audiences. Another purpose of the theater was to provide a home for locals to exchange artistic customs with visitors from abroad to build stronger international relationships. For some three decades the theater operated out of the Fine Arts Department of the National Museum, and then in 1961 construction began on the dedicated building known today.


Since its inception, the theater has showcased various traditional Thai artforms, such as the classical dance style called khon. This one-of-a-kind performance traditionally features dancers in masks and colorful costumes and integrates varied elements like music, literature, and handicraft to portray stories from the Thai epic called the Ramakien.

The National Theatre is also home to musical events including performances by traditional big bands, and even provides a venue for educational functions like arts lectures.The venue is a lasting symbol of imagination, culture, and tradition for the people of Thailand.

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24 Dec 2020

Li Tien-lu's 110th birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates Taiwanese puppeteer, educator, and film actor Li Tien-lu, a beloved artist who helped introduce the world to the traditional hand puppetry of his homeland. Tien-lu was a charismatic symbol of Taiwanese identity who breathed new life into the artform of puppetry for over 70 years.

Li Tien-lu was born on this day in 1910 in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei and learned puppetry from his father when he was a child. He became a professional puppetry career as a young teenager, and in his early 20s he established his own troupe: I Wan Jan. Tien-lu brought together elements like Peking opera and Taiwanese Beiguan music to craft a new form of glove puppetry called Wai Jiang Pai, and the troupe achieved great success from the ‘50s to the ‘70s.

In 1973, a French scholar took an interest in Tien-lu’s craft and asked him to teach a few of the scholar’s students. Soon enough, Tien-lu had pupils from around the world who in turn helped bring global popularity to the art of Taiwanese of puppetry. He spent the rest of his life traveling the globe to promote the artform, and also acted in films like “The Puppetmaster”, a biopic about his life.

In honor of his artistic contributions, Tien-lu was honored as a “Living National Treasure'' by the Taiwanese government, and in 1995 he was knighted by the French government.

Happy birthday, Li Tien-lu, and thank you for handing the gift of Taiwanese puppetry to audiences around the world.

[9A]

30 Dec 2020

Celebrating Elizabeth Peratrovich



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Sitka, Alaska-based guest artist Michaela Goade, celebrates Alaska Native civil rights champion Elizabeth Peratrovich, who played an instrumental role in the 1945 passage of the first anti-discrimination law in the United States. On this day in 1941, after encountering an inn door sign that read “No Natives Allowed,” Peratrovich and her husband–both of Alaska’s Indigenous Tlingit tribe–helped plant the seed for the anti-discrimination law when they wrote a letter to Alaska’s governor and gained his support.

Elizabeth Peratrovich—whose Tlingit name is Kaaxgal.aat, a member of the Lukaax̱.ádi clan of the Raven moiety—was born on July 4, 1911 in Petersburg, Alaska during a time of extensive segregation in the territory. She was lovingly raised by adoptive parents, living in various small Southeast Alaska communities throughout her childhood. With a passion for teaching, Peratrovich attended college in Bellingham, Washington where she also became reacquainted with her husband, Roy Peratrovich, who was a student at the same school. The couple married and moved to Klawock, Alaska where their role in local politics and Elizabeth’s knack for leadership drove her heavy involvement with the Alaska Native Sisterhood, one of the oldest civil rights groups in the world, leading to her eventual appointment as the organization’s Grand President.

Seeking better access to lawmakers who could help effect change, the Peratrovichs moved in 1941 with their three children to the Alaskan capital of Juneau, where they were met with blatant discrimination. When attempting to buy a home in their new city, they were denied when the sellers saw they were of Alaska Native descent. Instances like these were unfortunately common for Alaska’s Indigenous peoples and further motivated Peratrovich to take action in the name of systemic change.

Elizabeth and Roy worked with others to draft Alaska’s first anti-discrimination bill, which was introduced in 1941 and failed to pass. On February 5, 1945 following years of perseverance, a second anti-discrimination bill was brought before the Alaska Senate, and Peratrovich took to the floor to deliver an impassioned call for equal treatment for Indigenous peoples. She was met with thunderous applause throughout the gallery, and her moving testimony is widely credited as a decisive factor in the passage of the historic Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945.

In 1988 the Alaska State Legislature declared February 16 as “Elizabeth Peratrovich Day,” and in 2020 the United States Mint released a $1 gold coin inscribed with Elizabeth’s likeness in honor of her historic achievements in the fight for equality.

Thank you, Elizabeth Peratrovich, for helping to build the foundation for a more equitable future.

[9A]

31 Dec 2019

New Year's Eve 2019





Today’s Doodle features Froggy the weather frog to help ring in 2020! You may have seen Froggy before, while looking up the weather in Google Search on your mobile device.

Froggy is gearing up for New Year's celebrations in any weather. He says he’s most excited about it being a Leap Year. “The 2020s are sure to be ribbitting!”

Once the clock strikes midnight, the new decade begins! Time sure is fun when you’re having flies… Ready to jump in?

Hoppy New Year’s Eve!

A few of the Weather scenes you might catch Froggy in today, by Doodler Sophie Diao:

[9A]

31 December 2015

New Year's Eve 2015

[9A]

31 December 2018

New Year's Eve 2018




A mammoth pile of balloons? Check. A ton of party hats? Check. A herd of friends and family ready to countdown? Check. Let the New Year’s Eve festivities commence! At the stroke of midnight, it’s out with the old and in with the new. We’ll sing that song “Should old acquaintance be forgot,” but there’s no need to worry about our purple friends. Elephants never forget.


Happy New Year’s Eve!

[9A]

31 December 2016

New Year's Eve 2016




Happy New Year’s Eve! All across the world tonight, we’re sharing the eager anticipation of counting down to midnight: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

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31 December 2014

New Year's Eve 2014



Farewell, 2014! We're celebrating the last day of the year with an animated recap of some of this year's top trending searches, including the 2014 World Cup, the Philae robotic lander, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and Flappy Bird, with a shout-out to the Mars Orbiter Mission. Happy new year!


Thanks to guest collaborator Cindy Suen!

[9A]

31 December 2020

New Year's Eve 2020



Happy New Year’s Eve!

It’s been a cuckoo year, but 2020’s clock is ticking. The countdown begins now, and when the clock strikes midnight a new year will spread its wings!

[9A]

31 December 2021

New Year's Eve 2021

[9A]

29 Dec 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.

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1 January 2008

Happy New Year & 25 years of TCP/IP

[9A]

31 December 2017

New Year's Eve 2017




Our feathery friends have enjoyed their delicious traditions and are now ringing in the new year with sparklers in hand. As they all admire the fireworks overhead, they think about how much fun it was to spend this time together.

New Year's Eve is the last day of the year. New Year's Eve is on December 31.
It is also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries.

New Year's Eve is celebrated by people around the world often with late-night partying and watch or light fireworks to mark the new year.

The first places which welcome the New Year are Samoa, Tonga and Kiritimati [Christmas Island], part of Kiribati.

[9A]

31 December 2022

New Year's Eve 2022





Today’s Doodle celebrates New Year’s Eve, a time to reminisce about 2022 and look forward to a fresh start in 2023. Whether you’re setting off fireworks or setting goals for next year, here’s to the great things to come in 2023!


3… 2… 1…

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31 December 2018

New Year's Eve 2018

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31 December 2016

New Year's Eve 2016



Happy New Year’s Eve! All across the world tonight, we’re sharing the eager anticipation of counting down to midnight: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

[9A]

31 December 2020

New Year's Eve 2020

Happy New Year’s Eve!

It’s been a cuckoo year, but 2020’s clock is ticking. The countdown begins now, and when the clock strikes midnight a new year will spread its wings!

[9A]

31 December 2014

New Year's Eve 2014




Farewell, 2014! We're celebrating the last day of the year with an animated recap of some of this year's top trending searches, including the 2014 World Cup, the Philae robotic lander, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and Flappy Bird, with a shout-out to the Mars Orbiter Mission. Happy new year!

Thanks to guest collaborator Cindy Suen!

[9A]

6 Jan 2015

Victor Horta’s 154th Birthday



Victor Pierre Horta was a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. His Hôtel Tassel in Brussels, built in 1892–93, is often considered the first Art Nouveau house. The curving stylized vegetal forms that Horta used influenced many others, including architect Hector Guimard, who used it in the first house he designed in Paris and in the entrances he designed for the Paris Metro. He is also considered a precursor of modern architecture for his open floor plans and his innovative use of iron, steel and glass.

Horta's later work moved away from Art Nouveau, and became more geometric and formal, with classical touches, such as columns. He made a highly original use of steel frames and skylights to bring light into the structures, open floor plans, and finely-designed decorative details. His later major works included the Maison du Peuple/Volkshuis [1895–1899]; Brussels' Centre for Fine Arts [1923–1929]; and Brussels Central Station [1913–1952].

In 1932, King Albert I conferred on Horta the title of Baron for his services to the field of architecture. Four of the buildings he designed have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[9A]

6 January 2009

La Befana 2009



In Italian folklore, the Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve [the night of January 5] in a similar way to Santa Claus or the Three Magi Kings.

A popular belief is that her name derives from the Feast of Epiphany. In popular folklore, the Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their socks with candy and presents if they are good, or a lump of coal or dark candy if they are bad. In many poorer parts of Italy and in particular rural Sicily, a stick in a stocking was placed instead of coal. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. To some the sweeping means the sweeping away of the problems of the year. The child's family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana.

She is usually portrayed as a hag riding a broomstick through the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with candy, gifts, or both.

[9A]

9 Feb 2022

150th anniversary of the State Historical Museum



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Russian-guest artist Toma Vagner, celebrates the State Historical Museum, one of the most important repositories of the nation’s centuries-long culture and history. Established in Moscow 150 years ago today with the mission of both commemorating Russian history and archiving its cultural development, the storied museum holds artifacts from antiquity to the start of the 20th century.

The museum’s 39 halls include relics such as an excavated longboat; Scythian gold artifacts; glass and ceramic masterpieces; belongings of Tsars such as Ivan IV the Terrible and Peter I; and the birch bark manuscripts of Novgorod, Russia’s first city. In total, there are an estimated 4.5 million pieces of Russian history and culture showcased in various themed exhibitions, including the largest collections of coins in Russia. A comprehensive genealogical tree of Russian rulers, accompanied by their portraits, is one of the museum’s centerpieces.

From 1986 to 1997, the giant crimson museum was restored, allowing visitors a glimpse into the building’s former grandeur of the late 1800s. Its permanent collection includes rare artifacts found nowhere else in Russia such as maps, iconography, engravings, early printed books, ancient textiles, and masterful works of art—all of which tell the nation’s story to each guest who walks its halls.

Happy 150th Anniversary, State Historical Museum!

[9A]

4 Feb 2022

Winter Games 2022 begin! [4 Feb]



The competitive critters featured in today’s Doodle have gathered from all over the world under the winter sky to keep their cool and put their opponents on ice. Who will be pouncing on victory and scurrying home an international legend?

[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]

2 Jan 2020

First Day of School 2020 [Singapore]

[9A]

10 December 2020

Celebrating Sir W. Arthur Lewis




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Manchester-based guest artist Camilla Ru, celebrates St. Lucian economist, professor, and author Sir W. Arthur Lewis, considered one of the pioneers in the field of modern development economics. A trailblazer not only in his research, he was also the first Black faculty member at the London School of Economics, first Black person to hold a chair in a British university [at Manchester University], and the first Black instructor to receive full professorship at Princeton University. On this day in 1979, Lewis was jointly awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics for his pioneering work to model the economic forces that impact developing countries.

William Arthur Lewis was born on January 23, 1915, in Castries on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, at the time a British colony. Despite facing challenges with racial discrimination, in 1932 he won a government scholarship and set out to study at the London School of Economics, where he eventually earned a doctorate in industrial economics. Lewis quickly ascended the ranks of academia and by 33 was a full professor—one of the highest distinctions of a tenured professor.

Lewis shifted his focus to world economic history and economic development and in 1954 published his foundational article “Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labour.” Among many valuable accomplishments, Lewis contributed influential work to the United Nations and shared his expertise as an adviser to governments in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. He also helped establish and served as the first president of the Caribbean Development Bank.

In honor of his lifelong achievements, the British government knighted Lewis in 1963.

[9A]

1 January 2023

New Year's Day 2023



Happy New Year! However you choose to ring in the new year, here’s to good fortune in 2023!

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1 January 2022

New Year's Day 2022

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1 January 2021

New Year's Day 2021

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1 January 2020

New Year’s Day 2020

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1 January 2019


New Year's Day 2019

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1 January 2018


New Year's Day 2018

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1 January 2008

Happy New Year & 25 years of TCP/IP

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1 January 2015

New Year's Day 2015

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1 January 2013

New Year's Day 2013

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1 January 2012

New Year's Day 2012

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9 November 2020

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott's 140th birthday





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by UK-based guest artist Jing Zhang, celebrates British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who is widely regarded as one of the country’s most significant architects of the 20th century. Renowned for designs such as the Battersea Power Station and the now-iconic red telephone box illustrated in today’s Doodle, Scott combined traditional and modern styles to craft some of London’s most familiar landmarks.

Giles Gilbert Scott was born into a lineage of significant architects on this day in 1880 in London, England. When he was young, his mother encouraged him to carry forward the family legacy, and took him and his brother on bicycle trips to view church architecture throughout the English countryside. He went on to apprentice as an architect, and at just 21 he won a contest that landed him the largest commission of his life: the Liverpool Cathedral–one of many churches he designed throughout his career.

Yet Scott’s most famous creation may be his smallest–the red telephone box he designed in 1924 and simplified in 1935. The updated version was so popular that 60,000 units were installed across the United Kingdom. Today, many of the beloved booths have been reoutfitted to serve new purposes, from defibrillator stations to miniature libraries.

For his exceptional achievements in the field of architecture, Scott was knighted in 1924, and in 1944 he was awarded one of Britain’s highest honors—the Order of Merit.

Happy birthday, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott!

[9A]

15 Nov 2020

Celebrating Jacques Brel




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Toulouse-based guest artist Antoine Maillard, celebrates Belgian singer and songwriter Jacques Brel. Widely considered one of the most famous French-language singers in Europe, Brel cultivated a global following and made music that continues to move audiences to this day. On this day in 1966, Brel graced the stage one last time to deliver an emotional farewell performance at the “Palais des Beaux-Arts” in his hometown of Brussels.

Jacques Romain Georges Brel was born on April 8, 1929 in the Belgian capital of Brussels. Part of a wealthy family, he expressed interest in writing stories and poems during his teen years before eventually settling into a job with the family business. Unsatisfied with this work, Brel joined a youth charity organization where he began to sing in small venues and recorded his first single before moving to Paris, where he soon rose to stardom.

Brel’s second album, “Quand on n’a que l'amour” [“If We Only Have Love,” 1957], was a hit and its title track won the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros award. He continued to release a string of hit singles, confirming his celebrity status throughout Europe, and embarked on exhaustive tours until his voluntary retirement from concert performances in 1967. While in New York on his final tour, Brel was inspired to act and thus, he found a new creative outlet. One of his most notable films, “Le Far West,” [“Far West,” 1973] was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s most prestigious award: the Palme d’Or. Not only was Brel the star of the film, he was also the co-writer and director.

A man of many interests, Brel learned to sail and crossed both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by 1975. He eventually settled in the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific. In 2017, Belgium honored Brel with a commemorative statue.

[9A]

14 November 2012

Amadeu de Souza-Cardoso's 125th Birthday




Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso was a Portuguese painter.

Belonging to the first generation of Portuguese modernist painters, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso stands out among all of them for the exceptional quality of his work and for the dialogue he established with the historical avant-gardes of the early 20th century.

[9A]

14 November 2016

Sir Frederick Banting’s 125th Birthday




For more than 3,000 years, diabetes was considered a mystery in the medical field. While the symptoms were well recognized, there was no clear path to treatment outside of changing diet which produced inconsistent results.

Frederick Banting, a scientist at the University of Toronto changed all that in the early 1920's when he and partner Charles Best discovered how to isolate and extract insulin —a naturally produced hormone, for use on humans to treat diabetes.

In 1923, Banting was awarded a share of the Nobel Prize in medicine for his work in insulin treatment, which had quickly become the standard. This was thanks in part to him releasing the rights for pharmaceutical companies to manufacture insulin royalty-free. In fact, Banting was offered $1 million and royalties for his formula—but turned it down and chose to never profit from his research.

In observance of what would be his 125th birthday, we celebrate Frederick Banting and his contribution to saving countless lives across the world.

[9A]

25 Nov 2010

Nikolay Pirogov's 200th Birthday




Nikolay Ivanovich Pirogov was a Russian scientist, medical doctor, pedagogue, public figure, and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences [1847], one of the most widely recognized Russian physicians. Considered to be the founder of field surgery, he was the first surgeon to use anaesthesia in a field operation [1847] and one of the first surgeons in Europe to use ether as an anaesthetic. He is credited with invention of various kinds of surgical operations and developing his own technique of using plaster casts to treat fractured bones.

[9A]

25 November 2019

Madeleine Brès’ 177th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates French doctor Madeleine Brès on her 177th birthday. As the first French woman to graduate medical school and become a doctor of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris in 1875, she made groundbreaking contributions to women’s health and pediatrics.

A native of Bouillargues, just outside Nîmes, Brès found her passion for medicine at the age of eight. As a volunteer at a local hospital, she learned basic medical treatments from one of the nuns on staff.

After a number of years in Paris, Brès approached the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, Charles-Adolphe Wurtz, to advocate for her enrollment in a doctoral program. Despite not having a formal higher education, Brès’ application was accepted, and she was encouraged to attain the proper qualifications before admission. As a self-taught student, Brès passed her baccalauréat exam and enrolled at the University of Paris [known as the Sorbonne] as a medical student in 1868.

Brès successfully defended her thesis, De la Mamelle et de l'allaitement [Of Breasts and Breastfeeding], in 1875. At a time where wet nurses were employed by women of means, her work advocated for and encouraged natural breastfeeding.

Brès then started her own practice in Paris, focusing on gynecological and pediatric medicine. Her facility remained open for almost 40 years, often eliminating costs for working women and instructed new mothers on proper infant care.

In 1883, Brès directed a medical journal entitled L'Hygiène de la Femme et de l'Enfant [Hygiene of the Woman and the Child], educating women on their own biology, as well as on childcare and disease containment.

Madeleine Brès was a trailblazer in French medicine and continues today to be a model for all those aspiring towards a career in medicine.

[9A]

20 September 2018

Josefa Llanes Escoda’s 120th Birthday





When Josefa Llanes Escoda was attending elementary school in Dingras, her hometown in the Philippines, she went to class despite an impending typhoon. “I'll not let the weather keep me away from school,” the determined young student told her mother. After graduating as valedictorian, she went on to join the Red Cross and win a scholarship to the United States, where she studied social work, earning a masters degree from Columbia University.

Born on this day in 1898, Escoda was the eldest of seven children and always showed a great interest in women’s issues. A strong advocate for female suffrage, she worked tirelessly to make sure voting rights were extended to all citizens. She founded the Boy's Town in Manila for underprivileged youth in 1937 and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines in 1940, changing the lives of young people in her native country for the better.

Escoda’s face appears on the 1000 peso bill and streets, buildings, and a monument have been dedicated in her honor. As a living legacy to her work, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines honor Escoda by celebrating her birthday each year with acts of service, carrying the example she set forward for generations to come.

[9A]

2 Jan 2017

Hussein Amin Bicar's 104th Birthday


Hussein Amin Bicar was a renowned Egyptian painter, musician, writer and art educator. He taught and influenced many generations of art students at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo. Bicar was known for his kindness, humanity and passion for making art accessible to all.

As a young artist, Bicar mastered many techniques, styles and mediums. As a more mature painter, he developed a style that simplified and streamlined human figures and landscapes into elegant and refined forms. He drew upon historical Egyptian art traditions and combined them with his knowledge of contemporary and modern art approaches. The subjects of his paintings were often pulled from Egypt’s rural and agricultural cultures.

In addition to painting, Bicar also pursued work as a writer and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated for many newspapers, magazines and his own children’s books. In 1952 he was a founding illustrator for "Sinbad," the first Arabic children's magazine. His work influenced many subsequent children’s magazines in the Arabic-speaking world.

Bicar was also passionate about music. He was a talented Bouzouki and Oud player, and played traditional and classic music in several bands. Today's Google Doodle pays homage to Bicar and his final painting: a portrait of himself, playing the Bouzouki surrounded by blank papers, canvas and his beloved cat.

[9A]

2 January 2009

Elfstedentocht 2009





The Elfstedentocht is a long-distance tour skating event on natural ice, almost 200 kilometres [120 mi] long, which is held both as a speed skating competition [with 300 contestants] and a leisure tour [with 16,000 skaters]. The Elfstedentocht is the biggest ice-skating tour in the world.

The tour is held in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands, leading past all eleven historical cities of the province. The tour is held at most once a year, only when the natural ice along the entire course is at least 15 centimetres [6 in] thick; sometimes on consecutive years, other times with gaps that may exceed 20 years. When the ice is suitable, the tour is announced and starts within 48 hours.

The Elfstedentocht has been declared to be in danger of "extinction" due to climate change. In the past 50 years, the Elfstedentocht has taken place only three times, most recently in 1997.

[9A]

2 January 2011

Večerníček's 46th Anniversary






Večerníček [meaning "little bedtime story" Czech and Slovak] is a television program for children in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It has been broadcast regularly for over 50 years. Before the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, two versions – one in Czech and one in Slovak – were aired in the respective parts of Czechoslovakia. Similar shows in other European countries include Sandmännchen in Germany, Esti mese in Hungary and Wieczorynka in Poland.

Currently, Večerníček is aired in the Czech Republic at 18:45 every day, when children are expected to go to sleep. The show [opening theme, tale, closing theme] lasts maximally ten minutes. Every tale takes 5–8 minutes. A full Večerníček series typically contains 10 – 20 episodes.

In the Czech Republic, the program's opening and final themes feature a little boy called Večerníček as he throws paper while walking up stairs and falls. After that, he rides a rocking horse, which turns into a car, and then finally into a unicycle and then the last paper with the Czech Television logo going straight to the screen with “Vecernicek” appearing. At the beginning of the program, the boy says "Good Evening" [Dobrý večer in Czech] to the children watching; at the end, he says "Good Night" [Dobrou noc]. This is the longest-running opening and closing theme ever broadcast in the country. The graphics were designed by Radek Pilař [the animation provided by Bratri v Triku, an animation company of Kratky Film Prague] and the music was provided by Ladislav Simon.

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6 Jan 2011

Khalil Gibran's Birthday




Gibran Khalil Gibran, or Jibrān Khalīl Jibrān, pronounced, usually referred to in English as Kahlil Gibran was a Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist, also considered a philosopher although he himself rejected the title. He is best known as the author of The Prophet, which was first published in the United States in 1923 and has since become one of the best-selling books of all time, having been translated into more than 100 languages.

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9 November 2020

Marie Dressler's 152nd birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the 152nd birthday of Oscar-winning Canadian-American stage and screen actress, comedian, and singer Marie Dressler, who is widely considered one of the most significant actors of early-1930s film. With her signature style of raucous slapstick humor, Dressler challenged stereotypes to become one of Hollywood’s most unconventional stars.

Marie Dressler was born Leila Marie Koerber on this day in 1868 in Cobourg, a Canadian town on the shore of Lake Ontario. She began acting with stock companies by the age of 14. Over the following years, Dressler showcased her comedic chops in vaudeville, burlesque, and revue performances and ascended from local theater all the way to Broadway musicals.

By 1896, Dressler was a certified theater phenomenon. She reached the apex of her stage career in the 1910 Broadway hit “Tillie’s Nightmare,” which was adapted for the big screen four years later. The result was the first-ever feature-length comedy film “Tillie’s Punctured Romance”—a massive box office hit in which Dressler co-starred alongside a young Charlie Chaplin.

Dressler’s rich stage voice proved a perfect fit for the “talkie” films that came along in the late ‘20s. She delivered a show-stealing performance in the 1930 drama “Anna Christie,” and the following year, her talent was recognized at the highest level when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1930 film “Min and Bill.”

Happy birthday to a legendary star whose talent and humor knew no bounds.

[9A]

10 Nov 2020

Celebrating Umeko Tsuda



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Japan-based guest artist Kano Nakajima, celebrates the pioneering Japanese educator and reformer Umeko Tsuda. Tsuda broke new ground as one of the first girls sent by the Japanese government to study abroad and went on to found what is today one of Japan’s oldest colleges for women. On this day in 1915, the Japanese government awarded Tsuda the prestigious Order of the Precious Crown for her achievements in women’s education.

Ume Tsuda was born in 1864 in what is now the Japanese capital of Tokyo, and at just seven years old was sent along with four other girls to the U.S. to study American culture. Over a decade later, she returned to Tokyo and became an English teacher, but she was disillusioned with the limited educational opportunities afforded to the country’s women at that time. Tsuda returned to the U.S. to attend Bryn Mawr College, where she became inspired to commit her life to the improvement of women’s higher education in her home country.

To that end, Tsuda created a scholarship for Japanese women to study in the United States, with the goal of helping to foster a new generation of educational leaders. With renewed vision, Tsuda again returned home and in 1900 opened her own school called Joshi Eigaku Juku [The Women’s Institute for English Studies].

[9A]

10 November 2012

Hachiko's 89th Birthday




Hachikō [ハチ公, 10 November 1923 – 8 March 1935[ was a Japanese Akita dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following Ueno's death.

Hachikō was born on November 10, 1923, at a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture. In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor at the Tokyo Imperial University, brought him to live in Shibuya, Tokyo, as his pet. Hachikō would meet Ueno at Shibuya Station every day after his commute home. This continued until May 21, 1925, when Ueno died of a cerebral hemorrhage while at work. From then until his death on March 8, 1935, Hachikō would return to Shibuya Station every day to await Ueno's return.

In April 1934, a bronze statue based in his likeness sculpted by Teru Ando was erected at Shibuya Station. The statue was recycled for the war effort during World War II. In 1948, Takeshi Ando [[son of the original artist) made a second statue.[15] The new statue, which was erected in August 1948, still stands and is a popular meeting spot. The station entrance near this statue is named "Hachikō-guchi", meaning "The Hachikō Entrance/Exit", and is one of Shibuya Station's five exits.

A similar statue stands in Hachikō's hometown, in front of Ōdate Station, it was built in 1932. In 2004, a new statue of Hachikō was erected in front of the Akita Dog Museum in Ōdate.

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11 November 2014

Kemal Sunal's 70th Birthday




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