Google doodles

[9A]

11 January 2017

100th Anniversary of the Russian Nature Reserves





A century ago, Russia established its first Zapovednik [nature reserve], Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, located in Buryatia, on the northeast shores of Lake Baikal. On January 11, the country marks the 100th anniversary of its pioneering system of protecting natural areas with Nature Reserves and National Parks Day.

Today, the country’s stewardship of its wild landscapes continues to gain ground, with over 13,000 specially protected natural areas occupying millions of acres—about 11.4 percent of Russia’s vast territory. Ranging from tiny to titanic, they include 103 reserves, 49 national parks, and 68 national nature sanctuaries, with initiatives underway to expand old areas and develop new protected territories. Expansion is in sync with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree to make 2017 the Year of Ecology in the Russian Federation.

Our Doodle is rendered in a woodblock style reminiscent of Russian postage stamps issued for Barguzin’s half-centennial, and inspired by six specially protected natural areas: Barguzin Nature Reserve, Ergaki National Park [aka Yergaki], Russian Arctic National Park, Lake Baikal [frozen], Kronotsky Nature Reserve, and Dalnevostochny Morskoy Nature Reserve [Far East Marine Nature Reserve].

[9A]

13 January 2023

Enedina Alves Marques' 110th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 110th birthday of Brazilian engineer Enedina Alves Marques, the first Black woman in Brazil to receive an engineering degree and the first woman in the state of Paraná to become an engineer.

On this day in 1913, Marques was born in Curitiba, Brazil. She worked as a domestic laborer and nanny to put herself through secondary school and became a teacher after graduating. But she had her sights set higher on attending University. She took the qualification exams and enrolled in civil engineering classes at the Federal University of Paraná in 1940. As this was only fifty years after abolishing slavery and nine years since women gained the right to vote, Marquez was antagonized and ignored by some of her teachers and peers. Despite facing discrimination while getting a degree in a White, male-dominated field, Marques persisted and was the only woman alongside 32 male students to graduate in 1945.

She began her career at the State Department of Transportation and Public Works as an engineering assistant and transferred to the State Department of Water and Electric Energy in Paraná. Here, she contributed to sizable projects, like the development of the Paraná Hydroelectric Plan for several rivers in the area, and the topographical survey and construction of the biggest underground hydroelectric plant, the Capivari-Cachoeira Plant.

In recognition of her contributions to Paraná and the engineering field, her name was inscribed on the Memorial à Mulher [Memorial to the Woman] along with 53 other pioneering Brazilian women. A street in a neighborhood of Curitiba was named Rua Engenheira Enedina Alves Marques after her. And in 2006, the Instituto de Mulheres Negras Enedina Alves Marques [Enedina Alves Marques Institute of Black Women] was founded in Maringá, Paraná.

Happy birthday, Enedina Alves Marques!

[9A]

13 January 2017

Flora Nwapa’s 86th Birthday



Flora Nwapa, Nigeria's first published female novelist and Africa's first internationally-acclaimed English-language female writer, held the spotlight for nearly her entire adult life. She was not only an accomplished author, but a publisher, public servant, and activist.

From Nwapa's first novel, Efuru, published in 1966, to the establishment of her publishing company, Tana Press, Nwapa demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing and highlighting the women of Nigeria. Additionally, she used her books, and the books she published, to introduce Nigeria’s rich culture to a global audience.

Nwapa served by day in the Nigerian government, becoming the first female Minister of Health and Social Welfare for Nigeria’s former East Central State in 1970. During that time, she worked to reunite children and their parents who were divided as a result of the Biafran War. Afterwards, she became Minister of Lands, Survey, and Urban Development, a position she held until 1974.

Today’s Doodle pays homage to Nwapa, known as the “mother of modern African literature,” on what would be her 86th birthday.

[9A]

13 January 2018

Zhou Youguang’s 112th Birthday


The O’s in today’s Doodle flip from Pinyin [Gǔgē[ to Chinese characters [谷歌]. Were it not for celebrated linguist Zhou Youguang, this phonetic translation would never have come to life, and the world would still be referring to ‘Beijing’ as ‘Peking,’ and to ‘Chongqing’ as ‘Chungking.’

Popularly dubbed ‘the Father of Pinyin,’ Youguang spent three years developing the system of ‘spelled sounds’ that is now the international standard for Romanized Chinese. The new system transformed China’s literacy rate, providing more natural passage into the written language, which requires mastering thousands of characters. It bridged multiple Chinese dialects with its shared designations of sound. Today, schoolchildren learn Pinyin before characters, and it is often used to input characters on smartphones and computers.

Pursuing his love of language throughout his life, Youguang authored more than 40 books and translated the Encyclopedia Britannica into Chinese. Born on this day as Zhou Yaoping, this storied linguist later adopted the pen name ‘Yougang’ because he wanted to ‘bring light’ to the world. Today, we celebrate what would’ve been Yougang’s 112th birthday with a special place in the spotlight.

Doodle by Cynthia Yuan Cheng

[9A]

13 January 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]

13 January 2018

5th African Nations Championship





Can you feel the excitement in the air? Once again, the African Nations Championship is upon us!

Today we’re celebrating the start of the 5th African Nations Championship, a football tournament drawing in teams from across Africa to compete for the coveted title. The first tournament was held in Ivory Coast in 2009, designed to showcase the football talent amongst the best African national teams. The Confederation of African Football organizes the competition every two years and only allows footballers playing for their country’s domestic team to participate. As a result, the best African talent will be on display - you won’t want to miss it!

All the action is taking place in Morocco as the first games of the 2018 tournament kick off today. Sixteen teams will descend upon various stadiums across Morocco, but only one will be crowned the champion, during the final game on February 4, played in Casablanca.

Today’s doodle features players wearing each of the flags of the countries represented. They’re practicing their skills, just like each of the African Nations have done all year.

Good luck to all the players [and fans!] across Africa!

[9A]

11 Jan 2018

Alan Paton’s 115th Birthday



“Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear.”

South African author and activist Alan Paton introduced the world to life in pre-Apartheid South Africa, fearlessly speaking out against racial segregation in person and through his books, and propagating universal franchise and non-violence.

Born in the Natal province [present day KwaZulu-Natal], the young Paton was subjected to extensive corporal punishment, which led to his lifelong opposition to any form of authoritarianism and physical punishment. Later, as administrator of the Diepkloof Reformatory for young black African offenders, he developed a controversial but compassionate system of reform that included open dormitories, work outside the prison walls, and home visitations.

After the Second World War, Paton toured correctional reform facilities across the world, during which time he started to write Cry, the Beloved Country. The book was published in 1948 — ironically the very year in which apartheid was formally institutionalized, beginning four decades of racial segregation in South Africa. His magnum opus is a moving tale of racial injustice, human suffering, and redemption, as two fathers come to terms with the loss of their sons — one an accidental murder and the other, his unfortunate victim.

Today’s Doodle depicts Paton on a train ride [on which he allegedly gained inspiration to write Cry, the Beloved Country] and celebrates the 115th birthday of a visionary who did much to fight for basic human principles of love, non-violence, and equality.

Happy Birthday, Alan Paton!

[9A]

9 January 2018

25th Anniversary of Rafflesia Arnoldii





If screens emitted scents, you’d be in for quite the stench. The pale green fumes bursting from today’s Doodle evoke the odor of Rafflesia arnoldii, an Indonesian plant that produces the largest flower in the world. This day marks the 25th anniversary of its distinction as a national rarity in its native Indonesia.

Known as bunga bangkai, or “the corpse flower” among locals, Rafflesia arnoldii gives off the aroma of rotting flesh, which baits the carrion flies that pollinate it. Its plump, red-brown petals, freckled with white spots, only emerge from Tetrastigma, the vine-like plants that host it, when it’s ready to reproduce — making it an incredibly uncommon sight. Once in the open, Rafflesia arnoldii grows to around 3 feet [1 meter] in diameter and blooms for just a few days.

But there’s more to this parasitic plant than its pungent perfume. Rafflesia arnoldii was named an Indonesian national “rare flower” in 1993’s Presidential Decree No. 4. This wondrous species is represented in the intricate patterns of traditional Indonesian batik, especially in the Bengkulu province of Sumatra, where it is often found.

Today, we celebrate Rafflesia arnoldii’s special [and smelly] place in Indonesian history!

[9A]

9 January 2014

Haim Nachman Bialik's 141st Birthday [born 1873]





Hayim Nahman Bialik was a Jewish poet who wrote primarily in Hebrew but also in Yiddish. Bialik was one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew poetry. He was part of the vanguard of Jewish thinkers who gave voice to the breath of new life in Jewish life. Being a noted essayist and story-teller, Bialik also translated major works from European languages. Although he died before Israel became a state, Bialik ultimately came to be recognized as Israel's national poet.

[9A]

9 January 2012

Luis Coloma's 161st Birthday



Luis Coloma Roldán was a Spanish writer, journalist and Jesuit. He is most known for creating the character of El Ratoncito Pérez. Coloma was a prolific writer of short stories and his complete works, which includes his novels, biographies, and other works, have since been collected in a multi-volume set. He studied at the University of Seville, where he graduated with a master's degree in law, although he never got to practice law. In 1908 Coloma became a member of the Royal Spanish Academy occupying seat "f".

[9A]

7 Jan 2012

Oskar Luts' 125th Birthday



Oskar Luts was best known for his semi-autobiographical tale, Kevade, which takes place in a schoolhouse in rural Estonia. Working closely with a Googler from the Estonia office, I received plenty of great suggestions on which scene[s] to depict out of this touching story of friendship, love, and the daily lives of kids in school. The more I got to know the story, the more I realized that the characters themselves were the most wonderful thing about it and decided to make them the focus of the doodle. From there I moved on to concepts. Here are a few sketches to show you the process:





From the start, it was pretty clear that we should show Toots holding up a red globe. His playful, mischievous nature seemed to go hand-in-hand with our philosophy as Doodlers – have fun messing with stuff! So I drew him messing with our logo, replacing one of the O's with his red globe. For those not familiar with the story, he used red because there was no blue lying around.

Here are the other main characters in an early rough draft. At this point, they looked a little generic and didn't quite reflect who they were in the story. Teele, for example [[the girl), was a little bit sneaky and clever in the book, and Arno [far left] is actually quite shy.






Here they are a few sketches later. The style is also slightly updated to feel bright and contemporary. The characters themselves are still instantly recognizable, hopefully enough to delight older fans of Kevade while being fun and accessible to the next generation of fans.






From Arno, Toots, Tonisson, Teele, and Kiir [and us here at Google], happy birthday, Oskar Luts!

posted by Mike Dutton

[9A]

14 January 2011

Festival of Kites 2011




Every year, Gujarat celebrates more than 200 festivals. The International Kite Festival [Uttarayan] is one of the biggest festivals celebrated. Months beforehand, homes in Gujarat begin to manufacture kites special box kites for the festival.

The festival of Uttarayan marks the day when winter begins to turn into summer, according to the Indian calendar. It is the sign for farmers that the sun is back and that harvest season, Makara Sankranti/Mahasankranti, is approaching. This is considered one of the most important harvest days in India as it also marks the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season. Many cities in Gujarat organize kite competitions among their citizens.

In this region of Gujarat and many other states, Uttarayan is such a huge celebration that it has become a public holiday in India lasting two days. During the festival, local food such as undhiyu [a mixed vegetable including yam and beans], chikki [sesame seed brittle] and jalebi are served to the crowds. Days before the festival, the market is filled with participants buying their supplies.

[9A]

14 January 2021

Petr Semenov-Tian-Shansky's 194th birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the multi-talented Russian geographer, author, and statistician Petr Petrovich Semenov-Tian-Shansky. A pioneering explorer of Asia’s Tien Shan mountain system, Semenov made huge strides in varied fields including geography, botany, statistics, and economics—all while amassing a comprehensive collection of Dutch and Flemish artwork and over 700,00 insects.

Petr Petrovich Semenov was born into a wealthy family on this day in 1827 near the city of Ryazan in Western Russia. He took an interest in botany and history as a child and went on to study natural sciences at St. Petersburg University. Following his graduation, he was admitted to the prestigious Russian Geographical Society, where he set out to translate work by the famous German geographer Karl Ritter. It was this project that first inspired Semenov to explore Central Asia’s Tien Shan mountain range, which was almost entirely uncharted by western scientists.

In 1856, Semenov embarked on his legendary first expedition of the Tien Shan. Over the course of two journeys, he classified enormous areas of mountainous terrain, and discovered eight new plant species. After his return, Semenov was elected vice president of the Russian Geographical Society and encouraged a new generation to follow in his footsteps as explorers. Semenov became a senator in 1882 and went on to spearhead Russia’s first population census in 1897.

In honor of his geographic accomplishments, Semenov was given the honorific title of Tian-Shansky on the 50-year anniversary of his iconic excursion.

[9A]

14 January 2007

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2007



Martin Luther King Jr. Day [officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and sometimes referred to as MLK Day] is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King's actual birthday is January 15 [which in 1929 fell on a Tuesday]. The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The earliest Monday for this holiday is January 15 and the latest is January 21.

[9A]

14 January 2017

Carrie Derick’s 155th Birthday




Until modern times, few women were recognized in the world of academia. Carrie Derick, a Canadian botanist and geneticist, upended that norm. Born 155 years ago today, Derick was a trailblazer who fought for women’s rights and helped pave the way for women in education.

In 1890, Derick graduated at the top of her class from Quebec’s McGill University where she would remain for her MA studies. She went on to attend the University of Bonn in Germany, where she completed enough research to earn a Ph.D in 1901. Unfortunately, she did not receive an official doctorate because the school did not award Ph.Ds to women at the time.


Derick persevered, continuing in her career as a botanist and geneticist and in 1912, became Canada’s first female professor at her alma mater, McGill University. She continued to teach there until her retirement in 1929, upon which she was made the first female professor emeritus in Canada.

Throughout her life, Derrick was an advocate for women’s rights and causes, serving as president of the Montréal Suffrage Association from 1913 to 1919.

Today’s Doodle honors Derick, a true pioneer and visionary.

[9A]

14 January 2010

Festival of Kites 2010

[9A]

26 October 2020

Dolores Cacuango's 139th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates the 139th birthday of Ecuadorian civil rights pioneer Dolores Cacuango, who spent decades fighting fiercely for the rights of the country’s Indigenous people. Cacuango was a dedicated advocate for accessible education and instrumental in establishing Ecuador’s first bilingual schools, which practiced in Spanish and the Indigenous language of Quichua.

Dolores Cacuango was born on this day in 1881 in the Pesillo hacienda in the northern canton of Cayambe, Ecuador. Like many Indigenous people before her, she began to work at a young age, and at 15 years old was forced to relocate to the Ecuadorian capital of Quito to become a servant. With new insight into the troubling racism and class inequality facing her people, Cacuango returned home committed to the struggle for change.

Back in Pesillo, she became a leader in the movement against the exploitative hacienda system, and through her dynamic speeches, she advocated for causes like land rights, economic justice, and education for the Indigenous community. In 1926, she helped lead the people of Cayambe in challenging the sale of their community land, setting a strong example for future movements. Some two decades later in 1944, she also contributed to the establishment of the groundbreaking Ecuadorian Federation of Indians, which united Indigenous people around economic and cultural issues. She spent the rest of her life advocating for indigenous rights for current and future generations.

Today, Cacuango’s legacy is remembered with a street named in her honor in northern Quito.

[9A]

26 October 2015

Karin Boye’s 115th Birthday





Karin Boye was a sensitive Swedish poet. An idealist at heart, she imagined the best of what humanity could offer, but was observant of the grey realities that hold us back. She lived in disastrous times, pre-World War II. But in the face of darkness, she wrote: Clouds, Hidden Lands, and Yes, of course it hurts.

Today’s animated doodle by Olivia When is adapted from one of Boye’s best known works "Yes, of course it hurts," describing the inevitable pain of change. While melancholy in tone, her optimism shines through. The branches and buds outside persist, in spite of the seasons, while Boye writes. Several earlier drafts [below] explored the metaphor of a tree changing throughout the year, but the lighting in this final version seemed to best match the mood of Boye’s words.

[9A]

17 January 2022

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2022




The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He began his career of service in Montgomery, Alabama as a pastor and community leader in the NAACP, which aimed to establish legal protections for the Black community across all aspects of social and institutional life. Members of the NAACP elected Dr. King to fight segregation by leading a historic bus boycott in 1955. As the first, large-scale, peaceful demonstration of its kind, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts marked a turning point in the American civil rights movement and inspired generations to fight for civil rights.

Through influential demonstrations, speeches, and written works, Dr. King spread his message of racial justice and economic equality. His efforts culminated with the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a landmark piece of legislation that decreed the end of legal public segregation and discrimination in the United States. In commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday, the third Monday in January was declared a federal holiday in 1983 and observed for the first time in 1986.

Dr. King’s legacy lives on in the work of his children and in the millions inspired by his impactful rhetoric to continue pushing the arc of the moral universe to an equitable society for all.

Happy MLK Day!

[9A]

17 January 2013

Cecilia May Gibbs' 136th Birthday



Cecilia May Gibbs MBE was an Australian children's author, illustrator, and cartoonist. She is best known for her gumnut babies [also known as "bush babies" or "bush fairies"), and the book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

[9A]

17 January 2011

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2011




Dr. Martin Luther King, one of the most significant figures for equal rights in America, envisioned a day where children will "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." This famous line from his address at the Lincoln Memorial was the spark that inspired this year's celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

posted by Jennifer Hom

[9A]

16 January 2017

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2017






Today we celebrate the work and life of Martin Luther King Jr.

King was born in Atlanta in 1929. He began his pastoral career in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1954, a year before Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat. Montgomery's community leaders chose King to organize the resulting bus boycott. From then on, his was the most powerful and lyrical voice in the effort to end segregation in the United States. King's message of nonviolence and love -- delivered in magnificent speeches and masterful writing -- shaped the American civil rights movement and inspired activists worldwide. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Today's Doodle, by guest artist Keith Mallett, captures one of the major themes of King's speeches and writing: unity. "All life is interrelated," he said. "We are all made to live together." King urged Americans of all races to keep "working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation, and peace."

Martin Luther King Jr. may seem like the sort of leader who comes along only once every century or so, but King himself would disagree with that notion. He taught that we are all capable of lighting the way to "the bright daybreak of freedom and justice," and that we can unite to show that "love is the most durable power in the world."

[9A]

16 January 2014

Dian Fossey's 82nd Birthday





One of the most amazing humans ever to have lived: Dian Fossey. I was incredibly honored to create a Google Doodle for her.





A very early concept sketch

Here's a fun fact though: I used to think her name was spelled Diane Fossy. It was an honest mistake, misplacing one little "e". Similarly, quite a few of our doodles start out with us knowing very little about the subject matter. And it's understandable to a degree, considering we create doodles for people, occasions, and things around the world. But I knew Dian was someone for whom I really needed to do my homework, so after correcting my spelling error and reading through her Wikipedia page, I ordered a copy of Gorillas in the Mist and dug in.





the bigger story

I thought I was in for a dry, scientific journal, full of charts, data, and the inevitable bits of Latin. There's some of all of those things in there to be sure, but it is all perfectly woven into an engaging story, with the same range of emotional ups and downs of a classic novel. I laughed. I cried. I became angry. I was filled with hope. I cried some more. I was almost immediately drawn not just to the basis of her field work, but her greater cause to save the critically endangered mountain gorilla.





I also engaged The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International for their guidance. It never hurts to get the real experts involved. Dr. Erika Archibald provided some invaluable bits of advice, and by the end of our phone call, I had a pretty firm grasp on what to illustrate. The challenge was focusing on the importance of her work while managing to weave a narrative thread throughout the piece.




breaking down the google letters


The big 'g' is based on the first time Fossey was flown over the Virunga mountains. At the time, there were only something like 200 mountain gorillas, all living in one mountain range, so this image juxtaposes the idea of a wide-open space with what is actually a very limited area for an entire species.

The double 'o's show the family structure of the gorillas, which was something Fossey really focused on: The family dynamic, how the group interacted with each other ... I really wanted to build that sense of family, so here you see juvenile gorillas, mature females, one with infant, and a silverback male."

The lowercase 'g' is based on the first time she actually saw a mountain gorilla face-to-face – she could barely see it peering through the foliage. Although the moment wasn't an encounter with Digit, the gorilla that Fossey's most famously known for being attached to – I chose to make the gorilla resemble him, a nod to one of her dearest friends.




The 'l' is the moment where a gorilla reached out and touched her hair. It may not have been the first or only moment of contact – she writes in the book about how one actually snatched her journal away at one point – but it's an iconic moment captured on film and demonstrates her effectiveness in "habituating" with mountain gorillas. That is, being accepted into their group and to be able to roam among them.

I wanted to leave the 'e' a little more spacious and open-ended, because first of all, there's already a lot going on in the illustration, but also because there's a lot of ambiguity left in the tale of the mountain gorilla. Their future at best continues to be uncertain. So you can look at it from a place of hope or worry. If 'e' were to stand for something, it could stand for 'endangered,' or it could stand for 'enduring.' It's up to us to place the right 'E' in the right place.

posted by Mike Dutton, Doodler

[9A]

16 January 2013

Zamboni





Frank Joseph Zamboni Jr. resurfacer, with his surname being registered as a trademark for these devices.

[9A]

24 February 2010

2010 Vancouver Olympic Games - Ice Hockey

[9A]

12 February 2019

Celebrating Jacques Plante






Joseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947 to 1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey. He played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1953 to 1963; during his tenure, the team won the Stanley Cup six times, including five consecutive wins. In 2017 Plante was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.

[9A]

12 February 2011

Naomi Uemura's 70th Birthday





Naomi Uemura [Uemura Naomi, February 12, 1941 – disappeared February 13, 1984] was a Japanese adventurer who was known particularly for his solo exploits. For example, he was the first person to reach the North Pole solo, the first person to raft the Amazon solo, and the first person to climb Denali solo. He disappeared a day after his 43rd birthday while attempting to climb Denali in the winter.

[9A]

12 February 2010

2010 Vancouver Olympic Games - Luge





A luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine [face up] and feet-first. A luger steers by using the calf muscles to flex the sled's runners or by exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21–25 kg [46–55 lb] for singles and 25–30 kg [55–66 lb] for doubles. Luge is also the name of an Olympic sport.

[9A]

11 Feb 2010

Napoleon Orda's Birthday



Napoleon Mateusz Tadeusz Orda was a Polish-Lithuanian musician, pianist, composer and artist, best known for numerous sketches of historical sites of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

[9A]

11 February 2022

Severino Reyes' 161st birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 161st birthday of Filipino author and playwright Severino Reyes. Widely regarded as the “Father of Filipino Drama,” Reyes is not only internationally renowned for his famous zarzuelas, Spanish-influenced works of dramatic musical theater, but also for his now classic collection of Tagalog stories.

Severino Reyes was born on this day in 1861 in the capital of Manila. Fluent in both Spanish and Tagalog, Reyes took a deep interest in language, studying Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and a handful of other dialects spoken across the archipelagic nation. His intellect drove him to pursue studies in history, literature, and the sciences. Though his academic career culminated with a degree in philosophy, his most enduring legacy was left in the arts.


In 1902, Reyes founded the Gran Compania de Zarzuela, a theater group devoted to expanding the art form across the Philippines. That same year, his trailblazing theatrical group staged his second play titled “Walang Sugat” [[No Wounds), a historical drama centered around the Philippine revolution. The popular reception of this play marked the beginning of the Philippine Golden Age of Zarzuela. Reyes mastered his dramatic expression in the decades that followed with over 50 zarzuelas.

In addition to his landmark career as a playwright, Reyes also served as the editor-in-chief of Liwayway, a popular Tagalog magazine to which he contributed stories under the pseudonym “Lola Basyang.” His stories, full of seemingly ancient wisdom, became such an integral part of Philippine society that the name Lola Basyang is still used today to describe a grandmother who loves telling stories.

Here’s to a storyteller who lifted the curtain on a new form of Filipino expression!

[9A]

6 Feb 2022

Waitangi Day 2022





In honor of Waitangi Day, a day that recognises the 1840 signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi [The Treaty of Waitangi] in Aotearoa New Zealand, today’s Doodle features the harakeke plant in celebration of the island nation’s unique native flora.

The common flax, also known as harakeke in te reo Māori, is one of New Zealand’s most ancient endemic plant species and one of its most revered. Its tall, green blades of flax leaves and vibrant flowers provide both shelter and abundant food for New Zealand’s wildlife community, which include tūī [[birds with a unique white throat) and korimako [bellbirds].

Māori regard harakeke as a crucial fiber plant for raranga, the art of flax weaving. It is used to create everything from baskets to floor mats—even raincoats can be created by combining the harakeke’s hard outer layers together with its soft inner fibers. Māori believe these different layers symbolize the family lineage—the outer layer represents the grandparents, while the inner layer represents the parents wrapped around the innermost new shoots symbolizing the children who all previous generations protect.

Ngā mihi o te wā Aotearoa [acknowledgements of the time] New Zealand.

[9A]

16 January 2023

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023


Today’s Doodle celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day or MLK Day in the United States, and was illustrated by Brooklyn-based guest artist Richard A. Chance. The national day of service honors Dr. King — the late civil rights movement leader and activist who was a lifelong advocate for social and racial equality.

Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. From a young age he was heavily influenced by his father — a pastor and community organizer — and eventually began his own career of service in Montgomery, Alabama as a community leader in the NAACP. In 1955, Dr. King helped lead the Montgomery bus boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat and violated local Jim Crow laws in Alabama. These peaceful protests — which are widely considered the first mass demonstration against segregation — lasted for 385 days and gained national attention.

He continued to spearhead some of America’s most groundbreaking social justice demonstrations. In 1963, more than 200,000 demonstrators marched towards the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to protest economic and racial inequality. This March on Washington is one of the most famous acts of the Civil Rights Movement, and it is where Dr. King delivered his exalted “I Have a Dream” speech. It remains one of the largest rallies for human rights in the U.S. and is credited for helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also participated in the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965 to advocate for equal voting rights. That same year, the Voting Rights Act was passed.

Dr. King was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In honor of his birthday, MLK Day is celebrated on the third week of January every year. It was signed into law in 1983 and has been celebrated by all 50 states since 2000.

Today and everyday, Dr. King’s dream lives on in the hearts of millions of Americans who are taking action and giving back to their communities. Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

[9A]

21 January 2019

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2019



“I have decided to stick with love,” said Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967. “Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Speaking at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s annual convention, the Nobel Prize-winning civil rights leader affirmed an idea set forth in his 1963 book, Strength to Love: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Born the son of a Baptist minister in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. fought tirelessly for the civil rights of all and to bring about a more united nation. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the March on Washington and the historic civil rights march in Selma, Dr. King repeatedly risked his freedom and his life in pursuit of his dream of racial equality. His legacy lives on through a series of victories, from the 1956 Supreme Court ruling against segregation on buses to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Legislation signed in 1983 made Dr. King’s birthday a federal holiday. Congress designated it as a national day of service with the aim of creating solutions to social problems and moving us closer to Dr. King's “Beloved Community." Today’s Doodle by guest artist, Xia Gordon, depicts Dr. King at his writing desk as he wrestles with his ideas, perhaps contemplating how he might help to form a more unified society. To this day, Dr. King’s example continues to light the way forward, with love.

[9A]

15 January 2018

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2018




“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Baptist minister, Nobel Laureate, and civil rights activist who dedicated his life working tirelessly for peace, social justice, and opportunity for all Americans - irrespective of color or creed.

On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor Dr. King. It was federally observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, and over 30 years later, the day is traditionally celebrated as a day of service, with people volunteering time and talent to help others, thus paying homage to Dr. King’s legacy.

Today’s Doodle by guest artist Cannaday Chapman was also developed in collaboration with the Black Googlers Network [BGN], one of the largest employee resource groups at Google. The image depicts a young girl perched on her father’s shoulders, enthralled by the power and eloquence of Dr. King’s words. The scene is evocative of Dr. King’s dream for children everywhere to one day live in a better world.

[9A]

18 January 2016

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2016




Today's doodle honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister, community activist, philosopher and humanitarian. His leadership of the American Civil Rights movement, Nobel Peace Prize for non-violent civil disobedience in the face of racial injustice, and eventual martyrdom for the cause, cements his place as a hero for peace and justice worldwide.

One of his most powerful tools was his ability to communicate poignant truths in beautiful and moving speeches, which guest artist Richie Pope highlighted in our doodle today. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. moved our country forward by committing to bettering the lives of American citizens, no matter their race. He told us, "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." Today we're inspired to keep working towards a better future with grace and optimism.

[9A]

19 January 2015

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2015




We take a moment to celebrate a man who settled for nothing less then peace, love and justice–and forever changed the United States. Guest artist Ekua Holmes depicts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. standing in unity on our doodle to honor MLK Day.

Below Ekua shares her personal thoughts on Dr. King and the inspiration for her artwork:

No quote of Martin Luther King, Jr. resonates more for me than:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Its power was the inspiration for my collage featured today in his honor.

I chose to illustrate his successful march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge because it captured the strength of spirit and leadership of the man. It also acknowledges those who marched and put their lives on the line with him. The linked arms and rhythm of the hands hopefully convey a message of collaboration, strength, unity and determined action. This movement of hearts and minds led to great changes in America and around the world. As we face the complex social and racial challenges of today, we should look to this legacy for encouragement, strength, strategy and inspiration.

On a personal note, Dr. King and I share something in common: geography. The place he called home while earning his divinity degree at Boston University is just 2 blocks from my art studio in Boston's South End. He preached and mentored at 12th Baptist Church in Roxbury, 8 blocks from my home. And there he also met and fell in love with his future wife, Coretta Scott, who was studying voice at New England Conservatory of Music.

I recently learned of a neighbor and friend whose family hosted King for Sunday dinner just around the corner. While it is true that I was born a year after he earned his doctorate degree here, there is a strong connection I feel as we share as we are all greatly influenced by where we live.

Thank you to the Google Doodle team for inviting me to illustrate for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I will always cherish this experience.

Ekua Holmes, Artist
Roxbury, Massachusetts

[9A]

20 January 2014
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014




Guest doodled by Christian Robinson.

[9A]

21 January 2013

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2013



"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that."

With this MLK quote in mind I set out to visually find a way to capture light. I also wanted to try a fresh approach to a portrait. I had some initial sketches in my sketchbook along with studies of a girl "thinking" whilst working in an internet cafe. Her hand gestures were going to link to MLK in a thoughtful pose, although ultimately I felt the hand wasn't needed.

I spotted another girl with uniquely angular hair. I thought this sharp angled approach would solve the tonal breakdown on MLK's face in striking clarity.

Inspiration for color came from walking the streets of San Francisco noting various types of graffiti. This also led to the strength of pose, almost like a mural.

Posted by Matthew Cruickshank, Doodler

[9A]

17 January 2011

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2011




Dr. Martin Luther King, one of the most significant figures for equal rights in America, envisioned a day where children will "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." This famous line from his address at the Lincoln Memorial was the spark that inspired this year's celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

posted by Jennifer Hom

[9A]

18 January 2010

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2010




My first year celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, I wanted to depict the steadfastness of his approach to civil rights. Marching arm-in-arm with fellow Americans, Dr. King's acts of civil disobedience made him a symbol for equality.

posted by Jennifer Hom

[9A]

19 January 2009

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2009, by Shepard Fairey/Studio Number One

[9A]

19 January 2003

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2003

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14 January 2007

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2007

[9A]

21 January 2008

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2008

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15 January 2006

Dr Martin Luther King Day 2006

[9A]

16 January 2019

Teachers' Day 2019 [Thailand]

[9A]

23 March 2019

Abidin Dino’s 106th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates artist and author Abidin Dino, known to many as a pioneer of the Turkish avant-garde movement. Born on this day in 1913, Dino created canvases blending elements of expressionism, realism, and surrealism, which now adorn the walls of museums and collectors in Spain and Turkey. Turkish publications featured his calligraphic illustrations and essays, and his unique vision was even present in cinema and across stages.

At 20, Dino co-founded D Grubu [or Group D], Turkey's first avant-garde movement, alongside five other innovators. While working in Paris, he was introduced to famed figures like Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein before returning to Istanbul in 1939. He participated in the historic “Harbor Exhibition,” a show featuring realistic portraits of dockworkers and fishermen, and was later recruited to design the Turkish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Dino's political cartoons during World War II resulted in a forced exile, during which he created some of his most resonant work. In 1952, he returned to France with his wife, Güzin.

The couple played host to fellow Turkish artists, scholars, and students for many years, connecting worlds and worldviews. Dino exhibited along with other progressive artists at the Salon de Mai in Paris every spring from 1954 to 1962.

In 1979, Dino was elected honorary chairman of the French National Union of the Visual Arts [UNAP]. His drawings of hands and flowers—which inspired today’s Doodle—were collected into a small book dedicated to his wife, titled Güzin’s Abidins, a testament to the heartfelt inspiration behind his vision.

Happy 106th Birthday, Abidin!

[9A]

20 January 2019

Manlee Kongprapad’s 136th Birthday



Dance has a rich history in Thailand, dating back more than 500 years. Over the centuries, royal courts have been important patrons of classical dance, one of the region’s most celebrated art forms, which incorporates theatrical elements to interpret epic tales of history and culture.

Today’s Doodle celebrates Thai dancer Manlee Kongprapad, born in Bangkok’s Yai District on this day in 1885, who fell in love with dance at an early age and overcame a humble upbringing to distinguish herself within royal circles as a renowned performer and later as a teacher.

Kongprapad was raised by a single mother who worked in a palace kitchen. Her mother’s job gave her the opportunity to watch royal dance performances, the young Kongprapad quickly became enchanted by the dancers’ ornate costumes and graceful movements. She was so captivated that she briefly ran away from her mother to practice the choreography. Receiving training from masters of the ancient art form, she became so proficient that she was recognized as a favorite of the court—even inventing some of her own moves that are still practiced to this day.

Kongprapad would eventually become a part of the first generation of teachers to provide formal dance training at Thailand’s first School of Drama and Musicology, which was founded in 1934 and later renamed the College of Dramatic Arts. In doing so, she helped preserve the rich cultural tradition that had changed her life, opening up similar opportunities for future generations of dancers.

Happy birthday, Manlee Kongprapad!

[9A]

20 January 2012

Federico Fellini's 92nd Birthday


Federico Fellini Cavaliere di Gran Croce was an Italian filmmaker. He is known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. His films have ranked highly in critical polls such as that of Cahiers du Cinéma and Sight & Sound, which lists his 1963 film 8+1⁄2 as the 10th-greatest film.

Fellini's best-known films include La Strada [1954], Nights of Cabiria [1957], La Dolce Vita [1960], 8½ [1963], Juliet of the Spirits [1965], the "Toby Dammit" segment of Spirits of the Dead [1968], Fellini Satyricon [1969], Roma [1972], Amarcord [1973], and Fellini's Casanova [1976].

[9A]

20 January 2010

Festival of San Sebastian



The San Sebastián International Film Festival is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián in September, in the Basque Country.

Since its creation in 1953 it has established itself as one of the 14 "A" category competitive festivals accredited by the FIAPF, of which it has one of the lowest budgets. It has hosted several important events of the history of cinema, such as the international premieres of Vertigo, by Alfred Hitchcock [who attended the Festival] and the European premiere of Star Wars. It was the first festival attended by Roman Polanski and has helped advance the professional careers of filmmakers such as Francis Ford Coppola, Bong Joon-ho and Pedro Almodóvar.