Google doodles

[9A]

21 November 2022

Virgínia Leone Bicudo's 112th birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates Brazilian psychoanalyst Virgínia Leone Bicudo’s 112th birthday and was illustrated by Brazil-based guest artist Bárbara Quintino. As a psychoanalyst who pioneered race studies in Brazil, she made sure Black perspectives were heard in academia.

Bicudo was born on this day in 1910 in São Paulo. Her mother was an Italian immigrant and housemaid, and her father, a Black man, dreamed of becoming a doctor. After Medical schools denied his application on the basis of his skin color, her father decided to invest in his children’s education.

Bicudo inherited her parent’s ambitions and prioritized studying at a young age. In 1930, she graduated from Escola Caetano de Campos. She completed a course in public health education before taking a job as a psychiatric attendant. Bicudo quickly earned a promotion and worked as a supervisor in the Infant Oriented Clinic in São Paulo.

In 1936, Bicudo enrolled in the Free School of Sociology and Politics, Brazil’s first higher education institution that taught social sciences. She was the only woman in the program. During her time at this school, she learned about Sigmund Freud.

She graduated two years later with a bachelor’s degree. Bicudo believed she could use psychoanalysis to better understand racial tensions in Brazil, which had significantly impacted both her and her father’s lives.

Bicudo also pursued graduate studies at the same school. Her dissertation was the first postgraduate work in Brazil that focused on race relations. This earned her an invitation to participate in a UNESCO research project analyzing race in different countries. Her research concluded Brazil was not a racial democracy, which contradicted her advisor’s beliefs, and caused her work to go unpublished.

After returning to Brazil, Bicudo was treated like an imposter in academic circles because she did not have a medical degree. In 1959, she moved to London and studied with some of the most prominent psychoanalysts of the time. She transmitted lectures to Brazil through the BBC to publicize her work.

After returning to Brazil in 1959, Bicudo founded the Institute of Psychoanalysis of the Brasília Society of Psychoanalysis. She also hosted “Our Mental World,” one of Brazil’s most popular radio programs, while writing a column in the newspaper under the same title. Bicudo’s efforts and resilience laid the groundwork for generations of women psychoanalysts to come. You can find her thesis online if you’d like to learn more!

Happy birthday, Virgínia Leone Bicudo!

[9A]

6 June 2022

Fasia Jansen's 93rd birthday






Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Hamburg-based guest artist Ayşe Klinge, celebrates the 93rd birthday of Fasia Jansen—an influential Afro-German singer, songwriter and political activist who helped advance the post-war peace movement in West Germany.


Jansen was born on this day in Hamburg in 1929, at a time when racism, inflation and economic depression plagued the country. Aspiring to become a dance star, Jansen joined a dance academy at age 11. But her dreams were thwarted two years later when the academy expelled her out of fear that the Nazis would punish the school for accepting Black students.

Soon after, she was forced to cook for the Neuengamme concentration camp. Under the Nazis’ Dienstverpflichtung decree, which required people to perform a year of unpaid labor, most young girls could work easier jobs in domestic households. But as a Black girl, her only option was to toil in a concentration camp.

It was in the Neuengamme concentration camp that Jansen began singing with political prisoners who worked tirelessly beside her. Singing together helped them survive this traumatic period. After the horrors of World War II, Jansen dedicated her life to creating powerful music to protest injustices everywhere — from the Vietnam War to labor violations in the Ruhr Valley. Jansen also became a strong advocate for the Women’s Rights Movements in Germany and beyond.

She became famous in the 1960s, after performing Unser Marsch ist eine gute Sache [Our March is a Good Thing] alongside the renowned singer Dieter Süverkrüp during the Easter March in resistance to the nuclear arms race. Her song Verbrannte Erde in Deutschland [“Burnt Earth in Germany”], became an important anthem for the anti-nuclear movement in Europe.

In 1991, the government awarded her the medal Verdienstkreuz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, recognizing her work to rebuild a more equitable Germany. Today, there is a street, a municipal school and an African education center named in her honor.

Happy 93rd birthday, Fasia Jansen! No one could stop you from spreading hope. Your story and legacy give people a reason to sing.

[9A]

4 March 2022

Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 begins!






Today’s Doodle celebrates the Women’s Cricket World Cup, which officially begins today at Bay Oval Stadium in New Zealand.

The world’s first international cricket match took place in 1844 between Canada and the United States. The first women’s World Cup tournament was held in 1973, also won by this year’s defending champions, England. This year, eight teams from around the world will compete for tournament victory.

No matter how heated the competition may get, cricket is highly respected for maintaining high standards of fair play and good sportsmanship. Hence the phrase “It’s just not cricket,” which describes anything considered unfair.

Best of luck to all the competing teams!

[9A]

25 June 2015

Mozambique Independence Day 2015




Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Africa to the southwest. The sovereign state is separated from the Comoros, Mayotte and Madagascar by the Mozambique Channel to the east. The capital and largest city is Maputo.

[9A]

22 July 2011

Alexander Calder's 113th Birthday





Our homepage doodle today celebrates the birthday of Alexander Calder, an American artist best known for inventing the mobile.

Last year I wandered into a white room at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago full of Alexander Calder’s delicate “objects,” all beautifully balanced and proportioned, moving gently in the air currents like a whimsical metal forest. Calder took ordinary materials at hand—wire, scraps of sheet metal—and made them into brilliant forms, letting space and motion do the rest. As an engineer, I work with abstractions, too, so this really struck me.

But you kind of want to play with the things. They do not let you do that at museums.

So I coded up a very basic demo of a mobile and showed it to a friend, who showed it to one of our doodlers—and then this amazing thing happened: talented artists and engineers who liked the idea just started to help! What we ended up with is way cooler than anything I could have built on my own. I’m proud to work for a company where an idea like this can actually happen.

This is Google’s first doodle made entirely using HTML5 canvas, so you need to use a modern browser to interact with it. It runs a physics simulation on the mobile’s geometry, and then does realtime 3D rendering with vector graphics. Only recently have browsers advanced to the point where this is possible.

I like to think Calder would have appreciated today’s doodle, since we’re setting up shapes and abstractions and letting them act on their own. Hint: try it out on a laptop with an accelerometer!

Posted by Jered Wierzbicki, Software Engineer

[9A]

27 Jun 2023

Djibouti Independence Day 2023





Today’s annual Doodle celebrates Djibouti Independence Day 2023! On this day in 1977, Djibouti declared its independence after 89 years of French rule.

An independence referendum, the third held to decide the country’s future, was on May 8 in the same year. An overwhelming 98.8% of the population voted in favor of independence. Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who helped lead the campaign, eventually became the nation's first president.

On Independence Day, citizens attend a major parade in Djibouti City where political officials give celebratory speeches in front of the presidential palace. Firework shows, fairs, and music concerts are held elsewhere in the country. The Djibouti national flag, like the one waving in today’s artwork, flies high in the sky at each of these events. Traditional delicacies like skudahkhrais [lamb stew], marake kaloune [fish stew], and garoobey [porridge made from soaked oats and spices] are also enjoyed.

Happy Independence Day, Djibouti!

[9A]

27 June 2009

Seven Sleepers Day 2009



Seven Sleepers' Day on June 27 is a feast day commemorating the legend of the Seven Sleepers as well as one of the best-known bits of traditional weather lore [expressed as a proverb] remaining in German-speaking Europe. The atmospheric conditions on that day are supposed to determine or predict the average summer weather of the next seven weeks.

[9A]

27 June 2016

19th Anniversary of the first Sepaktakraw Women's Competition


ให้ไปช่องระบายอากาศ! Today marks the 19th anniversary of the first women's sepak takraw competition. The sport is like volleyball except instead of using arms and hands, you use feet, knees, hips, chest and head. Athletes perform acrobatic kicks, flips, and techniques like the horse-kick serve to rocket-power the takraw over the net. A sepak or 'slam' of the takraw can hit blazing speeds of over 70 miles per hour. The Thai women's team regularly out-perform their rivals, and are poised for yet another dominant year.

The sport's modern version was introduced, developed and standardized in 1960 when officials from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar met in Kuala Lumpur to agree on a name and standard rules for it. It was previously known as Sepak Raga Jaring, and was first exhibited in Penang in 1945. It was introduced in the 1965 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur as a medal event. Sepak Takraw is considered Malaysia's national sport

[9A]

27 June 2015

Copa América 2015 - Quarterfinals #4 - Brazil v Paraguay


To play football, all you really need is a ball and two teams, which is part of why it's the world’s most popular sport. But we all know the game isn't just about what's happening on the field. There’s a 3rd key ingredient that turns a simple match into magic. If you look closely, you can find all 3 ingredients in today’s Doodle.

The Copa América tournament started with 12 teams of world-class athletes, and is now down to 8 squads battling it out in the quarterfinals. Join the fans in the 4th quarterfinal match: Brazil v Paraguay!

[9A]

27 June 2018

Efua Theodora Sutherland's 94th Birthday




Many great literary works owe their legacies to dedicated teachers who explore their meaning with their students. Prominent writer and teacher Efua Theodora Sutherland played a crucial role in both the creation and exploration of prominent plays across Ghana.

Sutherland [or Aunty Efua, as she was affectionately known], was one of Africa’s earliest female writers recognized locally and internationally for numerous theater works, including Foriwa [1962], Edufa [1967], and The Marriage of Anansewa [1975]. She is credited with bringing literary and theatrical movements in Ghana between the 1950s and 1990s through her own works and helped develop the country’s educational curriculum for children.

At a time when women played a limited role in governance, Sutherland is also remembered for her extensive work on the U.N. Convention on the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

Because of Sutherland’s dedication to children’s rights and cultural activism, thousands of students in Ghana [and beyond] have access to quality education and theater performance.

Happy 94th birthday to a pioneering dramatist, playwright, and activist.

[9A]

22 September 2021

Bunpheng Faiphiuchai’s 89th birthday




For those looking to understand the heritage of Thailand’s northeastern Isan region—the nation’s largest territory that is home to over 22 million people—no other artistic phenomenon reflects its identity more than the poetic style of folk music known as Mo Lam. Today’s Doodle celebrates the 89th birthday of the Thai singer crowned the “Queen of Mo Lam,” Bunpheng Faiphiuchai.

Born on this day in 1932 in Ubon Ratchathani Province of Isan, Thailand, Bunpheng Faiphiuchai began performing Mo Lam at a young age. Mo Lam performances were uncomplicated during this era—one male and one female vocalist brought stories from Isan literature to life by holding a musical “debate” accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of the khaen [a bamboo mouth organ depicted in the Doodle artwork].

After years of training, Faiphiuchai became known for her witty philosophical responses to her male counterparts and soon landed a job as a Mo Lam performer. By 1955, Faiphiuchai recorded more full-length albums than any other woman in the genre. She complemented her illustrious singing career with philanthropic endeavors such as promoting infectious disease prevention, environmental initiatives, and other forms of Thai performance art.

Faiphiuchai was named a Thai National Artist in 1997 for her outstanding cultural contributions and passed down this unique Mo Lam expertise to numerous students throughout her life. Today, many of her pupils are well-known performers of Mo Lam which remains a foundational aspect of Thailand’s rich cultural heritage.


Happy Birthday, Bunpheng Faiphiuchai! Thank you for fostering the next generation of Mo Lam performers!

[9A]

27 June 2016

R. D. Burman’s 77th birthday


When R.D. Burman was growing up, it was assumed he would follow in his father's footsteps and compose music for Bollywood. But no one quite predicted that his disciplined practice and extensive music training would lead him to become one of the most popular Bollywood composers of his time!

Early on, he was given the nickname Pancham, from the Bengali word for 5. In fact, at the age of 9, R.D. Burman was already composing music for hit films, since his father S.D. Burman included his son's Sar jo tera chakraaye in the film Pyaasa. As his career developed, he was known for making music out of anything from laughter to blowing over the tops of glass bottles. Bringing in influences from all over the world, from disco, to funk, to cabaret, R.D. Burman revolutionized Bollywood and brought films like Caravan to life with the iconic Piya Tu Ab To Aaja.

Today's doodle celebrates R.D. Burman's 77th birthday and honors his lifelong commitment to composing top-notch music for Bollywood.

[9A]

27 June 2021

Mina Wylie's 130th birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by guest artist Alice Lindstrom, celebrates the 130th birthday of Australian athlete Wilhelmina Wylie, the first Australian woman to win a silver medal in Olympic swimming.

On this day in 1891, Wilhelmina “Mina” Wylie was born in Sydney, Australia, as the second child of Australasian distance-diving champion Henry Wylie. Her swimming achievements began much earlier than most–Wylie joined her father and brothers in successfully swimming with her hands and feet tied at only five years old! She placed second in her first conventional swim meet before turning 10, and continued to train rigorously throughout her youth at Wylie’s Baths, a coastal tidal pool founded in Coogee by her father in 1907.

The next year, Wylie broke the world record in the 100-yard freestyle event. She set her sights on the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, which was the first to hold a women’s swimming event. But Wylie’s aims were complicated by an outdated rule of the New South Wales Ladies’ Amateur Swimming Association that prohibited women from competing with men. Public uproar ensued until restrictions loosened, allowing Wylie to dive headfirst into Olympic history as a silver-medal 100-meter freestyle champion.

By the time she hung up her competitive swimming cap in 1934, Wylie held 115 state and national titles, complemented by freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke world records. In honor of her lifetime achievements, the International Swimming Hall of Fame inducted Wylie into its ranks in 1975, and today, a sculpture in her likeness inspires swimmers at Wylie’s Baths.

Happy birthday, Mina Wylie, and thank you for inspiring future generations of swimmers to take the plunge!

[9A]

27 June 2021

Tamio 'Tommy' Kono's 91st birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Los Angeles-based guest artist Shanti Rittgers, celebrates Japanese-American coach, Olympic gold-medalist athlete, and world-champion bodybuilder Tommy Kono, who is regarded as one of the greatest weightlifters in United States history.

Tamio “Tommy” Kono was born in Sacramento, California, on this day in 1930. During the onset of World War II, Kono and his family, all of Japanese descent, were among the over 120,000 Japanese-Americans forced by the U.S. government to be detained in prison camps [[aka Japanese internment camps). It was in one of these camps that Kono was introduced to weightlifting—which he practiced relentlessly in an effort to become healthier after experiencing severe asthma throughout his childhood.

When the fog of war lifted, Kono returned home to Sacramento, where he entered his first weightlifting competitions. By 1952, he was an invaluable member of the U.S. national weightlifting team, in part due to his rare ability to move between weight classes without losing his strength. Kono won his first Olympic gold medal in the lightweight division that same year at the Helsinki Summer Games. This began a winning streak that crescendoed at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games when he won the light-heavyweight competition—his final Olympic gold medal.

After his 1964 retirement from a career gilded by 26 world records, along with dozens of championship titles in weightlifting and several in bodybuilding, Kono shared his seasoned expertise throughout the 70s as an Olympic coach. In 1993, Kono was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame, and to this day, Kono remains the only weightlifter in history to hold world records in four different weight classes.

Happy birthday, Tommy Kono, and thank you for using your strength to lift not just weights, but those around you.

[9A]

13 December 2018

The Geminid Meteor Shower 2018





Named after the ancient Greek god Apollo’s son, 3200 Phaethon is an asteroid whose orbit brings it closer to our sun than Mercury. First discovered via satellite data 35 years ago, Phaethon is responsible for bringing the spectacular Geminid meteor showers to Earth’s atmosphere each December. With each passing year since the mid-1800s, the proliferation of yellowish streaks of light in the night-time sky have grown more intense.


The so-called “rock comet” came within 6.4 million miles of earth this past December, although last year’s supermoon made it harder to appreciate the celestial light show. That won’t be a factor this year.


If the weather is clear, 2018 should be the best year ever to watch the Gemenides—so named because they seem to originate from the constellation Gemini. No need for a telescope or binoculars: fragments from Phaethon’s debris trail should become visible after 9 pm on December 13, peaking after midnight with as many as 120 meteors per hour. The cosmic dust may have resulted from a crash with another flying object, but there’s little danger of any Geminids landing on earth as it normally disintegrates in the earth’s atmosphere.

Today’s slideshow Doodle1 follows the Geminids’ path through Earth’s atmosphere as it lights up the sky. As Phaethon’s orbit leads it near the sun, the extreme heat causes it to fracture and leaves a trail of debris in its orbital path. Every December, Earth’s orbit leads us through the trail of 3200 Phaethon and its debris crashes into our atmosphere at 79,000 miles [127,000 km] per hour. Once through the Earth’s atmosphere, the Geminids’ radiant [or where it appears to originate] is the constellation Gemini—from which the meteor shower gets its name.

For optimal viewing conditions, get as far away from city lights as possible, face South, and remember to dress warmly as you enjoy one of the greatest shows on—or above—earth.

[9A]

27 June 2023

Celebrating Martin Dibobe


Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist Helene Baum-Owoyele, celebrates Cameroonian train driver Martin Dibobe. On this day in 1919, Dibobe and 17 other African people petitioned the German government for independence and civil rights for all people in Germany’s colonial empire.

Dibobe was born in 1876 in Cameroon, which became a German colony in 1884. The son of a Douala chief, he learned to read and write in a missionary school. In his youth, the German government ordered Dibobe and many other Africans in Berlin to join an ethnographic display designed to teach Germans about daily life in Africa and gather support for colonialism. In 1886, Dibobe and one hundred other Africans were shipped to Berlin on a steamboat.

For six months, Dibobe lived under terrible conditions and appeared as an “exhibit” of African life in Berlin’s Treptower Park. Afterward, he stayed in Germany and worked as a locksmith in a local factory before falling in love with a German woman. Although the registry office refused to document their union, they later married with the support of a clergyman.

Dibobe then earned a job at the Berlin subway system and worked his way up to become the first Black train driver in the city. Unsatisfied with his social mobility, he advocated for African rights across the empire. It’s believed that the German government sent Dibobe back to Cameroon to help build a new railway line around 1907. During this time, he shared his views on equal rights with chiefs in his native country.

After the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, Germany ceded its colonies to France and Britain. Dibobe rallied fellow advocates to appeal to Germany’s National Assembly. The Dibobe petition included 32 demands supporting equal rights for the country’s African migrants, but it was ignored by the government.

Cameroon fell under French rule and when Dibobe tried to return in 1922, they denied his entry. He then traveled to Liberia where he most likely died. Today, a plaque commemorates Martin Dibobe’s efforts at his old address in Berlin. In the face of blatant racism, Dibobe always championed African rights and paved the way for future activists.

Thanks, Martin Dibobe for serving as a role model for future advocates of Black independence.

[9A]

8 December 2022

Manuel Ponce Cuéllar's 139th birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 139th birthday of Mexican musical pioneer, Manuel Ponce Cuéllar, and was illustrated by Mexico City-based guest artist César Canseco. Ponce was the earliest Mexican classical music composer to gain international recognition and a maestro on the guitar. Although European music heavily influenced his work, he added a Mexican touch to his compositions.

Ponce was born in Fresnillo on this day in 1882. He discovered his talent at an early age and started performing piano when he was just 6 years old. At age 9, he wrote his first composition, “La Marcha del Sarampion” [March of the Measles], while sick with the disease.

When he was 21, Ponce joined the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Mexico City but left after realizing his skills were too advanced. He traveled to Europe a year later to study composition and piano. While in Germany, his fellow students encouraged him to incorporate Mexican folk elements into his music—which birthed his original style.

In 1912, he returned to Mexico City to teach at the Conservatorio Nacional and composed his most famous work, “Estrellita.” He studied music in Paris at the École Normale de Musique in 1925 and wrote several compositions for the guitar, inspiring other Mexican composers to follow suit. These two feats put him on the map as one of Mexico’s most esteemed composers and classical guitar players.

He wrote more than 300 compositions but was more than a composer and musician. Ponce was also a teacher, lecturer, music critic and conductor. He also penned over 200 essays as the founder and editor of 3 music journals: Revista Musical de México, Gaceta Musical and Cultura Musical. His styles ranged from baroque to impressionist, classical to romantic–all with a distinct Mexican folk touch.

Ponce was awarded the Premio Nacional de Artes y Ciencias [the National Prize of Arts and Sciences] in 1947. When he passed away the following year, he was buried in the Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres [Roundhouse of the Illustrious Men] of the Panteón de Dolores, a site that honors those who made a significant contribution to Mexican society.

[9A]

21 July 2022

Belgium National Day 2022




Today’s Doodle celebrates Belgium’s National Day! On this day in 1831, Leopold I swore allegiance to the constitution and took the oath as king. Although Belgium became an independent nation the previous year in 1830, this holiday commemorates the country’s first king.

After the Napoleonic Wars, the Netherlands annexed Belgium. Between August and October of 1830, Belgians across multiple revolutionary factions united to oust the Dutch. In November, after Dutch forces withdrew from the country, the National Congress declared Belgium a constitutional monarchy and elected Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a German aristocrat, as its first rightful ruler.

Every year, several events are held to honor Belgium’s Independence. After the king makes a televised speech, festivities usually start with the Te Deum hymn at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels. The royal family then attends the National Day ceremony at the Place de Palais, where a grand parade takes place.

Firework shows, free concerts and flyovers by the Belgian Air Force are also enjoyed by the people. And it wouldn’t be a proper celebration without some crispy and delicious frites, fried to perfection and served with a variety of sauces and condiments. Many frites stands—friterie [French] or frietkot [Flemish]—like the one in today’s Doodle, can be found throughout the country on National Day. In fact, there’s even a museum in Bruges, Belgium called the Frietmuseum dedicated entirely to celebrating frites!

Happy National Day, Belgium!

[9A]

21 July 2012

Belgium National Day 2012




Belgian National Day is the national holiday of Belgium commemorated annually on 21 July. It is one of the country's ten public holidays and marks the anniversary of the investiture of Leopold I as the first King of the Belgians in 1831.

[9A]

21 July 2018

Belgium National Day 2018


Today is Belgium National Day! July 21st commemorates Belgium’s anniversary of independence and is the perfect occasion to celebrate Belgian culture and food.

Today's Doodle features one of Belgium’s most distinctly delectable treats - the waffle! Depending on where you find yourself in Belgium, you’ll be treated to different types of waffles. In Brussels, waffles are traditionally rectangular and have deep, square pockets throughout. These waffles are typically light and crispy, and might be dusted with powdered sugar or topped with whipped cream and fruit. Should you order a waffle in Liege, you’ll be treated to a thicker waffle made of a dough similar to bread. The waffle may be rounder and have uneven edges, a signature of this style. Both waffles are a delicious treat and an excellent way to celebrate the holiday!

Whether in Brussels or Liege, or even at home whipping up homemade treats from family recipes passed down through generations, Belgians everywhere take today to celebrate their heritage and partake in the festivities.

Happy National Day, Belgium!

[9A]

9 February 2022

Celebrating Toni Stone





In honor of U.S. Black History Month, today’s Doodle illustrated by San Francisco, CA-based guest artist Monique Wray celebrates athlete Marcenia “Toni” Stone, who overcame both gender and racial discrimination to become the first woman in history to play professional baseball as a regular in a men’s major baseball league. On this day in 2021, Stone was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame.

Marcenia Lyle Stone was born in 1921 in Bluefield, West Virginia during an era of pronounced racial segregation in American sports. In 1931, Stone moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she developed her remarkable athleticism in the city’s public playgrounds and baseball fields. By just 15, the all-male semi-pro Twin Cities Colored Giants broke gender convention by bringing Stone onto its roster. In 1946, Stone went to bat with the San Francisco Sea Lions, marking the start of her illustrious professional career.

Her exceptional batting average of .280 earned her a spot on the bench with the Negro League All-Star team while she continued to travel across the United States playing second base for the minor league New Orleans Creoles. In 1953, Stone filled the spot of future Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron as the second baseman for the Indianapolis Clowns, one of the League’s most prestigious teams. Undeterred by taunts during her debut season with the Clowns, Stone hit a single off of Satchel Paige, who is widely considered the greatest pitcher in Negro League history.

Stone played alongside legendary players such as Jackie Robinson throughout her career before retiring from professional baseball in 1954 as a legend. In 1990, March 6 was declared “Toni Stone Day” in her adopted hometown of St. Paul, where future generations of baseball players practice under the lights of Toni Stone Field. She has been honored by several exhibitions in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 1993, was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Here’s to you, Toni Stone—thanks for showing the world what determination and unstoppable love for the game can achieve!

Thank you to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for their support on this Doodle!

Black and white photo of Toni Stone jumping and throwing a baseball

Courtesy of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Courtesy of the Estate of Toni Stone

[9A]

18 December 2022

2022 World Cup Finals



The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the 22nd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national football teams organized by FIFA. It took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, after the country was awarded the hosting rights in 2010. It was the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world and Muslim world, and the second held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.

[9A]

11 February 2021

Celebrating María Grever






Today’s Doodle celebrates Mexican singer and songwriter María Grever, considered to be one of the country’s greatest composers. Grever spent a lifetime producing hundreds of songs that went on to be covered by some of the world’s most famous artists, like Placido Domingo, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra. On this day in 1938, Grever recorded “Ti-Pi-Tin,” a waltz about serenading your loved ones that became one of her biggest hits.

María Joaquina de la Portilla Torres was born in the late 19th century in the city of León in central Mexico. As a child, she moved to Seville, where she studied English, French, and music. Grever’s natural musical abilities were evident as she composed a holiday carol for her school. This led her father to provide her some of the finest tutors, including distinguished composers, Debussy and Lehár. Her first record, “A Una Ola” [“To a Wave,” 1912], sold millions of copies, and was eventually covered by several singers.

In 1916, Grever moved to New York, where she soon composed background music in films for both Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox. All the while, Grever continued to produce songs that married folk rhythms with styles like tango to captivate audiences throughout the Americas and Spain. Some of her biggest hits included “Júrame” [“Promise, Love,” 1926] and “What a Difference a Day Makes” [originally “Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado,” 1934]. The latter went on to win a Grammy in 1959 as sung by jazz legend, Dinah Washington.

In recognition of her contributions to music, the Union of Women of the Americas [UWA] named Grever “Woman of the Americas” in 1952.

Thanks for all the music María Grever; it continues to strike a chord with listeners around the world today!

[9A]

18 December 2020

26th anniversary of the Grotte Chauvet Discovery




On this day in 1994, three speleologists [cave specialists] by the name of Jean-Marie Chauvet, Éliette Brunel, and Christian Hillaire were exploring in the Ardèche region of southern France when they happened upon something remarkable: an enormous display of what turned out to be some of the earliest-known and best-preserved figurative drawings ever made by humankind. Today’s Doodle celebrates this groundbreaking discovery–now known as Grotte Chauvet [French for Chauvet Cave]–which forever altered the archaeological understanding of prehistoric man’s artistic expression and creative development.

Through carbon dating, the extraordinary drawings have been traced back to the Aurignacian period over 30,000 years ago. Thanks to a rock fall that sealed the entrance more than 10,000 years later, the Chauvet Cave–and the more than 1,000 drawings documented on its limestone walls–then remained untouched, preserved for millennia in pristine quality.

As illustrated in today’s Doodle, the cave features depictions of 14 different species— from horses and lions to dangerous prehistoric creatures like the long-extinct wooly rhinoceros and mammoth. The deepest gallery features representations of the human body, while other walls display abstract series of red dots. The images demonstrate great artistic vision and technique through their anatomical accuracy, illusion of depth and movement, masterful use of colors, and skillful combination of both painting and engraving. In addition to the paintings, the cave is also home to human footprints and some 4,000 prehistoric animal fossils.

In recognition of the site's vast significance to the human story, UNESCO inscribed the Chauvet Cave onto the World Heritage List in 2014.

[9A]

8 December 2011

Christoffer Polhem's 350th Birthday



Christopher Polhammar better known as Christopher Polhem, which he took after his ennoblement in 1716, was a Swedish scientist, inventor and industrialist. He made significant contributions to the economic and industrial development of Sweden, particularly mining. He was ennobled by King Charles XII of Sweden for his contributions to Swedish technological development.

[9A]

29 June 2023

Giacomo Leopardi's 225th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the birthday of Giacomo Leopardi, an Italian poet, philosopher, and scholar. The world regards him as one of the greatest Italian poets of the nineteenth century.

He was born on this day in 1798 in the small provincial town of Recanati. From a young age, he was an avid reader who loved passing time in his father's library. He became fluent in Latin, ancient Greek, and Hebrew during this period, which laid the foundation for him to become a philologist — a scholar who studies the history and development of languages. He went on to translate several Latin and Greek classics.

Leopardi fell in love with ideas from the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that promoted reason and logic over superstition. He was passionate about his beliefs and went on to become one of the most radical thinkers of his time.

At 14, he wrote Pompeo in Egitto [Pompey in Egypt], a manifesto criticizing one of the most powerful figures in Rome. In the following years, he wrote various philological works and notable poems such as L'appressamento della morte [The Approach of Death], Inno a Nettuno [Hymn to Neptune], and Le rimembranze [Memories].

Leopardi spent the rest of his career creating lyric poetry, including Canti [Songs] and Canzoniere [Songbook]. His writing often explored patriotism, unrequited love, and profound reflections on human existence — making him a precursor to Existentialism. One of his final literary pieces was Operette morali [Small Moral Works], a collection of witty philosophical essays written in an ironic style.

Happy 225th birthday, Giacomo Leopardi!

[9A]

29 June 2008

European Football Championship Winner 2008 - Spain


The UEFA Euro 2008 Final was the final match of Euro 2008, the thirteenth edition of the European Football Championship, UEFA's competition for national football teams. The match was played at Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria, on 29 June 2008, and was contested by Germany and Spain.

[9A]

30 Jun 2008

Doodle 4 Google 2008 - Israel Winner

[9A]

30 June 2016

165th Anniversary of First Firefighter's Corp in Chile


Since 1851, Chile’s bomberos have risked life and limb to keep citizens safe from fire. There are 307 individual fire departments across Chile bonded together by Chile’s National Board of Fire Departments. What makes the bomberos especially unique is that they all serve on a volunteer basis.

It all started on this day in the bustling seaport of Valparaiso, where the city’s most influential citizens came together to form the First Firefighter’s Corp. More fire departments followed, each created by and for the community it represented.

Today’s Doodle was inspired by those who’ve served the people of Chile through their dedication and selflessness. Though they operate independently, the country’s bomberos share a common goal of working hard to protect local neighborhoods and communities.

[9A]

1 Jul 2014

Canada Day 2014




One of the things Canadians are most proud of is that their country is a cultural mosaic, where people from different cultures live together but retain their strong ethnic identities. In the spirit of uniting countries for the World Cup games, we wanted to celebrate the cultural melting pot that is Canada. The doodle itself resembles a mosaic or patchwork quilt, with various walks of life represented through dress and textile patterns.





A rough sketch of the final art direction for the Canada Day doodle

The people are shown as block shapes, whether as individuals or as family units – all building blocks of society – with their hands raised during Canadian citizenship ceremonies. We also wanted to draw on familiar elements, such as ice hockey, a Canadian Mountie, or the mountainous landscapes and large lakes that make up the natural beauty of the country. Look closely enough and there's even a soccer ball in there. Canada may not be in the World Cup this time around, but that hasn't stopped Canadian citizens, old or new, from enjoying the game.

Happy Canada Day!

[9A]

1 July 2022

Canada Day 2022


Today’s Doodle recognizes Canada Day by portraying the diversity of the natural landscapes and geographic regions that Canadians call home. Canada is the second largest country in the world, with a landmass of over nine million square kilometres—spanning the highest point at Mount Logan,Yukon to the Easternmost point in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and every point in between.

As seen in the artwork, Canada is home to cascading waterfalls and majestic western mountains, and is known for natural wonders such as the Great Lakes, vast Prairies, sprawling evergreen forests, cold, bare tundra, 41 national parks, and so much more.

It is important to acknowledge that the land that Canadians call home is situated on traditional Indigenous territories. Inuit, First Nations, and Métis people have cared for the landscapes depicted in this Doodle for thousands of years and continue to contribute to the strength of this land. For further reading on what Canadians can do to support reconciliation efforts, please read the 94 Calls to Action developed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Canada Day is a moment for Canadians to reflect on the history of the land and the opportunities that lie ahead.

[9A]

1 July 2017

Canada National Day 2017



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

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

Today’s Doodle depicts celebratory desserts that reflect the country’s vast regional and ethnic diversity by highlighting the 13 provinces and territories. Bonne Fête Canada! Indulge your sweet tooth with the delights depicted in the Doodle:

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

[9A]

1 July 2020

Celebrating the Litfaßsäule



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Hamburg-based guest artists Rocket & Wink, celebrates the Litfaßsäule. These iconic advertising pillars were named after the man who first suggested them, Ernst Litfaß [pronounced Lit-fass]. On this date in 1855, to the fanfare of a live orchestra, Berlin’s very first Litfaßsäule was dedicated at the intersection of Münzstraße and what is today Almstadtstraße.

Before the creation of Litfaßsäule, Berlin had a problem with advertisements—they were scattered all over the city, from walls to fences and everywhere in between. The widespread clutter irked Litfaß, and so the clever printer and publisher proposed these dedicated advertising pillars to be placed on Berlin’s busiest corners and plazas as a more organized alternative.

The city agreed to commission 150 pillars as an official system for paid advertisements, and before long the columns were lined cleanly with eye-catching notices for cultural institutions like theaters and dance halls. The unusual, three-meter-tall fixtures were met with huge popularity among Berlin’s residents. Over the decades, the Litfaßsäule came to serve as a symbol of Berlin, and booklovers may even recognize one from the famous cover of Erich Kästner's 1929 children’s book “Emil and the Detectives.”

Today, there are over 50,000 Litfaßsäule—many like those depicted in the Doodle artwork—in use throughout Germany, and they still serve as a popular and practical advertising channel for local events and small organizations. While many of Berlin’s original pillars have since been removed or replaced by newer models, it’s clear that the Litfaßsäule continue to hold a special place in the hearts of the city’s residents.

Danke to all the Litfaßsäulen that have helped make Berlin such a special place!

[9A]

30 Jun 2020

Celebrating Tebas [Joaquim Pinto de Oliveira]


Today’s Doodle celebrates the legacy of 18th-century Brazilian architect and engineer Joaquim Pinto de Oliveira, also known as Tebas. Historians believe that during this month in 1778, Tebas broke free from the shackles of slavery and ingrained his artistic vision into the streets of São Paulo upon the completed renovation of one of his most iconic designs: the first tower of the original São Paulo Cathedral.

Tebas was born in 1721 in the port city of Santos, Brazil, and was a black slave of the well-known Portuguese architect and builder Bento de Oliveira Lima. They relocated to São Paulo during a period of expansive civil construction in the capital city. Tebas had a rare expertise in working with stone, a skill which placed his services in very high demand there.


By the 1750s, Tebas had risen to become a highly accomplished architect in São Paulo, and over the following decades, he shaped the city with constructions including the pediment of the São Bento Monastery and the facade of the Church of the Third Order of Carmo. He continued working for years after he gained his freedom and lived until the age of 90. Over the course of his long life, he cemented himself as one of the greatest Brazilian architects of his time.

In honor of Tebas’ contributions to the city, in 2019 his name was inscribed at the former site of what is widely considered one of his best-known works, the Chafariz da Misericordia [Fountain of Mercy], Sao Paulo’s first public water fountain which he designed and constructed in 1792.

Thank you, Tebas, for overcoming all obstacles to lay the blueprint for a brighter future!

[9A]

30 June 2013

Herta Heuwer's 100th Birthday




Herta Charlotte Heuwer owned and ran a food kiosk in West Berlin. She is frequently credited with the invention of the take-out dish that would become the currywurst, supposedly on 4 September 1949. The original Currywurst was a boiled sausage, fried, with a sauce of tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, curry powder and other ingredients.

Heuwer was born in Königsberg. In January 1951, she registered a trademark for her sauce, Chillup.

Heuwer moved her business to a larger facility at Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 59, which, during its heyday, was open day and night and employed 19 saleswomen. On 29 June 2003, the day before what would have been her 90th birthday, a plaque was dedicated in her honor at this address. Heuwer died in Berlin, aged 86.

Other sources claim that currywurst was invented in Hamburg. Author Uwe Timm contends in his novel The Discovery of Currywurst that he had eaten currywurst in Hamburg as early as 1947, but the inventor of Currywurst in his novel, Lena Brücker, is an admitted literary license. However, that did not prevent the former Hamburg Senator of the Interior Ronald Schill from honoring Lena Brücker in 2003.

Food historians such as Petra Foede believe that, as with most culinary creation myths, several rather than a single person were involved in developing this dish, sausage sellers experimenting with various spice mixes in order to replace the tomato ketchup that was unavailable during the immediate postwar years.

[9A]

30 June 2018

José Emilio Pacheco’s 79th Birthday




Today, we celebrate José Emilio Pacheco, the Mexican poet, essayist, novelist, narrator, and translator considered among Mexico’s most important writers of the 20th century.

Born in Mexico City in 1939, Pacheco rose to prominence amidst a group of socially dedicated writers in the 1960s. His works frequently challenged Mexico’s political and literary elite, brought to light social issues, and explored the meaning of time, life, and death. Pacheco was known for his simple, direct words, which contrasted the figurative language used by many great poets of his time.

Though he received no shortage of awards, including the esteemed Miguel de Cervantes Literature Prize in 2009, Pacheco notably downplayed his talents. On what would’ve been his 79th birthday, we honor him for his innumerable contributions to Mexican literature.

In today’s Doodle by guest artist Loris Lora, the turtle shell comprising the second Google “g” references the cover of Pacheco’s first short story collection, El viento distante [The Distant Wind], published in 1963. The woman in the frame reimagines Las batallas en el desierto [Battles in the Desert]. This 1981 novella was so popular it inspired a film, a comic, and even a classic rock song. In the right corner, a ship alludes to the cover of El principio del placer [The Pleasure Principle], while the cricket represents a poem that shares its name.

Feliz cumpleaños, José Emilio Pacheco!

[9A]

3 Jun 2022

Celebrating Rosane Kaingang




Today’s Doodle celebrates the unshakeable spirit of Rosane Mattos Kaingang, an Indigenous Brazilian activist who worked tirelessly to fight for Native rights. She brought representation to the Indigenous community and played a critical role in helping the Council of Human Rights [CNDH] investigate rights violations against Native Brazilians. On this day in 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development hosted in Rio de Janeiro [or Rio 92 Conference], she began her life of service to the indigenous movement.

Kaingang was a descendant of the Kaingang people, an Indigenous ethnic group primarily from the southern states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Her indigenous name, Kokoj, means “hummingbird,” and was given to her during a ceremony in honor of her great-grandmother, who died at 120 years old! Just like her name, everything she later worked for was strongly rooted in her community and heritage.

She spent her adult life fighting for the recognition of rightful territories, sustainable community development and access to quality education and medical services. Kaingang was also instrumental in bringing awareness to the struggles of Indigenous women. As one of the founders of the National Council of Indigenous Women of Brazil [[CONAMI), she helped create a structure for Indigenous women to organize and protest as a larger body. These protests urged for broader access to resources and Indigenous labor rights.

Kaingang also represented several other social reform groups, most notably the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil [APIB], the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the South [ARPINSUL] and the National Indian Foundation [FUNAI]. She participated in dozens of meetings, seminars, hearings and mobilization efforts that advocated for a more equitable future for Native Brazilians.

Kaingang is remembered for her dedication and love for the Indigenous community — a true warrior who never stayed silent in the face of injustice and adversity.

[9A]

3 June 2022

Dragon Boat Festival 2022




Today’s Doodle celebrates the annual Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Jie. The festival always occurs on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This year, June 3rd marks the day when people across Asia gather to watch dragon-shaped boats race along river banks and lakes.

The holiday originated over 2,000 years ago in China to commemorate a beloved poet named Qu Yuan. When the Chu State was defeated in 278 B.C., Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River as a final act of loyalty to the King of Chu. As legend has it, villagers boarded their boats and threw rice dumplings in the water to keep fish away from the body of the poet. The fifth lunar month is also considered a “poisonous” month in Chinese agriculture since summer is the high season for insects and pests. That’s why traditional Duanwu Jie customs involve hanging mugwort leaves and herbs on doors and windows to repel insects.

Today, the festival’s most popular tradition is, of course, the exciting dragon boat race. The boats seat a crews of up to 90, which includes a drummer for morale and pace setting. Locals often watch the race while drinking realgar wine and eating zongi, a sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival to all! Let’s get ready to row.

[9A]

3 June 2016


Rhee Seund Ja’s 98th birthday




Seund Ja Rhee was a South Korean painter, engraver, draughtswoman, and illustrator. She also designed tapestries and mosaics. She was a prolific artist with more than 1,000 paintings, 700 prints, 250 ceramics, and numerous drawings. She exhibited mainly in France and in South Korea, with 84 solo exhibitions and almost 300 group exhibitions during her lifetime. In 1958, she moved to Tourrettes, Var [France] where she finally built the "Milky Way", a large atelier and exhibition room.

[9A]

5 Jun 2016

Denmark National Day 2016


Happy Grundlovsdag, Denmark!

Today's Doodle features Copenhagen's iconic statue The Little Mermaid, or Den Lille Havfrue, by Edvard Eriksen. Modeled after a famous Danish ballerina [and Eriksen's less-shy wife], she looks to the coast in the nation's capital. Commissioned in 1909, and based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, she is a symbol of the city. She splashed onto her now-unmistakable perch in 1913, and attracts tourists from around the world.

Crowds of people will visit her today, as most Danish offices and shops close at noon. Many Danes spend Constitution Day in thoughtful reflection on the political progress of their nation.

[9A]

Jun 5, 2013

Thomas Chippendale's 295th Birthday







Thomas Chippendale [1718–1779] was a cabinet-maker in London, designing furniture in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. In 1754 he published a book of his designs in a trade catalogue titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director—the most important collection of furniture designs published in England to that point which created a mass market for furniture—upon which success he became renowned. According to the Victoria and Albert Museum, "so influential were his designs, in Britain and throughout Europe and America, that 'Chippendale' became a shorthand description for any furniture similar to his Director designs".

[9A]

5 June 2011

Richard Scarry's 92nd Birthday



I had a lot of fun working with the folks at Random House — including one of Richard Scarry's actual art directors, as well as his son, Huck — to create an original pencil and watercolor piece depicting Busytown.

Scarry's technique allowed him to work pretty loosely with his watercolors, and he'd frequently paint off-register, that is, not quite up to [or way beyond] the line drawing. This gave his illustrations an even more lighthearted quality. In our case, it's Richard Scarry's Best Google Doodle Ever!




The drawing was done in pencil, then scanned digitally and printed out in solid black on clear film, or acetate.




The drawing was then transferred to illustration board in blue pencil so I could work on the painting on a separate layer.

posted by Mike Dutton

[9A]

27 September 2022

Celebrating Jale İnan





Today’s Doodle celebrates Dr. Jale İnan, the first female Turkish archaeologist. She famously located the missing half of the Farnese Hercules statue at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and worked with the government to return the statue to Turkey. The return of the statue was successfully concluded on this day in 2011.

İnan was born in Istanbul in 1914. Her father, the director of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, was one of Turkey’s first archeologists. He inspired her interest in the ancient world.

In the 1930s, she won scholarships to study archeology at the universities of Berlin and Munich. Unfortunately for İnan, World War II began shortly after her arrival in Germany. Despite the war around her, she never lost focus on her studies. She stayed through the war and finished her thesis, “Examination of Art History in Sacrifice Rituals on Roman Coins,” from a bunker in 1943.

After she completed her PhD, she returned to Turkey and became an assistant to the Chair of Ancient History and Numismatics at University of Istanbul. During this time, she joined an excavation at Perga, an ancient Greek city in Anatolia where she helped unearth one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Temple of Artemis.

İnan went on to lead the restoration of several significant ancient cultural sites, such as the Temple of Apollo in Side. Over the course of her prolific career, she uncovered so many artifacts that the Antalya Museum had to undergo expansion not once, but twice, to make space for the relics.

Each year, the Antalya Women's Museum bestows the Dr. Jale İnan Award to a remarkable Turkish woman carrying on her legacy.

[9A]

6 Jun 2011

Dragon Boat Festival 2011 [China]

[9A]

June 17, 2017

Susan La Flesche Picotte’s 152nd Birthday





Today’s Doodle honors the life and legacy of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte [1865-1915], the first American Indian to earn a medical degree.

Picotte grew up in Nebraska on the Omaha reservation, where her father urged her to “be somebody in the world.” She left her village and made her way east, eventually attending the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania [featured in today’s Doodle on the left], where she graduated at the top of her class. Despite receiving numerous prestigious job offers, Picotte chose to return to the reservation to provide the medical care that her tribe badly needed – tending to patients across 1,350 square miles on foot and horseback, in wind, snow, and rain.

Picotte was also a fierce public health advocate and social reformer. She promoted life-saving hygiene practices, such as the elimination of communal drinking cups and the installation of screen doors to keep out disease-carrying insects. Most notably, in 1913, she personally raised the funds to build a modern hospital in her hometown, which you can see pictured to the right of today’s Doodle.

Picotte’s remarkable career as a physician and health advocate just scratches the surface of her legacy. She was more than the reservation’s doctor – she was also an advisor, confidant, and symbol of hope for the Omaha.

Happy 152nd birthday to “Dr. Sue,” as her patients called her – a true American heroine.

[9A]

19 Jun 2017

Mudik 2017


Today’s Doodle marks the start of Mudik, a yearly homecoming in Indonesia. City folks take this time to travel far and wide to visit family in rural villages. Travelers get home any way they can — by motorbike, train, car, and bus. Local governments even offer mudik gratis, discounted tickets helping motorbike travelers to take ferries and buses. Leading up to Mudik, cities become ghost towns when their residents leave. In fact, electricity use in Jakarta can decrease by up to 70% during Mudik!

Despite all the traffic, Indonesians happily jump into the hustle and bustle of travel in order to bring back loads of oleh-oleh, or souvenirs, for their relatives.

Safe travels to all and happy Mudik!

[9A]

4 July 2012
4th of July 2012

[9A]

4 July 2022

Fourth of July 2022


Happy Independence day, USA! On July 4, 1776, the delegates of the 13 colonies officially adopted the Declaration of Independence and ended British rule.

Many Fourth of July pastimes have emerged over the centuries—watching fireworks, attending baseball games and flying red, white and blue flags. But nothing seems quite as classic as a backyard barbecue, like the one in today’s artwork.

American barbecues date back to the early 19th century, when southerners commemorated the anniversary of independence with public celebrations and meals. Since the culinary method allowed for a large amount of food to be cooked at once, barbecues became a staple for outdoor gatherings where local farmers and community members donated meat for everyone to eat. When many Southern African Americans migrated to the north in the 20th century, they brought beloved barbecue recipes with them. Soon enough, barbecue restaurants spread across American towns, with each region having its own distinct style.

Today, millions of Americans meet up with loved ones around grills and barbecue pits to celebrate the fourth of July.

Happy birthday, America!

[9A]

1 Jul 2022

Canada Day 2022


Today’s Doodle recognizes Canada Day by portraying the diversity of the natural landscapes and geographic regions that Canadians call home. Canada is the second largest country in the world, with a landmass of over nine million square kilometres—spanning the highest point at Mount Logan,Yukon to the Easternmost point in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and every point in between.

As seen in the artwork, Canada is home to cascading waterfalls and majestic western mountains, and is known for natural wonders such as the Great Lakes, vast Prairies, sprawling evergreen forests, cold, bare tundra, 41 national parks, and so much more.

It is important to acknowledge that the land that Canadians call home is situated on traditional Indigenous territories. Inuit, First Nations, and Métis people have cared for the landscapes depicted in this Doodle for thousands of years and continue to contribute to the strength of this land. For further reading on what Canadians can do to support reconciliation efforts, please read the 94 Calls to Action developed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Canada Day is a moment for Canadians to reflect on the history of the land and the opportunities that lie ahead.

[9A]

1 July 2009

Canada Day 2009