Google doodles

[9A]

Nov 03, 2023

Celebrating Allan Haozous [Houser]






In honor of Native American Heritage Month, today’s Doodle celebrates renowned Chiricahua Apache sculptor, painter, and book illustrator Allan Haozous [Houser]. Created by Albuquerque-based Lynnette Haozous, today’s artwork depicts Haozous in his element working on a sculpture of an Apache man and woman. On this day in 2012, his sculpture The Future was unveiled at the Autry Museum of the American West.

Haozous was born on June 30, 1914 in Apache, Oklahoma, to two parents who had experienced the trauma of being held as political prisoners for 27 years due to their tribal affiliation. Haozous was born soon after their release and grew up on a farm where he learned about his culture through stories and songs his father shared. When he turned 20, he moved to New Mexico and started painting at the Santa Fe Indian School.

Haozous’ skill was quickly recognized and commissions started rolling in. In 1939 he created murals for the New York World’s Fair, the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., and the Golden Gate Exposition. Haozous was commissioned by the Haskell Institute to create a memorial honoring the Native American soldiers who had died in WWI. This piece, Comrade in Mourning [1948], was Haozous' first marble sculpture. The following year, he received the Guggenheim Fellowship for sculpting and painting, which allowed him to dedicate more time to his craft.

Haozous taught the next generation of Native American artists from 1951 to 1975, both at the Inter-Mountain Indian School in Utah and the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where he created the sculpture department. During this time, he showed his artistic range by creating hundreds of paintings, illustrating several children’s books, and making carvings from bronze, stone, and steel.

Haozous left teaching in 1975 and produced almost 1,000 sculptures in various mediums during his retirement which garnered international acclaim. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1985 and was the featured artist of the 2002 Winter Olympics hosted in Utah. Over his career he received many awards for his art and was the first Native American to win the National Medal of Arts.

Today, many enjoy Haozous’ pieces which are displayed across several cities including, Santa Fe, Vancouver, London, Paris, Tokyo, and a few D.C. museums including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art.

[9A]

Jan 13, 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]

Nov 19, 2022

Celebrating Enrique de la Mora





Today’s Doodle celebrates Enrique de la Mora y Palomar, a Mexican architect who shaped the image of contemporary cities in Mexico, and was illustrated by Mexico-based artist Julian Ardila. De la Mora experimented with hyperbolic paraboloid shell roofs, also known as saddle roofs, to create structurally efficient buildings with a modern aesthetic. On this day in 1946, Enrique de la Mora received the Premio Educación Pública award from the Administrative Commission of the National Prize for Arts and Sciences for his Purísima Concepción Parish design.

De la Mora was born on November 19, 1907 in Guadalajara, a city in Western Mexico. His father, Manuel de la Mora y del Castillo Negrete, was a prominent engineer and architect.

Following his father’s footsteps, the young De la Mora attended the National School of Architecture and graduated in 1933. A year later, he launched his career by designing the El Puerto de Liverpool department store in Mexico City.

De la Mora went on to design more than 100 architectural projects over the next two decades, including major university buildings and churches. His building designs focused on optimizing structures with symmetrical curves such as hyperbolas, parabolas, vaults and arches.

His most notable work was Iglesia La Purísima, the first Mexican church with a modern architectural design. The structural innovation behind the church’s parabolic vaulted ceilings won him a National Architecture Award in 1946.

His other major works include the master plan for the Monterrey Institute of Technology, the Mexican Stock Exchange, and the School of Philosophy and Literature [Facultad de Filosofía y Letras] at the National Autonomous University of Mexico which later became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today, De la Mora is remembered as an important figure in the structural expressionism movement. We can find his exceptional work and influence across major Mexican cities.

[9A]

Jul 06, 2021

Shusaku Arakawa's 85th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 85th birthday of Japanese-American author, conceptual artist, and trans-humanist architect Shusaku Arakawa. Together with his wife, Arakawa chased a philosophical quest for immortality through experimental paintings, literature, and, at the grandest scale, architectural oddities—a concept coined Reversible Destiny.

Shusaku Arakawa was born on this day in 1936 in Nagoya, Japan. His early life was defined by mathematics and medicine studies before he pursued surrealist painting at Tokyo’s Musashino Art University. As an early adopter of the international conceptual art movement, he joined similarly minded artists after his 1961 move to New York City. Soon after, Shusako met a poet who became his lifelong artistic collaborator and spouse: Madeline Gins.

In 1963, the couple began the ambitious “The Mechanism of Meaning” series—an assemblage of 83 large panel paintings crafted with the aim of investigating the mysteries of human consciousness that required over a decade to bring to fruition. Global exhibitions of the masterwork funded the couple’s next lofty endeavor: extending life expectancy by fostering a novel relationship with the built world called “procedural architecture.” They hypothesized that engaging residents with challenging interior designs, such as steep and uneven floor plans, would boost immunity and fight aging by promoting an active and thoughtful relationship with one’s surroundings. Their first residential works of procedural architecture can be found at Reversible Destiny Lofts, a complex in Tokyo and the inspiration for today’s Doodle artwork.

Arakawa and Gins devoted their lives to designing an architectural fountain of youth and founded multiple institutions to advance this project, including the Reversible Destiny Foundation. Today, several installations of their eccentric architecture remain open to the public, such as the Reversible Destiny Lofts. This renown project comprises a brightly colored residential complex in Tokyo that served as the couple’s first work of procedural architecture, which they dedicated to Helen Keller.

Happy birthday, Shusaku Arakawa!

[9A]

May 23, 2021

Celebrating the Obelisk of Buenos Aires




The Obelisk of Buenos Aires towers over Argentina as a symbol of national pride. Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Buenos Aires-based guest artists Carolina Silvero and Juan Elizalde of Estudio Guardabosques, celebrates this historic monument, which was inaugurated on this day in 1936 in honor of four centuries since Buenos Aires’ foundation.

Built in just 31 days from blocks of white Córdoba stone, the monument juts into the skyline where the Argentinian flag was first hoisted above Buenos Aires in 1536. Designed by illustrious Argentine architect Alberto Prebisch, each of the four shafts of the Obelisk signifies critical moments of Buenos Aires history: the city’s foundation in 1536 and again in 1580, the first celebration of the Argentinian flag in 1812, and the induction of Buenos Aires as the nation’s capital in 1880.

But the strategic location of the monument carries much more than just historical significance. The Obelisk also stands at the intersection of two of the capital’s iconic streets: Avenida Corrientes and Avenida 9 de Julio. Underneath the landmark, three of the city’s underground metro lines converge, making it a magnetic meet-up spot for the sprawling Argentine megalopolis.

While today’s Doodle artwork scales down the monument, you can enjoy a view of the over 200-foot tall Obelisk from many parts of the Argentine capital.

[9A]

Jun 30, 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]

Mar 24, 2023

Kitty O'Neil's 77th Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Washington DC-based, Deaf guest artist Meeya Tjiang, celebrates the 77th birthday of Kitty O’Neil, once crowned the “the fastest woman in the world.” Kitty was a legendary American stunt performer, daredevil, and rocket-powered vehicle driver who was deaf since childhood.

O’Neil was born on this day in 1946 to a Cherokee Native American mother and Irish father in Corpus Christi, Texas. When she was just a few months old, she contracted multiple diseases which led to an intense fever that ultimately left her deaf. She learned various communication modes a nd adapted for different audiences throughout her life, ultimately preferring speaking and lip reading mostly. O’Neil refused to see her deafness as a roadblock, often referring to it as an asset. She later found a love for diving, but a wrist injury and illness ended her chances of competing. However, she remained committed to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional athlete.

O’Neil began experimenting with high-speed sports like water skiing and motorcycle racing. A true action-lover, she also performed dangerous acts such as falling from daunting heights while set on fire and jumping from helicopters. In the late 70s, she made it onto the big screen as a stunt double for films and TV series including The Bionic Woman [1976], Wonder Woman [1977-1979], and The Blues Brothers [1980]. She was the first woman to join Stunts Unlimited, an organization for Hollywood’s top stunt performers.

In 1976, O’Neil was crowned “the fastest woman alive” after zooming across the Alvord Desert at 512.76 miles per hour! She drove a rocket-powered car called the Motivator and surpassed the previous women’s land-speed record by almost 200 mph. Once she broke the women’s record by a landslide, it became evident that she could likely beat the men’s mark too. Unfortunately, her sponsors did not allow her to break the overall record as it threatened the status quo — they wanted to reserve the feat for a male driver. Legal action to fight this failed and O’Neil was never given the opportunity to break the overall record. However, this didn’t hold her back from going on to break records piloting jet-powered boats and rocket dragsters.

A biopic about O’Neil’s life, titled Silent Victory: The Kitty O’Neil Story, was released in 1979 and recaps the impressive Alvord Desert feat.

Thank you for inspiring us all to race towards our dreams, Kitty!

[9A]

Oct 09, 2023

France Gall's 76th Birthday



https://doodles.google/doodle/france...76th-birthday/ [animated]

Today’s video Doodle, illustrated by Paris-based guest artist Mathilde Loubes, celebrates French singer France Gall, who entered the Yé-yé scene at 16 and remained a prominent singer. On this day in 1947, she was born in Paris with the name Isabelle.

Growing up in a family of lyricists, composers, choir founders, and singers, it is no surprise that Gall pursued a musical career. She was playing guitar and piano in her adolescence, and by 15, she signed with a music publisher under her father’s guidance. She released her debut single Ne Sois Pas Si Bête [Don’t Be so Silly] under the pseudonym France Gall, which played on the radio for the first time on her 16th birthday.

In 1965, Gall represented Luxembourg at the international song contest Eurovision. Her upbeat performance of Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son [Wax Doll, Sound Doll] earned her first prize and is considered the first pop song to win the contest. By this point, the young Gall was considered a major figure in the Yé-yé movement; she was voted France’s number one female pop star the following year which coincided with a successful international career.

Gall worked with several composers and songwriters over the years, notably Michel Berger, whom she would marry in 1976. Some of their most famous collaborations are Évidemment [Evidently, La Déclaration D'amour [Declaration of Love], and Mon Fils Rira du Rock 'n' Roll [My Son Will Laugh At Rock'N'Roll]. In 1979 she performed live and starred in the rock opera Starmania which her husband wrote the music for.

In the 80s, France Gall released four albums: Paris, France, Tout Pour la Musique, Débranche!, and Babacar. Many of her songs topped the charts like Ella, elle l'a [Ella's She’s Got It] and Il Jouait Du Piano Debout [He Played Piano Standing] — which is featured in today’s Doodle! France collaborated on two duets with English artist Sir Elton John at his request during this period. Somehow, she still made time to do philanthropic work. Over the years, she organized food drives, held fundraisers, and donated proceeds from some of her songs as well as doing work directly on the ground for causes she supported.

During her 50+ year career, Gall made her mark on an international music competition, released over 15 albums, performed in sold-out venues over 3 continents and co-authored the musical Résiste. In 2001, the documentary France Gall par France Gall immortalized the pop performer’s life and career.

Happy birthday to this French music icon!

[9A]

Jul 17, 2023

Celebrating Asma Hamza


Today’s Doodle celebrates Sudanese composer and oud player Asma Hamza. On this day in 1997, Asma was amongst the winners of the Laylat AlQadr AlKubra music competition in Sudan. This win was a turning point in her career and helped her gain recognition in a male-dominated field.

Asma was born in 1932 and loved music while growing up, dreaming of one day becoming a singer. Her vocal cords, however, weren’t equipped to do that safely, so she switched from singing tunes to whistling them. When her father heard her whistle in harmony, he borrowed an oud, similar to a lute but with a thinner neck and no frets, so Asma could practice.

She taught herself how to play songs she’d heard on the oud, from her own memory and ear for music. Her father encouraged her musical career from the start, but he was one of few. At that time, it was not socially acceptable for women to create music in Sudan; Asma recalls that the first piece she composed was in secret.

As she got older, she composed more melodies for several talented Arab artists and became known as one of the first female composers in Sudan. She also continued perfecting her oud playing and became amongst the first formally trained woman oud player in 1946.

Thank you for sharing your musical skills and working towards a more equal world for women, Asma Hamza!

[9A]

Oct 05, 2023

Cricket World Cup 2023 Opening Day



Today’s Doodle celebrates the opening day of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This year, it is India’s turn to host the quadrennial flagship tournament — the 13th edition since its start in 1975. Ten national squads are set to compete for the first place trophy.

45 matches will be played in the group stage, with each team set to face all the others once. This year, teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka will be participating. Only four teams will progress to the knockout stage, which consists of two semi-final matches and one cup final in Ahmedabad. The tournament will be played all across India, at stadiums in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Dharamsala and Pune.

The first match takes place today - between 2019’s returning champions, England and runners-up, New Zealand, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Good luck to all the teams!

[9A]

Dec 21, 2018

Hanif Mohammad’s 84th Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates cricketer Hanif Mohammad, also known as “The Original Little Master.” The Pakistani batsman set numerous records in Test cricket—the sport’s highest level. He played the longest innings in history [16 hours], was the first Pakistani player to score a triple century, and held the highest individual score of 499 for three decades. He and his record-breaking athleticism are even credited with helping popularize cricket in Pakistan.

Born in Junagadh, India on this day in 1934, Mohammad grew up playing cricket in the street with his brothers. He excelled as a batsman, and after relocating to Pakistan at the age of thirteen, he was mentored by Abdul Aziz, a famous cricket player who recognized his potential. Hanif went on to play for teams representing Bahawalpur, Karachi, and Pakistan International Airlines and made his international debut against India in 1952.



Over the next 17 years, Mohammed played 55 test matches for Pakistan—11 of them as team captain—and scored a total of 3,915 runs. Considered one of the best batsmen ever to play the sport, Mohammad even surpassed the great Don Bradman’s record for the highest individual innings.

Following his retirement, Mohammed took up the position of Pakistan's batting consultant in 2002. Today,his son Shoaib and grandson Shehzar carry on the cricketer family tradition.




Happy Birthday, Hanif Mohammed!


[9A]

Sep 02, 2023

Lily Poulett-Harris’ 150th Birthday



Today's Doodle celebrates Australian cricket player and educator Lily Poulett-Harris. On this day in 1873, she was born in Tasmania with the name Harriet Lily Poulett-Harris.

Poulett-Harris grew up learning from her father, who headed the Hobart Boys’ High School and helped found the University of Tasmania. While she wasn't eligible for grants at her father's school, she took an exam alongside scholarship seekers and placed second.

A woman of many talents, Poulett-Harris played the violin and piano in addition to participating in athletics. Her father was a trustee of the Southern Tasmanian Cricket Association, and her older brother played cricket, which likely spurred her interest in the game. In 1894 she pitched an idea and the Oyster Cove Ladies Cricket Club was born, which many consider the first committed cricket organisation in Australia. Poulett-Harris captained the team and became known in sports papers as a skilled and graceful player who inspired many other women to join. Cricket took off in Tasmania, and more women's teams quickly formed in Hobart, Huonville, Ranelagh, and Green Ponds.

For the rest of her life, Poulett-Harris taught, competed in cricket, and played music. Two churches she frequently played at, Saint Simon and Saint Jude Anglican Church in Woodbridge and All Saints Anglican Church in Hobart, display plaques in her honor.

Happy birthday Lily Poulett-Harris, thank you for opening up the wonderful world of cricket and promoting gender equality to women and girls in Australia!

[9A]

Aug 10, 2023

Margit Nordin's 126th Birthday


Today’s Doodle celebrates Swedish cross-country skier, physiotherapist, and gymnastics teacher Margit Nordin. On this day in 1897, she was born in Karlstad, Sweden.

Nordin worked as a physiotherapist in Grängesberg and walked or skied a few miles daily to see her patients. As a result of all the travel, she was in great physical shape and decided to put her fitness level to the test.

She signed up for the second annual Vasaloppet, now the world's biggest cross-country ski race, simply because she wanted to find out if she could ski the 90 km. Early 1900’s sports journalists weren’t thrilled when they heard a woman had registered, but there was no rule against it. The grueling race was considered a test of manhood, and they didn't anticipate that a woman would want to join.

Reluctantly, the race officials allowed Nordin to compete. On the morning of March 4, 1923, Nordin lined up alongside 160 men in Sälen and began the long race. Ten hours and nine minutes later, she crossed the finish line grinning and received roaring applause and cheers. The other racers and many sports commentators were angry that Nordin got the loudest cheers despite finishing last. The Vasaloppet organization banned women from participating just eight days after Nordin’s race, claiming that athletic challenges like this are too hard on women’s bodies.

Nordin never raced again, but continued skiing the beautiful Alps on her own and later opened a guesthouse near Bonn, Germany. Fellow female athletes have since been inspired by her bold venture into a sport that wasn’t yet inclusive to women.

During the years that women weren’t welcome in the Vasaloppet, some snuck onto the course or used a fake name and donned a beard or mustache. And after 58 years, in 1981, women were once again allowed to participate. Recently, some women skiers created an initiative, Vasan för Margit, to encourage more women to ride the Vasaloppet. Several racers wear the number Nordin wore, 103, during their race to remember and pay tribute to the first woman that completed it.

Happy brrrrrrthday, Margit Nordin!

[9A]

Nov 28, 2023

Celebrating Marlene Ahrens



This Doodle celebrates Chilean Olympian Marlene Ahrens, the first woman from Chile to win an Olympic medal. A prodigious athlete, Ahrens was a self-trained javelin thrower who later became a national tennis champion. Her accomplishments helped Chilean pride soar as high as her javelin legacy continues to inspire today’s generation.

[9A]

Nov 27, 2023

Celebrating Clorindo Testa

This Doodle celebrates Italian-Argentine artist and architect Clorindo Testa, who is widely considered one of the leading figures of modern architecture in Latin America.

[9A]

Oct 09, 2023

Hangul Day 2023




Today’s Doodle celebrates Hangul Day [한글날] — the only holiday in the world celebrating an alphabet! Korea’s Hangul helps increase literacy rates across the region. On this day in 1446, Hangul officially became the country’s writing system.

Before Hangul, Josun used Chinese characters which were complicated and required education to learn. To solve this issue, King Sejong created Hangul which by design is much simpler — the alphabet contains 24 letters, 14 consonants, and 10 vowels. Almost all Korean is written in Hangul to this day and Korea’s literacy rate is almost 100%, due in large part to this efficient writing system!

In 1945, South Korea’s government declared Hangul Day an official holiday. Today’s celebrations vary from town to town. Many Koreans visit the King Sejong Museum in Seoul while others might enjoy the day off by reflecting on their nation’s progress or spending time with loved ones.

Happy Hangul Day, Korea!

[9A]

Oct 16, 2019

Celebrating Wanda Rutkiewicz




“I adored the physical movement, the fresh air, the camaraderie, and the excitement,” wrote the Polish mountain climber Wanda Rutkiewicz. On this day in 1978, she reached the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the third woman to ascend the world’s highest peak, and the first Pole, male or female. Rutkiewicz would go on to complete seven more 8,000-meter-plus [26,247-foot-plus] climbs, establishing herself as one of the most celebrated climbers in mountaineering history and one of the greatest female climbers of all time.

Born on February 4, 1943 to a Polish family in the village of Plungiany—now part of Lithuania— Wanda studied electrical engineering at Wroclaw University of Technology. She discovered her passion for climbing by chance after her motorcycle ran out of fuel in 1961. One of the people who stopped to help invited her to join him on a climb of the Falcon Mountains.

Ten years after reaching the peak of Mount Everest, Rutkiewicz became the first woman to climb K2—the world’s second-highest peak—doing so without using supplemental oxygen. Two of her fellow climbers perished on the descent from K2, but she would continue pursuing her dreams.

Rutkiewicz published books and produced documentaries about her climbs, but despite her many accomplishments, she found some male climbers to be condescending. She went on to advocate for women’s climbing and to organize several all-female expeditions. In 1990, she declared her goal of climbing eight 8,000-meter-plus [26,247-foot-plus] peaks in just over a year’s time, a program she called the “Caravan of Dreams.” Although she did not complete that particular mission, Wanda Rutkiewicz has continued to inspire generations of climbers to follow in her footsteps.

[9A]

Aug 02, 2018

Celebrating Mount Olympus




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

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

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

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

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

[9A]

Jan 20, 2015

Ji Hyeonok’s 56th Birthday




In 1993, Ji Hyeon-ok led a team of female Korean mountain climbers to the summit of Mt. Everest. She was the first female mountaineer to succeed in climbing peaks above 8000m without supplemental oxygen and without a sherpa.

In addition to Everest, Ji scaled Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II and Annapurna — and was the first female Korean mountaineer to do so. After climbing Annapurna in 1999, she sadly passed away on her descent to the basecamp. Ji, who was also a fine-arts teacher, was remarkably brave and dared to go where few had ventured.

[9A]

Feb 12, 2011

Naomi Uemura's 70th Birthday




Naomi Uemura [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]

Dec 15, 2022

Celebrating Claudio Kano




Today’s Doodle celebrates Japanese Brazilian table tennis player Claudio Kano. He is widely considered one of the greatest Brazilian players of all time and helped popularize the sport.

Kano was born on December 18th in São Paulo, Brazil. At 10 years old, he started playing table tennis at Clube Showa where the best local players hung out. Kano’s skill and work ethic impressed the players, who recommended that he join the São Bernardo club—one of the best table tennis teams in the country.

A few years later, Kano was playing against some of the most competitive players in the world. Fluent in English, Japanese, and Spanish, Kano quickly made friends with professional players on the international circuit. After playing with Olympic champions in Sweden for four years, Kano returned to Brazil as one of the most talented players in the country.

At just age 17, Kano became the unofficial manager of Brazil’s national team and mentored younger players. With charisma and discipline beyond his years, Kano also became a role model for children across Brazil. He went on to win two gold medals in men’s doubles and men’s team table tennis at the 1983 Pan American Games, which catapulted him to a national hero status. Kano won 10 more medals, including five golds, at the Pan American Games.

Kano also competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1993 Barcelona Olympics, placing in the top 20 in both games.

At age 30, he was on the cusp of competing in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when he passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident. The star table tennis player leaves behind a shining legacy and thanks to his success, table tennis is now a celebrated sport in Brazil. The country's top players continue to look to Kano as an inspiration.

[9A]

Nov 30, 2023

St. Andrew's Day 2023


Today’s hand-crafted stained glass Doodle celebrates St. Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day. Each year, 30th November marks a day of celebrating Scottish roots. The artwork features thistle flowers which represent resilience, strength, and protection.

St. Andrew’s Day celebrations vary across Scotland. The capital, Edinburgh, hosts storytelling and music performances, and street markets that sell everything from hand-made scarves to homemade sausages. In the seaside town of St. Andrews, bagpipes and drums sing over the crashing waves throughout a week-long festival.

Throughout Scotland, gatherings called Ceilidhs draw hundreds of people dressed in plaid kilts and carry into the night as they dance to both traditional and modern Scottish music. And it’s not a celebration without Scottish foods like cullin skink, a hearty soup dish made with smoked haddock, potatoes and onions.

Happy St. Andrew’s Day, Scotland!

[9A]

Mar 22, 2023

Julieta Lanteri's 150th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 150th birthday of Julieta Lanteri, an Italian Argentine doctor and the first woman to vote in Argentina and South America. She was a staunch advocate for women’s rights and worked tirelessly to improve healthcare.

Lanteri was born on this day in Italy in 1873. Her family emigrated to Argentina when she was six years old. She became the first woman to attend the National School of La Plata, then studied pharmacology at the University of Buenos Aires. She earned her medical degree in 1907 — she was one of the first five woman to do so in Argentina! For the next 13 years, Lanteri regularly traveled to Europe to work in hospitals and learn about healthcare for women and children.

Beyond her skills as a physician, Lanteri was also a suffragette. In 1910, she helped organize the first International Women’s Congress. The following year, she gained Argentine citizenship and became the first woman to vote in South America when she casted a ballot for the Deliberative Council elections. After this monumental achievement, the Electoral Law was changed to require military service — only men were allowed to enlist.

Despite the constant obstacles she faced, Lanteri did not back down. She created her own political party, the National Feminist Union, and ran for the position of National Deputy from 1919 to 1932. The party’s platform stood for universal suffrage, gender equality, fair working conditions, childcare support, maternity benefits, and more.

Argentine women were finally granted the official right to vote in 1947. Although she couldn’t witness it with her own eyes, Lanteri’s contributions undoubtedly helped make this dream a reality. Her fierce determination is remembered far and wide throughout South America.

Happy birthday, Julieta Lanteri!

[9A]

Feb 17, 2022

Dr. Michiaki Takahashi's 94th Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Tokyo, Japan-based guest artist Tatsuro Kiuchi, celebrates Japanese virologist Dr. Michiaki Takahashi, who developed the first vaccine against chickenpox. Takahashi’s vaccine has since been administered to millions of children around the world as an effective measure to prevent severe cases of the contagious viral disease and its transmission.

Michiaki Takahashi was born on this day in 1928 in Osaka, Japan. He earned his medical degree from Osaka University and joined the Research Institute for Microbial Disease, Osaka University in 1959. After studying measles and polio viruses, Dr Takahashi accepted a research fellowship in 1963 at Baylor College in the United States. It was during this time that his son developed a serious bout of chickenpox, leading him to turn his expertise toward combating the highly transmissible illness.

Dr.Takahashi returned to Japan in 1965 and began culturing live but weakened chickenpox viruses in animal and human tissue. After just five short years of development, it was ready for clinical trials. In 1974, Dr. Takahashi had developed the first vaccine targeting the varicella virus that causes chickenpox. It was subsequently subjected to rigorous research with immunosuppressed patients and was proven to be extremely effective. In 1986, the Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University began the rollout in Japan as the only varicella vaccine approved by the World Health Organization.

Dr.Takahashi’s lifesaving vaccine was soon utilized in over 80 countries. In 1994, he was appointed the director of Osaka University’s Microbial Disease Study Group—a position he held until his retirement. Thanks to his innovations, millions of cases of chickenpox are prevented each year.

[9A]

Jul 27, 2023

Celebrating Ramón López Velarde




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Mexico-based guest artist Ale De la Torre, celebrates famous Mexican poet Ramón López Velarde. López Velarde is recognized as the father of Modern Mexican poetry and the national poet of Mexico for his French-influenced, postmodern work and style. On this day in 1917, the magazine that Ramón co-founded, Pegaso, ran its very last issue in Mexico.

López Velarde was born on June 15, 1888 in Jerez, Zacatecas. Following in the footsteps of his father, he studied law at the University of San Luis Potosí and started reading modernist poetry while at school. Despite receiving his law degree in 1911, his career was pulled in a different direction. He was invited to write for La Nación, a monthly publication in Mexico City.

In 1915, he began writing more personal poems, mostly about the nostalgia he felt about his hometown. A year later, López Velarde published his first book titled La Sangre Devota [The Pious Blood], which explores the differences between life in the bustling city and the quiet countryside. It was fairly celebrated by the Mexican literary community and opened the door to more poetic opportunities.

His most famous work, Zozobra, was published in 1919. The book is heavily ironic and captures the duality of several aspects of López Velarde’s life. The writing is praised for its unpredictability, unorthodox language, word games, and humorous rhymes. In 1920, after a turning point in Mexico’s government, he started writing for two journals named México Moderno and El Maestro. His most famous work, La suave patria, was part of the latter and cemented him as the country’s national poet.

[9A]

May 13, 2022

Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu's 135th Birthday


Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu was a high-flying reporter, war correspondent and the first licensed woman aviator in Romania. Today’s Google Doodle, illustrated by Cluj-Napoca, Romania-based guest artist Dariana Ilie, celebrates this aviator’s 135th Birthday

Caragiani-Stoenescu was born on May 13th, 1887 in Tecuci, Romania. At the age of 25, she flew for the first time in a plane piloted by her former horse-riding instructor. Later that year, she enrolled in the League of Aviation, a Romanian flying school. As the only female student in the school, her civil pilot license was rejected by the Ministries of Education and Civil Defense despite her completion of all courses.

Undeterred, Caragiani-Stoenescu joined the Civil Aviation School in France. At the age of 27 she received her pilot license, the 12th international license granted to a woman and the first for a Romanian woman. Romania didn’t allow her to participate in airshows, so Caragiani-Stoenescu became a reporter for a French daily newspaper, flying for long-distance trips to the Caribbean and South America. She also worked as a war correspondent for the Press Trust of Mexico.

After Romania’s entry into World War I, she requested to participate as a pilot, but was again denied. Caragiani-Stoenescu worked as a Red Cross nurse in Bucharest, Romania for the duration of the war. She later established a health clinic in Tecuci and worked as a journalist around the world focusing on airline events.

Today, a high school in Caragiani-Stoenescu’s birthplace bears her name and she is commonly studied in Romanian aviation courses. Happy 135th Birthday Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu! Your determination and legacy have inspired women to soar to new heights.

[9A]

Nov 30, 2022

St. Andrew's Day 2022




Today’s Doodle celebrates St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland. Each year on November 30th, the skirl of bagpipes fill the air as the Scottish enjoy their national day. This is one of the most important dates in the Scottish calendar after Burns Night and Hogmanay, signalling the beginning of Scotland’s Winter Festival each year.

Sources state that Andrew started life as a fisherman along with his brother Peter, as shown in today’s Doodle. Ever since 1320, St. Andrew has been the patron saint and national symbol of Scotland. Scotland’s blue and white national flag was established as early as 1540. Today, the flag, also known as the St. Andrew’s Cross, decorates buildings, homes and even the faces of Scottish people.

Ceilidhs are traditional Scottish parties that often take place in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Friends and family dress in festive plaid kilts and dance to a blend of modern pop and Scottish folk music. People also eat national dishes like cullen skink, a creamy fish soup, served with neeps [turnips] and tatties [potatoes].

Happy St. Andrew’s Day, Scotland!

[9A]

Nov 30, 2018

St. Andrew's Day 2018



St. Andrew has been Scotland’s patron saint since the country declared its independence in 1320. Relics of the martyred disciple have been enshrined in a Scottish monastery since the eighth century, making the town of St. Andrews a destination for pilgrimages. The blue and white “saltire” design on the Scottish flag is known as St. Andrew’s Cross.

Today’s Doodle commemorates this national holiday with Scotland’s national flower the thistle. Legend has it that in the 13th century an invading army of Vikings tried to sneak into the country barefoot—until they stumbled onto a thorny patch of thistles, alerting the Scottish clansmen who turned them away. Scotland’s affinity for thistles is also represented by The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest honor the nation can confer on any individual.

A celebration of Scottish culture, St. Andrew’s Day is a time for family and friends to come together for an old-fashioned gathering known as a cèilidh featuring storytelling, hearty Scottish food, traditional music, and step dancing. The holiday marks the start of Scottish winter festival season, kicking off this year with three days of music and film festivals, museum programs, and a torchlight parade through the streets of Glasgow. Scotland is also encouraging fairness, inclusivity and all manner of good works with its #MakeSomeonesDay campaign, carrying on Andrew’s saintly legacy.

Latha fèill Anndrais sona dhuibh, Alba! →Happy Saint Andrew’s Day, Scotland!

[9A]

Dec 23, 2018


Holidays 2018 [Day 1]




Joy to the world! During this time, folks around the world come together to share laughter, light, and festive feasts—all accompanied by songs of the season. However you choose to celebrate this merry season, we wish you nothing but joy and fulfillment.


Happy Holidays!

[9A]

Dec 25, 2018

Holidays 2018 [Northern Hemisphere Day 3]


It’s that festive time of year again! Sending along holiday cheer to you & your loved ones during this merry time.

Happy Holidays!

[9A]

Dec 24, 2018

Holidays 2018 [Southern Hemisphere Day 2]



Reported sightings of an unidentified flying object near the North Pole can now be confirmed. Radar scopes are picking up a large jolly blip accompanied by eight tiny blips, and a bright red light has been spotted throughout the polar vortex. Children are advised to be nice, not naughty and remain in bed until further notice. Be advised that this UFO may contain candy canes and good tidings for all!

Happy Holidays!

[9A]

Dec 25, 2019

Happy Holidays 2019 [Day 3]


No matter how you choose to celebrate, ‘tis the season to enjoy the holiday festivities during the most wonderful time of the year!

Happy holidays!

[9A]

Dec 24, 2019

Happy Holidays 2019 [Day 2]




No matter how you choose to celebrate, ‘tis the season to enjoy the holiday festivities during the most wonderful time of the year!


Happy holidays!

[9A]

Dec 23, 2016

Holidays 2016 [Day 1] Warm Climates




Warm up your singing voice and get ready to bring some summer cheer! Today's Doodle celebrates the season with our festive chorus of melody-makers. What better spot to set up than under a shady palm tree with your loved ones? From this family of letters to you, happy holidays!

Doodle by Gerben Steenks

[9A]

Dec 23, 2016

Holidays 2016 [Day 1]



‘Tis the season for song! Wintertime brings with it a number of traditions, but few as old or joyful as caroling. Dating back thousands of years, the original carols were songs specific to certain regions, and shared by wandering minstrels on their travels between towns. It wasn’t until the early 1800’s that the practice of caroling as we know it, spread across England and western Europe. During this time, cities began hosting outdoor orchestras that played songs for people to sing along with as they walked by.

Today’s Doodle features a merry crew of carolers, with a certain triangle player waiting for his moment…..

Doodle by Gerben Steenks

[9A]

Dec 24, 2016

Holidays 2016 [Day 2]




Happy holidays! This is the perfect time of year to cozy up to the window with your favorite blanket or mug, and watch the snow fall. While you’re there, sketch a foggy doodle or two [or five] of your own.

Doodle by Gerben Steenks

[9A]

Nov 20, 2014

Corita Kent's 96th Birthday




American nun and artist Corita Kent said it best with her quote, “To understand is to stand under which is to look up to which is a good way to understand.” Kent gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s with her artwork that featured messages of love and peace. Today, we mark her 96th birthday.

[9A]

Feb 26, 2023

Celebrating Didi Kempot



Today’s Doodle celebrates Didik Prasetyo [famously known as Didi Kempot], a beloved Indonesian singer and songwriter known as the “Godfather of Broken Hearts.” A master of Javanese campursari music, Kempot wrote over 700 songs throughout his prolific career. On this day in 2020, he received a Billboard Indonesia Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kempot was born into a family of entertainers in Surakarta, Indonesia in December 1966. His father and brother were both comedians and his mother was a traditional Javanese singer.

At 18, Kempot and his friends formed a street band called Kelompok Pengamen Trotoar [The Sidewalk Buskers' Group] — and began busking for a living. For more than two decades, this world-class singer performed undiscovered in the streets of Surakarta and Jakarta. Not only that, “Kelompok Pengamen Trotoar” later became where he got his infamous last name “Kempot”.

Although he was penniless, he wrote and performed some of his most famous songs — including "We Cen Yu", "Cidro" [Broken], "Moblong-Moblong" [Perforated], and "Podo Pintere" [Equally Smart] — during this time. After a long day of busking, Didi often stayed up to record his songs on blank tapes. Although most of the tapes he sent to recording studios never made Startit past the security desk, Kempot never gave up on his dreams.

Kempot finally got his big break in 1989 and signed with a music label. His first hit single Cidro became wildly popular in the Netherlands and Suriname — two countries with a large Javanese diaspora. It also paved the way for campursari music to break through the mainstream market.

When Kempot traveled to the Netherlands to perform in 1993, he was moved to see fans had memorized the lyrics to his song. He went on to release ten more albums in the Netherlands and Suriname.

In recent years, Kempot’s campursari music has experienced a resurgence in popularity among the younger generation. His songs continue to strike a chord with hopeless romantics around the world.

[9A]

Jan 16, 2023

Karima Mokhtar's 89th Birthday


Today’s Doodle celebrates the 89th birthday of Egyptian actress Karima Mokhtar. The “Mother of Egyptian Cinema” was known for depicting maternal characters with depth and humbleness. She was a prolific entertainer who starred in many films, TV shows, and plays throughout her career.

Karima was born on this day in 1934, in Sahel Selim, Egypt. Although her parents initially disapproved of a career in acting, she decided to pursue her silver-screen dreams. Karima graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theater from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts before searching for work in the entertainment industry.

A natural and charismatic performer, Karima successfully auditioned to present on “Baba Sharou,” a children’s radio program. This helped her land her first film role in Thaman El-Horeya [The Price of Freedom]. After starring in Al-Hafeed [The Grandson] as a young mother of seven children, Karima established her ability to depict maternal characters, which she’d soon become famous for.

Karima continued her success with films like Amira Hobi Ana [Amira My Love] and Al-Shaytan Ya'ez [The Devil Preaches]. She then explored other mediums like television and theater. Karima received acclaim for starring as a wife and mother dealing with familial turmoil in the play El-Eyal Kebret [The Kids Have Grown Up]. Later in her career, she took on one of her most famous roles in the popular Egyptian soap opera Yetraba Fi Ezo [May He Grow Up Prosperous]. Karima won Best Actress at the Cairo Arab Media Festival in 2007.

Leaving behind a legacy of strong and sympathetic performances, Karima helped revolutionize the Egyptian film industry and paved the way for future generations of actresses.

[9A]

Sep 24, 2023

Giovanna Boccalini Barcellona's 122nd Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 122nd birthday of Giovanna Boccalini Barcellona, an Italian educator and women’s rights activist in the early 20th century. She played a significant role in the advancement of emancipation and gender equality. Boccalini Barcellona also helped establish Italy's first women's football team, a groundbreaking achievement in a male-dominated sport.

Boccalini Barcellona was born in Lodi on this day in 1901. She studied education at the Scuola Normale Femminile and went on to become a primary school teacher. As an educator, Boccalini Barcellona worked to introduce reforms that aimed to provide girls and women with wider access to resources and opportunities. While teaching, she also enrolled in the Generale Workers’ Mutual Aid Society of Lodi and discovered her passion for social and political activism.

Her most notable legacy was founding the country’s first women's football team, the GFC [Gruppo Femminile Calcistico]. This act undoubtedly broke down gender barriers during a time when official sports were mostly played by men. Boccalini Barcellona’s work not only empowered women to pursue athletic endeavors but also challenged stereotypes about women's abilities and interests.

She was also one of the founding members of the GDD [Defence Groups for Women and for the Assistance of Freedom Fighters], an organization that was committed to equality and emancipation for women. Boccalini Barcellona's inspiring contributions to women’s education, rights and equality left a lasting impact on Italian society.

Happy birthday, Giovanna Boccalini Barcellona!

[9A]

Oct 09, 2022

Celebrating the Regatta de Zamboanga




Today’s Doodle celebrates Regatta de Zamboanga, an annual sailing competition from the southern part of the Philippines.

Every October, thousands of people gather along the kilometer-long stretch of R.T. Lim Boulevard in Zamboanga City to watch hundreds of vintas and their colorful sails race across the coastline. The event is the highlight of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival honoring its patron saint, the La Virgen Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza.

The racers are mostly Bajau fishermen who come from coastal villages like Sinunuc, Maasin, Labuan, Mariki, and the island of Santa Cruz. Each boat carries two people paddling towards victory.

Also known as lepa-lepa or sakayan, the vintas are traditional outrigger boats with vibrant, rectangular sails. The intricate patterns on the canvas—designed by the racers themselves—symbolize the identities, customs and aspirations of the region’s diverse ethnic groups.

Although the regatta is a friendly competition in celebration of the fishermen’s maritime skills, everyone is motivated to be one of the winning teams to take home a prize.

So, get ready, set, row! And may the fastest vinta paddler win!

[9A]

Aug 17, 2022

Indonesia Independence Day 2022





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Bandung-based guest artist Wastana Haikal, celebrates Indonesia Independence Day. Indonesia officially declared independence on this day in 1945.

Indonesians commemorate the day with parades, carnivals and marching bands. Across the country, the red and white national colors decorate homes and streets in forms of flags and ornaments. The national flag hoisting ceremony, attended by Indonesia's president, is held at the State Palace and kicks off the day’s festivities. Following the broadcasted event, the Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace features public figures, national heroes, and veterans in attendance.

Boat races [Pacu perahus]—like the one featured in today’s artwork—are one of Independence Day’s most popular traditions. The Pacu Jalur Festival hosts the biggest race in the country. After song and dance performances, more than one hundred vibrantly decorated boats row down the Batang Kuantan River. Teams of up to sixty people dress in traditional dance costumes as onlookers gather on the riverbanks.

As a maritime country, Pacu Jalur festival is one of the many traditions that teaches the importance of teamwork. A message that is aligned with Indonesia's national motto, Bhinekka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity].

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia!

[9A]

Dec 09, 2018

Sir Douglas Nicholls’ 112th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates Sir Douglas Nicholls, the athlete, pastor, and political leader who championed the upliftment of Australia’s Indigenous people and went on to become the first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted by the Queen of England.

Born in Yorta Yorta Country, New South Wales, on this day in 1906, Nicholls was raised in Cummeragunga Mission Station, an Aboriginal reserve on the Murray River. After receiving a basic education he worked as a “tar boy,” preparing sheep for shearing, and later joined a dredging team building levees on the river.

Although he stood just 5’2” Nicholls was a gifted athlete who won various sprinting titles, was an expert boomerang thrower, and who excelled in football. As the first Indigenous Australian to play football professionally, Nicholls endured scorn from teammates and trainers, but eventually found his team and helped the Northcote club reach the grand finals for three seasons—winning the title in 1929.

Motivated by the founder of the Australian Aborigines’ League, Sir Nicholls got involved in politics and began speaking out for the rights of Indigenous people. “I know we can proudly hold our own with others if given the chance,” Nicholls proclaimed in 1938 at Australia’s first gathering to advance the cause of Aboriginal civil rights.

In 1940, Nicholls retired as a football player due to knee injuries. Drawn to the church after the loss of his mother, he became the first pastor of Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia. “Pastor Doug” held regular meetings that led to a thriving community center. He was appointed to a parliamentary committee which investigated abuses towards Indigenous people and edited Smoke Signals, the journal of the Aboriginal Advancement League.

In 1976 Nicholls was appointed governor of South Australia, becoming the first Indigenous Australian to hold the office. Nicholls was named a Member of the British Empire, Victorian Father of the Year, Order of the British Empire, and in 1972 traveled to London to be knighted by the Queen of England.

Happy Birthday, Sir Douglas Nicholls!

[9A]

Jan 02, 2009

Elfstedentocht 2009



The Elfstedentocht [ English: Eleven cities tour] is a long-distance tour skating event on natural ice, almost 200 kilometres [120 mi] long, which is held both as a speed skating competition [with 300 contestants] and a leisure tour [with 16,000 skaters]. It is held in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands, leading past all eleven historical cities of the province. The tour is held at most once a year, only when the natural ice along the entire course is at least 15 centimetres [6 in] thick; sometimes on consecutive years, other times with gaps that may exceed 20 years. When the ice is suitable, the tour is announced and starts within 48 hours.

[9A]

Sep 04, 2023

Labor Day 2023

Today’s Doodle honors employees in the United States and Canada and those who fought and those that continue to advocate for better working conditions. In early September of 1882, the first commemoration of Labor Day took place in the form of a sprawling parade in New York City.

In the 19th century, trade and labor unions rallied and organized strikes to push for employment standards that often get overlooked today: 40-hour work weeks, paid time off, safety, and sick leave. Union leaders began advocating for a holiday that appreciates working people and the difference they make in the world. The Central Labor Union adopted a proposal for the celebration and began organizing the first NYC parade.

Oregon became the first to declare it a legal holiday in 1887. Several followed suit by the end of the year, but it wouldn’t become a federal holiday in the U.S. and Canada until 1894.

Happy Labor Day to all past, present, and future labor leaders and workers!

[9A]

Dec 03, 2023

Antonio Variações's 79th Birthday




This Doodle celebrates Portuguese singer and songwriter António Variações, who is widely considered one of the most significant pop stars from the ‘80s and symbol of pride for the LGBTQ+ community in Portugal.

Twenty years after his death, in December 2004 , an album was released in his honor, with songs written by him that had never been released; seven well-known Portuguese musicians formed the band Humans and recorded 12 songs selected from a set of "lost" cassettes in the Variações estate managed by their brother, Jaime Ribeiro.

In an interview, António Variações explained the chosen name: " Variações is a word that suggests elasticity, freedom. And that's exactly what I am and what I do in the field of music. What I sing is heterogeneous. I don't want to stick to one style. No I'm limited. I'm concerned about doing things in different styles. "

[9A]

Aug 31, 2023

Celebrating Lake Toba




Today’s Doodle celebrates Lake Toba, or Danau Toba, in Sumatra island of Indonesia! It’s the world’s largest crater lake and one of the deepest lakes in the world. Lake Toba is a natural result of a massive volcanic eruption from Toba Caldera thousands of years ago. Lake Toba also boasts beautifully scenic sights and is home to a UNESCO Global Geopark. On this day in 2020, Lake Toba was designated as UNESCO Global Geopark.

Toba Caldera erupted more than 74,000 years ago and created Lake Toba. The mega-eruption caused the volcano’s magma chamber to collapse, which eventually formed the island now known as Samosir. The island is a well known tourist destination and home to several Indigenous ethnic tribes.

In celebrating Lake Toba, it’s also important to recognize the Indigenous Batak Toba people who are the lake’s native inhabitants. Their traditional villages riddled with local markets and wondrous houses attract curious visitors from far and wide. In the villages it's common to see traditional dancing like the Tor-Tor and authentic wood carvings souvenirs.

Many tourists also visit Lake Toba for its variety of outdoor activities and breathtaking natural wonders. Those who aren’t afraid of heights visit Huta Ginjang to go paragliding, while others who prefer the water can relax on beaches or kayak through the lake. The nearby Sipiso-piso waterfall is also said to be an extraordinary experience that washes away all worries.

[9A]

Dec 07, 2020

Kateryna Bilokur's 120th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 120th birthday of Ukrainian painter Kateryna Bilokur, a self-taught virtuoso who earned international renown for her detailed and vivid paintings, especially those featuring her signature focus on flowers. Through a courageous devotion to her craft, Bilokur overcame great adversity to earn recognition alongside the master artists of her time.

Kateryna Bilokur was born on this day in 1900 in Bohdanivka, a village in Ukraine’s Kyiv region. She was denied a primary education and spent her days as a farm worker, but she refused to let this stand in her way. She crafted brushes out of raw materials and paints out of foods like beets and elderberries to pursue her artistic passion in her free time, with nature as her muse.

Then when she was nearly 40, her life took a fortuitous turn. Inspired by a song on the radio, Bilokur wrote a letter of admiration to the Ukrainian singer Oksana Petrusenko with an original work attached. Petrusenko was so impressed that she helped pave the way for the first exhibitions of Bilokur’s work. Over the next two decades, her unique depictions of transcendent natural beauty reached an international audience, notably earning huge praise from the Spanish master Pablo Picasso at a 1954 exhibition in Paris.

For her lifetime achievements, Bilokur was named a People’s Artist of Ukraine, the highest arts award for Ukrainian citizens.

Happy birthday to an artist who proved it’s never too late to blossom into your potential.

[9A]

Dec 04, 2019

Professor Rapee Sagarik’s 97th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates horticulturalist and botanist Professor Sagarik on the 97th anniversary of his birth in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand—a country that is home to nearly 1,300 native species of orchid.

Widely known as the “father of Thai orchids,” Professor Sagarik was also later president at Bangkok’s Kasetsart University and also served on the Faculty of Agriculture at Maejo University in the northern city of Chiang Mai. He is widely considered Thailand’s foremost expert in the breeding and conservation of these delicate, beautiful plants.

Once considered an exclusive pastime for the wealthy, orchid-growing became more accessible thanks in part to Professor Sagarik’s research and education efforts. He founded the Orchid Society of Thailand in 1957 and later became a regular speaker at the World Orchid Conference. In 1984, he organized the first Asia Pacific Orchid Conference. Thanks to Professor Sagarik’s efforts, Thailand’s first orchid library opened In December 1993.

Thailand is now the world's foremost exporter of orchids, and many of the most popular varieties were bred from wild Thai orchids.

“These flowers are not like the ones you see every day, which blossom and then wither away,” Professor Sagarik once observed. Because the beauty of orchids is passed onto future generations, he called the flowers “love in humankind.”

S̄uk̄hs̄ạnt̒ wạn keid, Professor Sagarik!

[9A]

Dec 05, 2023

Celebrating the Art of Đờn Ca Tài Tử


Today's Doodle celebrates the art of Đờn Ca Tài Tử, a traditional genre of southern Vietnamese chamber music.

Don ca tai tu was formed and developed in the late 19th century, originating from ceremonial music, Hue royal court music and folk literature. Don Ca Tai Tu is a typical folk art form of the Southern region. This is an art form of music and singing, sung by ordinary people, young men and women in the Southern countryside after working hours. Don Ca Tai Tu appeared more than 100 years ago, is a type of performance with a band consisting of four types: pliers, stork, zither and monochord [called quartet]. Later, there was an innovation by replacing the bass guitar with a concave fret guitar. Most of the people participating in Don Ca Tai Tu are friends and neighbors. They gather together to share elegant pleasures, so they are often not picky about their attire.

Wise lyricists constantly create new songs as they find fresh inspiration in nearly 100 traditional songs, including ancient and original [Ancestral] songs. A teacher fluent in ancient songs will help the musicians master instruments while another teaches chanting and singing. When the group comes together, they create enchanting music.

It is always a good time to enjoy Đờn Ca Tài Tử in Vietnam. The tunes are a big part of anniversaries, weddings, Tết [Vietnamese New Year], birthdays, and just about any gathering. It connects the community through shared culture, art, and music, and will continue to do so for generations to come.