Google doodles

[9A]

23 Apr 2015
Shoen Uemura’s 140th birthday






Uemura Shōen was the pseudonym of an important artist in Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japanese painting. Her real name was Uemura Tsune. Shōen was known primarily for her bijin-ga paintings of beautiful women in the nihonga style, although she produced numerous works on historical themes and traditional subjects. Shōen is considered a major innovator in the bijin-ga genre despite the fact she often still used it to depict the traditional beauty standards of women. Bijin-ga gained criticism during the Taisho era while Shōen worked due to its lack of evolution to reflect the more modern statuses of women in Japan. During bijin-ga's conception in the Tokugawa, or Edo, period, women were regarded as lower class citizens and the genre often reflected this implication onto its female subjects. Within the Taisho era, women had made several advancements into the Japanese workforce, and artistry specifically was becoming more popular outside of pass times for the elite, which opened way for Shōen's success.

Shōen received many awards and forms of recognition during her lifetime within Japan, being the first female recipient of the Order of Culture award, as well as being hired as the Imperial Household's official artist, which had previously only employed one other official woman in the position. In 1949 she died of cancer just a year after receiving the Order of Culture Award.

[9A]

18 Apr 2011
129th Birthday of Monteiro Lobato





José Bento Renato Monteiro Lobato was one of Brazil's most influential writers, mostly for his children's books set in the fictional Sítio do Picapau Amarelo [Yellow Woodpecker Farm] but he had been previously a prolific writer of fiction, a translator and an art critic. He also founded one of Brazil's first publishing houses [Companhia Editora Nacional] and was a supporter of nationalism.

[9A]

4 Apr 2011
Senegal Independence Day 2011









Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal nearly surrounds The Gambia, a country occupying a narrow sliver of land along the banks of the Gambia River, which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country. Senegal also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. Senegal's economic and political capital is Dakar.

Senegal is well known for the West African tradition of storytelling, which is done by griots, who have kept West African history alive for thousands of years through words and music. The griot profession is passed down generation to generation and requires years of training and apprenticeship in genealogy, history and music. Griots give voice to generations of West African society.

[9A]

13 Apr 2011
Songkran Festival 2011






Songkran is a term derived from the Sanskrit word, saṅkrānti [or, more specifically, meṣa saṅkrānti] and used to refer to the traditional New Year celebrated in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, parts of northeast India, parts of Vietnam and Xishuangbanna, China. It begins when the sun transits the constellation of Aries, the first astrological sign in the Zodiac, as reckoned by sidereal astrology. It is related to the equivalent Hindu calendar-based New Year festivals in most parts of South Asia which are collectively referred to as Mesha Sankranti.

[9A]

25 Apr 2011
90th Birthday of Karel Appel




Christiaan Karel Appel was a Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet. He started painting at the age of fourteen and studied at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam in the 1940s. He was one of the founders of the avant-garde movement CoBrA in 1948. He was also an avid sculptor and has had works featured in MoMA and other museums worldwide.

[9A]

26 Apr 2011
Vallenato Festival 2011






The Vallenato Legend Festivalis one of the most important musical festivals in Colombia. The festival features a vallenato music contests for best performer of accordion, caja vallenata and guacharaca, as well as piqueria [battle of lyrics] and best song. It's celebrated every year in April in the city of Valledupar, Department of Cesar.

[9A]

27 Apr 2011
Freedom Day 2011




Anniversary of the first general election in South Africa after the end of apartheid in 1994

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29 Apr 2011
Royal Wedding





Admittedly, this was one a bit challenging as far as doodles go. We usually replace a letter or two, but in this case, the entire logo was replaced with scenery, hidden in the form of buildings, bridges and fairy tale-esque castles, not to mention that huge crowd! If you found the logo a little difficult to read, that’s okay, we did it on purpose — we just didn’t want our logo to steal any attention away from the bride and groom’s big day!

[9A]

1 May 2011
Labour Day 2011

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10 May 2011
Zhang Daqian's 112th Birthday







Chang Dai-chien or Zhang Daqian was one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Originally known as a guohua [traditionalist] painter, by the 1960s he was also renowned as a modern impressionist and expressionist painter. In addition, he is regarded as one of the most gifted master forgers of the twentieth century.

[9A]

19 May 2011
Nellie Melba's 150th Birthday







Dame Nellie Melba was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century, and was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician. She took the pseudonym "Melba" from Melbourne, her home town.

During the First World War, Melba raised large sums for war charities. She returned to Australia frequently during the 20th century, singing in opera and concerts, and had a house built for her near Melbourne. She was active in the teaching of singing at the Melbourne Conservatorium. Melba continued to sing until the last months of her life and made a large number of "farewell" appearances. Her death, in Australia, was news across the English-speaking world, and her funeral was a major national event. The Australian $100 note features her image.

[9A]

25 May 2011
Jordan Independence Day 2011







Independence Day: The most important event in the history of Jordan is its independence from the British government.

The independence of Jordan came as a result of the London Treaty signed by Emir Abdullah and the British Government. The treaty was signed on 22 May 1946 and was ratified by the Jordanian parliament later on.

The holiday is usually marked with official ceremonies attended by members of the House of Hashim, as well as civil and military officials. Award presentations, political speeches and diplomatic visits are commonplace on the holiday. In the Jordanian Armed Forces, Presentation of Colours ceremonies and national/unit military parades are common during the day, as well as a 21-gun salute in the capital. On the civilian level, festive events and activities including a fireworks display and special religious services are held.

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2 Jun 2011
Father's Day 2011 - Germany

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2 Jun 2011
Republic Day Italy 2011

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12 Jun 2011
Russia Day 2011

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27 April 2014
South Africa Freedom Day




Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on the 27th of April. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994.

[9A]

17 January 2019
Konstantin Stanislavski's 156th Birthday







Born in Moscow on this day in 1863, Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski was raised in a prominent Russian family that supported his interest in theater as it grew from a hobby to a passion. He focused on acting at first, relentlessly refining his craft in a quest to bring emotional truth to the stage.

He later became interested in directing and production, founding the renowned Moscow Arts Theater in 1898. Their 1904 premiere of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard is widely considered a masterpiece of modern theater.

Among his contributions to the world of theatre, Stanislavksi developed an influential system for training actors, and his ideas were profoundly important to the development of what is now known as method acting. “There are no small parts,” Stanislavski observed. “Only small actors.” By devising a series of seven questions, he helped aspiring actors to understand their characters and motivation more fully The questions, which are featured in the animation of today’s Doodle include:

1. Who Am I?
2. Where Am I?
3. What Time Is It?
4. What Do I Want
5. Why Do I Want It?
6. How Will I Get What I Want?
7. What Must I Overcome To Get What I Want?

As simple as they may seem, answering these questions required extensive research and reflection. During rehearsals, Stanislavski would often comment “I do not believe you,” pushing actors to bring their performances to life by digging into their own psyches.

In recognition of his contributions to Russian theater, he was awarded the Red Banner of Labor, the Order of Lenin, and the title “People's Artist of the U.S.S.R.”

[9A]

26 Apr 2014
King's Day 2014

[9A]

28 Apr 2014
Cinecittà's 77 anniversary







Cinecittà Studios [Italian for Cinema City Studios, is a large film studio in Rome, Italy. With an area of 400,000 square metres [99 acres], it is the largest film studio in Europe, and is considered the hub of Italian cinema. The studios were constructed during the Fascist era as part of a plan to revive the Italian film industry.

Filmmakers such as Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, Luchino Visconti, Sergio Leone, Bernardo Bertolucci, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Mel Gibson have worked at Cinecittà. More than 3,000 movies have been filmed there, of which 90 received an Academy Award nomination and 47 of these won it. In the 1950s, the number of international productions being made there led to Rome being dubbed "Hollywood on the Tiber."

[9A]

29 Apr 2014
Ustad Alla Rakha's 95th Birthday







Ustad Allarakha Qureshi, popularly known as Alla Rakha, was an Indian tabla player who specialized in Hindustani classical music. He was a frequent accompanist of sitar player Ravi Shankar and was largely responsible for introducing Tabla to the western audience.

A tabla is a pair of twin hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, tabla has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as accompaniment with other instrument and vocals, and as a part of larger ensembles. Tabla is also frequently played in popular and folk music performances in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The tabla is also an important instrument in the bhakti devotional traditions of Hinduism and Sikhism, such as during bhajan and kirtan singing. It is one of the main qawali instrument used by Sufi musicians. Tabla also features in dance performances such as Kathak.

[9A]

29 Apr 2014
Gerard Oury's 95th Birthday








If you're not a French film buff, it may look like we have some explaining to do... and you'd be right! While the uniforms seem to indicate these are members of a dark and sinister army, they are in fact the famous comedic duo, Louis de Funes and Bourvil, cast as ordinary Frenchmen disguised in German uniforms in Gerard Oury's best-known work, La Grande Vadrouille.

[9A]

1 May 2014
Mahmoud Shokoko's 102nd Birthday





Mahmoud Shokoko was an Egyptian actor and artist. He is best known for his puppet character "Aragouzsho".

[9A]

4 May 2014
Audrey Hepburn's 85th Birthday






Today Audrey Kathleen Hepburn-Ruston would have turned 85. She passed away 21 years ago, on January 20, 1993 at 8pm, at the young age of 63 from a rare type of cancer. Soon after losing her we felt that, would she have had more time on this earth, she would have spent it continuing to speak on the behalf of the millions of children who don’t have a ‘fair start’ in life. This was the generation she worked for tirelessly for the last 5 years of her life as an ambassador for UNICEF. During her tenure [1988-1992] 45,000 of them died of preventable causes each day. Today the number is down to 21,000. She believed in education as a way to change the course of history in those countries that are still developing, which is why we created both the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund [www.audreyhepburn.com] and the Audrey Hepburn Society at the US Fund for UNICEF [www.unicefusa.org/AudreyHepburnSociety]. Both dedicated to assisting in the survival and development of children in need all over the World of which over 100,000,000, 2/3 of whom are girls, still do not have access to a basic education.

While she is still remembered as a film actor, she also remains a symbol of both inner and outer elegance for many, her last chapter as a humanitarian forever intertwined with her Hollywood and style legacies. This truly brings home the concept that it is not what you wear but how you wear it – not what you say but how you say it - as she always used to say, “it’s not just the words but it’s also the ‘tune’ that counts”. “Put yourself in the other person shoes” was also one of her motos. This is how she reached the inner core of the roles she played and probably what also made her humanitarian missions so unbearably vivid. She could feel their pain.

What is extraordinary about this last chapter of her life is that she truly was a ‘sprite’ – youthful at heart and fun to the core - which is probably why she has successfully communicated with our youth. Today they represent more than half of her fan base. And it is this same generation that wishes to find a way to be an active player in ‘changing the World.’ In time, they will cause the way we look at business – at profit – to change. Rather than having separate ‘for profit’ and ‘nonprofit’ activities, they will cause the two to merge into one, thus giving the possibility for all to do what they love while doing something that enhances society as a whole.

Thank you to all of you who have kept her ‘story’ alive. In the end this is who & what she was… a great story teller. Whether on the silver screen or on a UNICEF podium fighting for the survival of millions or wearing the iconic ‘little back dress’ or smiling at you from a poster on your cupboard door… her story of feelings and emotions, style and grace, elegance and compassion lives on thanks to your affection.

[9A]

7 May 2014
South Africa Elections 2014

[9A]

18 September 2017
Chile National Day 2017







On this date in 1810, the first Junta de Gobierno [Government Junta] was formed, and the Chilean people embarked on an eight-year-long struggle for independence from Spain.

Many Chileans take advantage of the holidays and the good weather to travel and gather with friends and family. Kites fill the skies, and revelers dance the traditional cueca. Children and grown-ups alike might indulge in a sack race, fight to the top of a palo ensebado [[greased pole), or even try a game of pillar el chancho, aiming to catch a very greasy pig!

Today’s Doodle, by Chilean artist Paloma Valdivia, celebrates the country’s pride in its diverse people and its bountiful natural resources. Each element of the Doodle carries a special meaning:

• The Mapuche [indigenous people] and the huaso [Chilean cowboys] represent Chile's diverse people.
• The mountain represents the Andes Mountain range, which stretches along Chile’s eastern borders and is home to some of the world’s tallest peaks.
• The little red boat signifies the special relationship Chileans share with the sea and its resources.
• The cactus represents the north of Chile, home to the driest desert in the world, the Atacama.
• The penguin represents Chile’s Antarctic territory, base to several Chilean and international research stations. Remote Easter Island is home to the moai.
• gigantic monoliths carved by the Rapa Nui people centuries ago.
• The majestic condor [among the world’s heaviest flying birds] and the bright red copihue [Chile’s national flower] symbolize the country’s rich biodiversity.

[9A]

19 Sept 2017
Amalia Hernandez’s 100th Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernandez. She founded the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico and used it to share Mexican culture with the world.

Born in 1917, Hernandez developed a passion for performing and dance early in life. She became a choreographer at the Fine Arts National Institute, where she taught modern dance. She then turned her focus to traditional Mexican folk dances. She combined these dances with more choreographed movements from her formal training, helping to create an entirely new style of dance known as baile folklorico.

In 1952, Hernandez founded the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Beginning with just eight dancers, the troupe grew to over three hundred in the years to follow. The company performed on television for the first time in 1954, after which they were featured in a weekly broadcast. This success allowed Amalia’s group to tour North America and even represent Mexico in the Pan American Games in 1959.

The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico still performs to this day. Since its inception, the group has danced for more than 22 million people. Hernandez remained involved with the company until her death in 2000, working alongside her daughters and grandson.

Happy 100th birthday to Amalia Hernandez, remembered as an ambassador of Mexican culture whose legacy lives on through the Ballet Folklorico.

[9A]

14 May 2018
Celebrating Strawberry Season







Today’s Doodle celebrates Germany’s sweetest time of year: Erdbeersaison, or strawberry season!

Beginning anywhere from early to mid-May, the season is one of the first signs of summer. It’s also the only time Germans can feast on fresh local strawberries all year. Luckily, the fruit is ripe with possibilities: it’s added to jams, cakes, fruit salads, and milkshakes and can be found across the country in farmers’ markets, fruit stands, and even Berlin’s underground station.

Strawberries aren’t the only food that produces a frenzy around this time of year. Seasonal eating is a way of life in Germany, with Spargelzeit, or asparagus season, topping the shopping list of beloved fruits and veggies.

In today’s Doodle, guest artist Barbara Dziadosz depicts some of the many ways locals savor this season’s fruit, from strawberry picking to picnicking.

Wishing you a berry happy Erdbeersaison, Germany!

[9A]

15 May 2018
Maria Reiche’s 115th Birthday






As the sun peeks over the high desert horizon in southern Peru, it illuminates a rust-colored “blackboard” scrawled with curious white lines — some perfectly straight, many with hairpin curves — that stretch for miles. Only from the air are the subjects revealed: a monkey, a spider, a hummingbird, and many more.

These are the Nazca Lines, and for decades, Maria Reiche was their staunch guardian — a lone woman perched on a stepladder, bearing a sextant, compass, broom, and mathematical mind.

Reiche was born in Dresden on May 15th, 1903, and went on to study mathematics, astronomy, and geography. In 1932, she was selected from a slew of applicants to take a job in Peru — a move that would decide the course of her life. Working with historian Paul Kosok in 1941, Reiche was first introduced to the ancient figures, or geoglyphs, that stretch across the pampa.

Intrigued, Reiche fully dedicated herself to the study of the mysterious white shapes. Using a measuring tape, sextant, and compass, she measured almost 1000 lines, investigating their astronomical orientation. Reiche discovered that many of the Lines function as markers for the summer solstice, and theorized their builders used the figures as an astronomical calendar. [Today, the Lines are believed to have served a more ceremonial purpose.] Upon mapping the area [with the help of the Peruvian Air Force], she discovered the figures represent 18 different kinds of animals and birds, in addition to hundreds of geometric shapes.

Reiche was was also devoted to the Lines’ protection. With only a household broom, she physically shielded the figures from people and vehicles, in addition to raising money for their overall preservation. Gradually, the “woman who swept the desert” became known worldwide as the “Lady of the Lines.”

Reiche’s immense dedication deeply endeared her to the people of Peru, so much that in 1992 she was granted Peruvian citizenship, and the Nazca airport is named after her. In 1995, UNESCO declared the Nazca Lines a World Heritage Site.

Today’s Doodle by Guille Comin and Elda Broglio depicts the “Lady of the Lines” in her element on what would have been her 115th birthday.

[9A]

15 May 2018
Chote Praepan’s 111th Birthday








Today’s Doodle celebrates Thai writer and columnist Chote Praepan [best known by his pen name “Yacob” or “Jacob”], whose works and influence significantly shaped mid-20th century Thai literature.
Born in 1907 and raised in poverty, Praepan persevered against all adversity to fulfill his dream as a writer. The author of numerous novels and short stories, it was his novel Phu Chana Sibthid [The Many Who Gained Victory in Ten Directions], which catapulted him to mainstream Thai fame and success.

Set in the Burmese Royal court, the eight-book tale of love and war was so popular that fans would gather outside the publishing house upon new book releases to obtain copies hot off the presses! The immensely popular series has also been adapted into film, operas, and television dramas.

Praepan also went on to be a sought-after columnist and newspaper editor, as depicted in today’s Doodle.

[9A]

3 October 2020
30th Anniversary of German Unity Day






Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist Christoph Niemann, commemorates German Unity Day or Tag der Deutschen Einheit on the 30th anniversary of the country's reunification.

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in late 1989, government officials from East and West Germany signed an agreement on August 31, 1990, that consolidated the two countries into one nation. Known as the Unification Treaty, the historic resolution went into effect just over a month later on October 3rd, a date now celebrated each year as a national holiday across Germany.

Einen schönen Tag der Deutschen Einheit! Happy German Unity Day!

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3 October 2010
German Reunification Day 2010

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3 October 2012
German Reunification Day 2012

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3 October 2017
Gerardo Murillo's [Dr. Atl] 142nd Birthday





Today's Doodle celebrates "Dr. Atl," born Gerardo Murillo in Guadalajara in 1875.

In a time of revolution and renaissance, Murillo greatly influenced Mexico’s political and cultural identity. He was an activist, artist, writer, journalist, and overall cultural leader.

Murillo pioneered the idea of artistic nationalism. To show his pride in his Mexican heritage, he took on the name "Atl," meaning water in Náhuatl. He worked his entire life to promote Native Mexican culture, writing extensively on folk art, music, and dance.

Murillo loved nature, and in volcanoes, he found his greatest inspiration. He frequently hiked to Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, living and painting on the volcanic slopes for weeks at a time. In 1943, he witnessed the birth of Paricutín and documented the experience in his book Cómo nace y crece un volcán, el Paricutín [How a Volcano Is Born and Grows – Paricutín].

For his contributions to the artistic and cultural heritage of Mexico, he was awarded the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor and the National Arts Award.

Today’s Doodle, by artist Julian Ardila, depicts Murillo painting one of his beloved volcanoes.

[9A]

2 Oct 2017
Grandparents' Day 2017 [Italy]

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1 Oct 2017
Nigeria Independence Day 2017







On October 1,1960, the flag of British Colonial Nigeria was lowered and new flag was raised. After a century of British influence, the region we know today as Nigeria became a commonwealth realm. This made the new country a sovereign state, and gave it the same political status as other countries around the globe.

Though 1960 is generally celebrated as the birth year of Nigeria, it wasn’t until 1963 that the rule of monarchy was abolished and the Federal Republic of Nigeria was born. In any case, October 1 is a significant date in the history of Africa’s most populous nation.

Today we celebrate this diverse nation and its glorious green and white flag. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

[9A]

1 October 2006
Castellers 2006

Castellers of London [CoL] is a group of people with an interest in building human towers [castells], a Catalan tradition that dates back more than 200 years, who live in London, England. Many of the people involved in CoL are from Catalonia, but the group also includes people of many nationalities. The goal of CoL is to promote the tradition of castells in the London area by holding open rehearsals and organising special events, such as exhibitions.

In 2015, a group of people experienced in building castells held a series of workshops to promote human towers in London and attract Londoners to attend their rehearsals. They started at Rochester Square Gardens in Camden, moved to Camden Garden, then to Regent's Park and then rehearsed in St Thomas the Apostle church in Arsenal North London. Currently, rehearsals take place in Guy's Hospital Southwark [Wednesday, 7–9 pm] and the Thanet Community Centre [Sunday, 2–5 pm].

CoL continues to expand its membership, and currently includes people of different backgrounds and all ages, as well as whole families.

Their debut performance took place during the Youth Fest in Tottenham on 18 July 2015. First pilar of 4 would not happen until 5 September 2015 during the celebration of the Catalan National Day in Kennington Park, Lambeth.

So far CoL are focused on building stable structures six levels tall.

[9A]

1 October 2018
Grandparents' Day 2018 [Greece]

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1 Oct 2018
Mary Prince’s 230th Birthday






On this day in 1788, Mary Prince was born in Brackish Pond, Bermuda. Sold from master to master throughout her life, Prince ended up on the island of Antigua in 1815 where she joined the Moravian church in 1817 and learned to read. Despite not having received a formal education, Prince went on to be recognized as a National Hero of Bermuda for her work to abolish slavery.

In December 1826 Prince married Daniel James, a former slave who had managed to buy his freedom. Her master at the time punished her for marrying a free black man with permission and in two years time the husband and wife were separated because Prince’s family moved to England taking her with them.

After the passage of Great Britain’s Slave Trade Act in 1807, slavery was no longer allowed in England, although the institution of slavery continued in the British colonies. Prince was legally free on British soil, but she had no means to support herself. Under the prevailing rules of the time, if she tried to return home to her husband, she would risk being enslaved again.

In 1829 Prince became the first woman to present a petition to Parliament, arguing for her human right to freedom. That same year some of her associates in the anti-slavery “abolitionist” movement introduced a bill proposing that any West Indian slave brought to England by his or her owners must be freed. It did not pass, but momentum was beginning to shift in favor of the abolitionist cause.

Two years later Prince published her autobiography, making her the first black woman to publish a slave narrative in England. Her book played a decisive role in turning British public opinion against the centuries-old institution of human enslavement.

“I have been a slave myself,” Prince wrote in The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave. “I know what slaves feel—I can tell by myself what other slaves feel, and by what they have told me. The man that says slaves be quite happy in slavery—that they don't want to be free—that man is either ignorant or a lying person. I never heard a slave say so.”

Published in 1831, the book caused a sensation, going through three printings in the first year alone. In one of the book’s many heartbreaking passages, Prince recalled being sold “like sheep or cattle” on the same day as her younger sisters Hannah and Dina were sold to different masters. “When the sale was over, my mother hugged and kissed us, and mourned over us, begging of us to keep up a good heart, and do our duty to our new masters. It was a sad parting; one went one way, one another, and our poor mammy went home with nothing.”

Two lawsuits for libel were filed against the book’s publisher in 1833, and Mary Prince testified at both, effectively rebuking any claims that the book was inaccurate or defamatory. After that there is no record of her movements—she may have stayed in England or returned home to her husband in Bermuda.

On August 1, 1838, some 800,000 slaves living in British colonies throughout the Caribbean were finally set free, following the passage of Great Britain’s Slavery Abolition Act, which was passed by Parliament two years after the publication of Mary Prince’s book.

[9A]

1 Oct 2018
Celebrating Milton Santos





Geography is not usually considered a controversial academic discipline. But the Brazilian scholar Milton Santos created a different school of thought that saw geography in its totality, invested with critical meaning and value. During a career that spanned over 50 years, Santos argued for a “New Geography” that encompassed more than the physical features of the earth, addressing the lives of the people who live there, as well as the distribution of space and resources that shapes their lives.

Born on May 3, 1926, in the Brotas de Macaúbas section of Bahia, Santos was the son of two elementary school teachers, and as a result was educated at home. Though higher education was not easily accessible to Santos, he was motivated to study by his father’s reminders that they had descended from slaves. Santos continued his pursuit of education by teaching high school geography in order to pay for his university tuition . In 1958 he earned a PhD in Geography from the University of Strasbourg, returning from France to teach at the Catholic University of Salvador and the Federal University of Bahia.

After decades of contributions to his field, Santos became the first Brazilian to win the Vautrin Lud International Geography Prize, known as the “Nobel Prize for Geography”—on this day in 1994. The prestigious accolade had never been awarded to a scholar who wrote in a language besides English.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Santos’ quest for knowledge continued with his groundbreaking book The Nature of Space, which won Brazil’s Jabuti Award in 1997. That same year he also received the title of Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo.

Neither old age nor illness dampened his passion for the ideas he believed in. In July 2000, Santos and some of his students at the University of São Paulo published a pamphlet titled ‘The Active Role of Geography: A Manifesto,’ which they distributed at a national Brazilian geographers’ meeting. The provocative text sparked a passionate debate, just as Santos intended about the societal effects of a given geography.

Although his work has not yet been as widely translated and distributed as he would have liked, Santos’ legacy stands as a brilliant scholar who cared deeply about ways to create a better world for all of humanity.

[9A]

3 Oct 2018
German Reunification Day 2018







Today’s Doodle celebrates the Reunification of Germany, which occurred 29 years ago on this date in 1990. Following the end of World War II, Germany split into East and West Germany, two separate European countries with a shared language and culture but different systems of government. The most famous symbol of this division, cutting through the former capital city, was the Berlin wall.

Constructed in 1961, the wall stood as a literal barrier between East Germany’s communist DDR [Deutsche Demokratische Republik] and West Germany’s capitalist BDR [Bundesrepublik Deutschland].

But toward the end of the ’80s, as the European Cold War fizzled out, reunification seemed inevitable. The people of Germany spoke out loud and clear, from journalists to graffiti artists, calling for unity from both sides. The writing was literally on the wall.

In 1989, East Berlin’s government officials announced that they were considering a change of policy to allow free crossing, effective immediately. Berliners on both sides wasted no time taking matters into their own hands: they began chipping away at the stone and concrete with hammers and picks. With the wall damaged and partially demolished, millions moved across the border within just a few days, reuniting with friends and loved ones long divided by political events.

Official policy switched one year later. Eventually, the graffiti appeared prophetic. The wall was almost completely destroyed, and the two countries again became one. Today Germans celebrate reunification. Feasts and picnics are common, as well as a festival with live bands and food in Berlin by the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of division that’s now symbolic of unity.

Happy Reunification Day, Germany!

[9A]

6 Oct 2018
2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games





Let the games begin! Today’s Doodle celebrates the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games, held this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over 200 countries will take part this year, sending thousands of athletes age 15-18 to the summer games.

Described by the International Olympic Committee as “an elite sporting event for young people from all over the world,” the Youth Olympic Games [YOG] are much like the Olympic Games [YOG] in many respect. They have a mascot—this year it’s Pandi the teen jaguar, who loves sports and is native to Argentina. The games occur every four years in a different city and country with summer and winter editions. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded for first, second, and third place — this year designed by 18-year-old Farid Husen from Indonesia.

This year kiteboarding and BMX freestyle park will make their debuts, as well as a new version of handball that’s played on the beach. Football [aka soccer] is out, in favor of futsal — an indoor game played on a smaller hard court. This year will also feature mixed gender events as well as mixed National Olympic Committee events, bringing athletes from different countries together on the same team. Athletes are not the only young people who can get involved in YOG. There are also opportunities for Young Reporters, Ambassadors and Athlete Role Models. Besides showing off their athletic skills, participants take part in workshops and other activities designed to expose young people to different cultures and instill the Olympic Values: Friendship, Respect and Excellence as well as Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality.

Good luck to all the athletes at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games!

[9A]

9 Oct 2018
Lucy Tejada’s 98th Birthday

"My art was always more imaginative.,I would think through the composition and capture it, the colors emerging according to my state of mind.”-Lucy Tejada

Contemporary painter Lucy Tejada was born on this day in Pereira, Colombia. She attended Javeriana University in Bogota, where she discovered the work of Columbian artist Alejandro Obregón Rosės, which had a profound impact on her life. “I started going to the teacher's exhibitions all the time,” she recalled in an interview, “until one day he came out and asked me: ‘Why do you come so much?’” The elder artist encouraged her to enroll in the School of Fine arts, and she continued her artistic education at the School of Graphic Arts of Madrid, achieving her first solo exhibition in 1947.

During the 1950s Tejada traveled through Europe, immersing herself in great collections like the Madrid’s Prado Museum and the Louvre in Paris. She exhibited her work in the Venice Biennial as well as in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, emerging as an important figure in South American contemporary art. After her travels through Europe she returned to Colombia, building a house in Cali where she raised her two children.

Alejandro Obregón Rosės described her as “painter of the tenderness.” In 2007, Colombia’s Culture Ministry awarded her the Medal of Cultural Merit in recognition of her 50 year career. Her legacy lives on with the Lucy Tejada Cultural Center, which opened this year in Pereira. In accordance with the artist’s wishes, Tejada’s family donated a collection of 163 pieces of her work to be exhibited in the city as well..

Feliz Cumpleaños, Lucy Tejada!

[9A]

12 Oct 2018
Celebrating Roberto Clemente

“I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.”—Roberto Clemente

In the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month in the US, today’s Doodle by guest artist Roxie Vizcarra, commemorates the life and career of Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican Hall of Fame baseball star, Latinx trailblazer, and passionate humanitarian.

Born the son of a sugar cane worker in Carolina, Puerto Rico on August 18, 1934, Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker grew up in Barrio San Antón. His athletic gifts were obvious from an early age, joining the Puerto Rican amateur league at age 16. His professional career began in 1952, when the then 18-year-old signed with the Santurce Cangrejeros [Crabbers], a winter league team in the LBBPR [Puerto Rico’s Baseball League].

Soon after graduating high school, Clemente signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliate in Montreal. His first at bat resulted in a game-winning home run on July 25, 1954. He made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates the following season.

A testament to his unique athletic ability, the right fielder accumulated numerous accolades during his pro career including 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, 4 National League batting titles, 3,000 career hits, the 1966 National League MVP Award, 2 World Series rings, and the 1971 World Series MVP Award. In fact, it was on this day in 1971 that Clemente’s performance led the Pittsburgh Pirates to victory against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the series, ultimately contributing to their Series title.

Aside from his talents on diamond, it was Clemente’s mission to help others that has solidified his legacy as one of the most humanitarian athletes to play the game. Whether it was delivering food and supplies to those in need, holding baseball clinics for kids, or making generous donations, he consistently sought to be an agent of positive impact and a role model for the youth of his community.

Unfortunately, it was during the pursuit of this mission that Clemente saw his final moments. When a massive earthquake struck Nicaragua on Dec 23, 1972, he decided to personally airlift relief supplies to the nation to ensure they reached those in need. The overloaded plane crashed shortly after takeoff and Clemente passed away at the age of 38.

A few months after his passing, on March 20, 1973, Clemente was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, becoming the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be so honored. Major League Baseball has honored his legacy since then by presenting the Roberto Clemente Award each year to an outstanding player who shows a strong commitment to community work.

Other posthumous awards Clemente has received include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Roberto Clemente Walker Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Citizens Medal. Sixty years after Clemente’s pro debut, Puerto Rico’s professional baseball league was even renamed the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente—a testimony to the enduring impact he made on his community and beyond.

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Special thanks to Roberto Clemente Jr., Luis Clemente, and the rest of Roberto Clemente’s family for their partnership on this project. Below, they share thoughts on their Dad and the Doodle:

47 years ago today, the Pittsburgh Pirates won game 3 of the 1971 World Series in which our Dad went 1 for 4 with an RBI in the Pirates 5-4 win against the Baltimore Orioles. He was named the MVP for that series, becoming the first Latino to ever do so.

At the conclusion of the Series, he asked to say something in Spanish to his parents and children in Puerto Rico. With this act, asking for his parents blessings in Spanish on live global broadcast, he galvanized the hearts of all Hispanics across the nation. Today, we are proud that our Dad's legacy is stronger than ever with numerous namesakes like baseball leagues, parks, schools, awards, and statues around the world celebrating everything he represented and stood for, including standing up against injustice and the importance of humanitarianism. Our Dad was an incredible athlete, but more importantly, he continuously used his platform to better humanity.

To maintain and preserve our Dad's legacy worldwide, our family started The Roberto Clemente Foundation years ago, a nonprofit organization incorporated in Puerto Rico. Specifically, our mission to develop tomorrow’s leaders through education, sports and service leadership to continue his vision as we build nations of good.

It is amazing to see a kid from Carolina, Puerto Rico be remembered with this Google Doodle in this age of technology and new platforms to communicate with people around the world. The best part however, is the human story of our Dad behind it, which we hope motivates us all to do something to help our brothers and sisters.

We feel very honored to be Roberto’s sons and extremely fortunate to be Vera’s sons as well. It is an honor to carry the name Clemente!





Pictured: Roberto Clemente


Photo courtesy: Ron Sparks

[9A]

22 Sept 2004
Ray Charles' 74th Birthday

To supplement the entry posted on June 6, 2021, which I can no longer edit, I have included the following video:

[9A]

16 Oct 2018
Lachhu Maharaj’s 74th Birthday



Born on this day in 1944 to a family of musicians, Lachhu Maharaj [born as Lakshmi Narayan Singh], was one of the most celebrated tabla players of his time. Maharaj trained under his father, Vasudev Maharaj, and started performing at an early age. As a child, his gifts caught the attention of
legendary tabla player Ahmed Jaan Thirakwa, who was deeply impressed by Maharaj’s performance at just eight years old.

Lachhu Maharaj was best known for his inherent sense of rhythm which was best exemplified in his solo performances. Even though he played alongside nearly all the greatest tabla players of his time, his solo performance are the most remembered. Girija Devi, whom he often collaborated with, claimed that “he would play for hours without repeating himself, new gats, tukras and parans, leaving his audiences aw

[9A]

22 Oct 2018
Varvara Stepanova’s 124th Birthday






A poet, painter, photographer, and designer of books, magazines, posters, stage scenery, textiles and clothing, Stepanova defied societal norms of “women’s work” as she and other members of the Russian Constructivist movement subverted the notion of art as a rarified activity for elites and intellectuals.

Born in Kovno, Lithuania, on this day in 1894, Stepanova was raised in a peasant family before enrolling in the renowned Kazan art school in Odessa in 1910, a time of great creative and political upheaval in Russia.

In 1918, she published a series of books containing her “nonobjective visual poetry” whose words were chosen for sound and shape as much as meaning. By the 1920s she found herself at the forefront of the Russian avant-garde, co-founding the Constructivist movement along with her partner Aleksandr Rodchenko and such distinguished colleagues as Kasimir Malevich, Vladimir Tatlin, and Lyubov Popova.

In 1922 Stepanova created the sets for Aleksandr Vasilyevich Sukhovo-Kobylin’s play The Death of Tarelkin. Her clothing designs, using geometric shapes and utilitarian designs suited to particular activities fell into two broad categories: prozodezhda, or production clothing—which provided peasants, industrial workers, and theatrical performers alike with modern stylish and functional garments—and sportodezhda or sports costumes, which were designed to highlight the athletic body in motion. All of her clothing designs pioneered what is now known as “unisex” fashion.

Along with Popova she designed textiles at Tsindel, the state textile factory, using overlapping geometric shapes to create complex patterns in what many considered a lesser art form, later becoming a professor of textile design. Although wartime shortages prevented many of these groundbreaking designs from being realized, Stepanova’s vision and legacy lives on.

C Днём рождения, Varvara Stepanova!

[9A]

25 Oct 2018
Tyrus Wong’s 108th Birthday






Along the beach in Santa Monica, California, on the fourth Saturday of every month, an elderly gentleman could be found flying kites with his wife and three daughters. The panda bears, butterflies, and centipedes floating in the breeze were of his own design.

Today’s Doodle honors the life and legacy of Tyrus Wong [born Wong Gen Yeo] the Chinese-American artist responsible for some of the best-known images in American popular culture. Drawing inspiration from Chinese artists of the Song Dynasty, Wong applied his unique vision to paintings, prints, and even the Walt Disney film Bambi.

Born on this day in 1910 in a village in southern China’s Guangdong Province, ten-year-old Wong and his father traveled to America seeking a better life. After living a short time in Sacramento, they eventually settled in Los Angeles.

Although Wong’s father recognized his love of art from an early age, he could only afford for Wong to practice calligraphy using water and newspapers as well as study Chinese art at the Los Angeles Central Library. There, he was introduced to his favorite paintings, the spare landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty [960–1279 AD]. In junior high school, Wong earned a scholarship to the Otis Art institute, supporting himself as a waiter in Chinatown. He and fellow artists like Benji Okubo and Hideo Date formed the Oriental Artists’ Group of Los Angeles, organizing shows of their work. In 1932, Wong’s work was exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago along with works by Picasso, Matisse, and Paul Klee.

In 1938, Wong was hired by Walt Disney Studios as an "inbetweener" intern [illustrators who create the sketches between key animator sketches, forming the movement of a character or object], drawing thousands of illustrations that were photographed to make animated films. His most notable work was on the Disney film Bambi, where he served as a lead illustrator, profoundly influencing the art of the beloved classic. Unfortunately, when Bambi hit theaters in 1942, Wong was only credited as one of many “background artists,” leading his major contributions to go unrecognized for years.

Wong went on to work for Warner Brothers, drawing and painting storyboards that shaped the look of other landmark Hollywood films like The Wild Bunch, Sands of Iwo Jima, and Rebel Without A Cause—all of which earned Academy Award nominations.

The artist’s contributions to Hollywood went largely unrecognized until 2001, when he was named a “Disney Legend.” Twelve years later, the Walt Disney Family Museum also staged a career retrospective “Water to Paper, Paint to Sky.”

A message from the creator of today’s Doodle, Sophie Diao:

Tyrus Wong’s work has inspired me since I first learned about him as a first-year animation student at CalArts. I specifically love how he infused Western illustration with Eastern painting sensibilities; it motivates me to think about ways to channel my own Chinese heritage in the stories and artwork I make.

Today’s Doodle was heavily inspired by Tyrus’ paintings of forests, which are atmospheric, blurry, and magical. They feel like distant memories that have been committed to paper. I tried to imbue the Doodle with this dreamy feeling too.

The more research I did on his life, the more impressed I was by the playful and curious way he lived. I feel like I really got to know him from all the videos and interviews in which he lit up when talking about his creative process. Now that the project is over, I’ll miss being immersed in his world, but I hope to carry forward the inspiration I found.

Happy Birthday, Tyrus Wong!

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Special thanks to the family of Tyrus Wong, particularly his daughters Kim, Tai-Ling, and Kay for their partnership on this project. Below, they share their thoughts on their father’s legacy and the Doodle:

Our Dad was always creating art. Growing up, we benefited from his rich imagination and creativity— from his design of our family’s home and garden to the handmade holiday gifts he created for us even when he was in his 90s. One year he recycled a medicine bottle and made it into a whimsical pig; another year a Pringles container was transformed into a dachshund complete with pipe cleaner glasses and a peanut shell for a nose. Each gift contained foil-wrapped Kisses and a red envelope with Christmas money.

Dad and Mom always enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Our home was often filled with lots of laughter and kind-hearted camaraderie. We saw this as his way of sharing his sense of humor and love of life with others, all throughout his 106 years.

[9A]

26 Oct 2018
Austria National Day 2018



Each year on October 26, Austrians celebrate the day in 1955 when the Austrian Parliament declared permanent neutrality, establishing the country as independent democratic and multicultural state, respecting its neighbors and the human rights of all its citizens. This year’s Nationalfeiertag [national holiday] is special because it also marks 100 years since the formation of the Republic of German Austria.

Today’s Doodle depicts the Pallas-Athene-Brunnen Fountain, situated on Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse in front of the Parliament building. The Austrian sculptor Karl Kundmann created the marble figure of the Greek goddess of wisdom, seen here wearing a sash to commemorate Austria’s centennial.

National Day celebrations include a ceremony at Heldenplatz [Hero’s Square] featuring the Federal President and Minister of Defense, a televised state of the union address, and the swearing-in of new recruits to the Austrian armed forces. At the Heldenplatz the Austrian military performs, twirling and tossing their rifles in the air as the music plays.

[9A]

28 Oct 2018
39th Anniversary of the MassKara Festival







Today’s Doodle marks the 39th anniversary of the MassKara festival in the Philippines, a popular celebration known for its vibrant masks, feathers, costumes [like the one’s seen in Today’s Doodle] and dancing on the streets.

While the festival is at its peak on this particular day, it is a month-long celebration that includes, in addition to street dancing and singing, contests for pig-chasing, pole-climbing, and fireworks shows.

MassKara [Spanish-derived portmanteau of “a mass of people” and “face”] was started as a city government’s effort to uplift the city of Bacolod, located on the island of Negros. At the time, the prominent sugar industry was suffering and an economic depression had set in. The celebratory festival was intended to bring back joy and laughter in the lives of the people. It was not just embraced but has since become an integral part of the culture and a tourists delight,

[9A]

23 February 2017
Seven Earth-Size Exoplanets Discovered!







This just in! Turns out it wasn’t just dust on the telescope lens: NASA just announced the discovery of seven earth-size planets orbiting the same star only 235 trillion miles away. In space terms, that practically makes us next-door neighbors!

This artist's concept shows what each of the TRAPPIST-1 planets may look like. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

What exactly does this new solar system TRAPPIST-1 mean for our universe? Well, three of these newly discovered planets land smack-dab in the middle of what scientists call the habitable zone, or the distance from the star it orbits “where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.” Though scientists have some serious studying to do before we can definitively say whether any of the new TRAPPIST-1 planets are habitable, the potential is very promising.

So if three of these new TRAPPIST-1 planets land in the habitable zone, what about the other four? According to NASA, all seven planets could have liquid water, the most crucial ingredient for life -- assuming the right atmospheric conditions.

Unlike our solar system, the planets in TRAPPIST-1 are very close together. If we’re able to visit one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets one day, we could be able to watch each neighboring planet pass by on its orbital journey! Until then, you can explore TRAPPIST-1 d, the third planet in the TRAPPIST-1 solar system in 3D using your computer or mobile device. If you have a virtual reality device, you can also take a stroll around.