19.09.2021 21:15 Date: September 20, 2021 On the third Monday of September, the people of Japan honor the eldest in their communities during Respect for the Aged Day. Today's Doodle by Ishikawa, Japan-based guest artist captures the joy provided by elderly people and their contributions to society. The holiday, also known as Keirō no Hi, started as a local festival in 1947 when the mayor of Nomadani-mura in the Hyōgo Prefecture wanted to host an event during which people could look to their elders for guidance and wisdom. The idea soon caught on in other communities and Japan declared Respect for the Aged Day a national holiday in 1966. In years past, many people used the long weekend to visit aging relatives or bring meals to the elderly. Some cities also hold athletic competitions for seniors! Others call or send flowers like those represented in today’s Doodle to honor their loved ones. People who have recently celebrated their 100th birthdays can look forward to official congratulations, and of these more than 80,000 centenarians, some appear on television to share their advice for a long and healthy life. Happy Respect for the Aged Day, Japan! Location: Tags: , , ,
19.09.2021 12:30 Date: September 19, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the centennial birthday of Brazilian philosopher, educator, and author Paulo Freire. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential educational thinkers of the 20th century. Paulo Reglus Neves Freire was born on this day in 1921 in Recife, Brazil, then a mostly impoverished region affected by the echoes of colonialism and slavery. Coming of age alongside poor rural families while his own family experienced hunger, grounded his understanding of the interconnected relationship between socioeconomic status and education. From then on, Freire made it his mission to improve the lives of marginalized people. In 1947, Freire began a decade-long position providing social services to the Brazilian working class, which was foundational to the creation of his universal educational model一conscientização . This groundbreaking methodology calls for the cultural exchange between teacher and student through the lens of their socio-historical circumstances with the aim of creating a democratic society free of illiteracy. In 1962, he applied conscientização with radical success—teaching 300 farmworkers to read and write in only 45 days! However, these ideals proved too radical for the newly established Brazilian government in 1964 and he was forced into exile until 1979. During this period, Freire published his acclaimed 1968 book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” which brought his revolutionary teaching philosophy to a wide international audience. He continued his educational journey abroad before returning to Brazil in 1980 to lead an adult literacy project. In 1988, Freire began working as São Paulo’s Minister of Education, implementing innovative literary programs. Today, his work lives on at the Freire Institute, an international organization devoted to educational advancement and societal transformation through his teachings. Happy Birthday, Paulo Freire! O Doodle de hoje comemora o centésimo aniversário do filósofo, educador e autor brasileiro Paulo Freire, reconhecido como um dos mais influentes pensadores educacionais do século XX. Paulo Reglus Neves Freire nasceu nesse mesmo dia em 1921 no Recife, àquela época uma das regiões mais afetadas pelos ecos do colonialismo e da escravização. Crescer ao lado de famílias rurais empobrecidas enquanto sua própria família lutava contra a fome, fundamentou sua compreensão da relação interconectada entre o status socioeconômico e a educação. Dali em diante, Paulo Freire fez da melhoria da vida de pessoas marginalizadas a missão de sua vida. Em 1948, Paulo Freire começou um posicionamento de uma década fornecendo serviços sociais para a classe trabalhadora brasileira, o que foi fundamental para a criação de seu modelo de educação universal - Conscientização, o desenvolvimento da consciência crítica. Essa metodologia inovadora promove a troca cultural entre professor e aluno através das lentes de suas circunstâncias sócio-históricas com o objetivo de criar uma sociedade democrática livre do analfabetismo. Em 1962, ele aplicou o modelo Conscientização com grande sucesso ensinando 300 trabalhadores rurais a ler e escrever em apenas 45 dias! No entanto, seus ideais se mostraram muito radicais para o recém estabelecido governo brasileiro de 1964 e Paulo Freire foi forçado ao exílio até 1979. Durante esse período, ele publicou seu aclamado livro “Pedagogia do Oprimido” que em 1968 levou sua revolucionária filosofia de ensino para uma ampla audiência internacional. Paulo Freire continuou sua jornada educacional fora do Brasil até retornar em 1980 para liderar um projeto de alfabetização para adultos. Em 1988, ele começou a trabalhar como Secretário de Educação de São Paulo, implementando programas de alfabetização inovadores. Hoje, seu trabalho é mantido por meio do Instituto Freire, uma organização internacional dedicada ao avanço educacional e à transformação da sociedade através de seus ensinamentos. Feliz centenário, Paulo Freire! Location: , , , Tags: , , ,
18.09.2021 11:00 Date: September 18, 2021 On this date in 1810, Chile’s Primera Junta Nacional de Gobierno made the first step toward independence, sparking the start of the Chilean movement to becoming a sovereign nation. Today’s Doodle honors Chile’s National Day or Fiestas Patrias with a depiction of the South American nation’s official animal—the huemul deer. Indigenous to the southern Andean regions of Chile and Argentina, the huemul is the rarest mammal found within the Chilean borders. A sighting of one of these elusive creatures in nature is a rare and special occurrence, but it can always be seen on the Chilean Coat of Arms alongside its fellow mountain dweller, the Andean condor. Although the wild huemul deer population was estimated to be less than 1,500 in 2019, conservationists in a protected region of the Valdivian Rainforest released the first pair of huemul deer bred in captivity that same year—signifying a critical step for increasing the numbers of this beloved species in its natural habitat. Happy National Day, Chile! Location: Tags: , , , ,
17.09.2021 17:15 Date: September 18, 2021 Get vaccinated. Wear a mask. Save lives. As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world, help stop the spread by finding and following . about resources to help you and your communities stay informed and connected, and the latest ways we're responding. Location: Tags: , , , , ,
16.09.2021 23:45 Date: September 17, 2021 Have you ever wondered why green tea tastes so bitter when steeped for too long? Thanks to Japanese educator and biochemist Michiyo Tsujimura, and her groundbreaking research into the nutritional benefits of green tea, science has the answers. Today’s Doodle celebrates Michiyo Tsujimura on her 133rd birthday. Michiyo Tsujimura was born on this day in 1888 in Okegawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. She spent her early career teaching science. In 1920, she chased her dream of becoming a scientific researcher at Hokkaido Imperial University where she began to analyze the nutritional properties of Japanese silkworms. A few years later, Tsujimura transferred to Tokyo Imperial University and began researching the biochemistry of green tea alongside Dr. Umetaro Suzuki, famed for his discovery of vitamin B1. Their joint research revealed that green tea contained significant amounts of vitamin C—the first of many yet unknown molecular compounds in green tea that awaited under the microscope. In 1929, she isolated catechin—a bitter ingredient of tea. Then, the next year she isolated tannin, an even more bitter compound. These findings formed the foundation for her doctoral thesis, “On the Chemical Components of Green Tea” when she graduated as Japan’s first woman doctor of agriculture in 1932. Outside of her research, Dr. Tsujimura also made history as an educator when she became the first Dean of the Faculty of Home Economics at Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School in 1950. Today, a stone memorial in honor of Dr.Tsujimura’s achievements can be found in her birthplace of Okegawa City. Happy Birthday, Michiyo Tsujimura! Location: , , , , Tags: , , , , , ,
16.09.2021 15:30 Date: September 16, 2021 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Mexico-based guest artist , depicts a collection of elements symbolizing Mexico’s rich, cultural heritage in honor of its Independence Day. This year’s holiday holds special significance for the international Mexican community as it commemorates the 200th anniversary of the nation’s step toward independence—officially declared on September 27, 1821. On the left of the Doodle artwork, a folklórico dancer is dressed in the emblematic red, green, and white of the Mexican flag. A common meal prepared to celebrate this holiday is pozole, a spiced soup traditionally made with hominy and pork that is depicted in the red bowl with radishes and lime. In the center, the artwork recreates a bell that rang before El Grito de la Independencia , a famous speech considered the spark of the Mexican independence movement. A sombrero follows with a handwoven rebozo scarf, next to a cactus standing tall. On the far right of the artwork, an Indigenous musician blows into a conch shell—a scene similar to an image found in the ancient Aztec Codex Magliabechi—filling the air with the sounds of celebration. Happy Independence Day, Mexico! Location: Tags: , , , , ,
15.09.2021 22:15 Date: September 16, 2021 Today’s Google Doodle celebrates the 66th birthday of Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, and teacher Lo Man-fei, a lifelong advocate for the development of Taiwanese dancers and performance art. Lo Man-fei was born on this day in 1955 in Taipei City, Taiwan and took her first steps toward a career in dance at 5 years old. In college, her unique talent was fostered by some of Taiwan’s leading choreographers, including Lin Hwai-min, the founder of one of the nation’s most acclaimed dance troupes—Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. She graduated from National Taiwan University with a degree in English literature and moved to the U.S. in 1978 to study with the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the José Limón Dance Company. However, she decided to return to Taiwan to join Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. In 1979, Lo formally joined Cloud Gate—an acceptance she attributed in part to the skills passed down to her from masters such as Lin. With a repertoire utilizing techniques from ballet, modern dance, and traditional Chinese dance, she toured the world with Cloud Gate until 1982, capturing a blend of these styles with what she referred to as her own “vocabulary” of movements. Lo worked on Broadway in the early 1980s and in 1985, earned a master’s degree in dance at New York University before returning to Taiwan. She then rejoined Cloud Gate, choreographed original performances, and nurtured a new generation of dancers as a professor at the National Institute for the Arts . In 1999, Cloud Gate 2, an evolution of Taiwan’s renowned troupe, appointed Lo as its artistic director and Cloud Gate later established a scholarship in her honor. She is best known today for her solo performance in “Requiem,” a 10-minute, non-stop spinning routine choreographed specifically for her by none other than Lin Hwai-min himself. Happy Birthday to Lo Man-fei, who always put her best foot forward! Location: Tags:
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 15, 2021 Along with fellow Central American countries Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, El Salvador declared its independence on this day in 1821. Today’s Doodle celebrates the bicentennial of El Salvador’s Independence Day, which commemorates the signing of the Act of Independence of Central America in Guatemala City. In a show of solidarity with the nations that share its centroamericano identity, Independence Day parades in El Salvador are traditionally led by a procession of cars decorated with flags from the other four Central American countries that also celebrate this historic anniversary. Salvadoran student bands prepare for these grand parades by practicing for months in advance, and on the day of celebration, families prepare the national dish of pupusas—hand-made corn tortillas filled with local ingredients and topped with tomato sauce and cabbage salad. Depicted in the Doodle artwork, the Salvadoran flag is hoisted across the nation as a symbol of Central American pride. Its center is adorned with the nation’s coat of arms, which contains five volcanoes representing El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Happy Independence Day, El Salvador! Location: Tags: , , , ,
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 15, 2021 Today’s Doodle, the blue and white flag of Honduras, will fly across the country to celebrate the Central American country’s Independence Day. Although celebrations abound every September 15 in Honduras, this year is special because today marks 200 years since the country declared its independence in 1821. Typical festivities include parades with colorful floats and marching bands from local schools. School children perform dances and plays showcasing Honduran history and culture. Many families celebrate this day by gathering to enjoy the country’s national dish, plato típico, which includes beans, beef, cabbage, plantains, cream, and tortillas. Others may grab a popular snack called baleada—a folded tortilla with beans, cheese, and sour cream—from among the many street vendors along a parade route and in most town squares. Later in the evening, official ceremonies end with people gathering to sing the Honduran national anthem as the flag is lowered. However, in many communities, the festivities won’t end at sunset as street parties can carry on long into the night. Happy 200th Independence Day, Honduras! Location: Tags: , , , ,
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 15, 2021 From its active volcanoes to its monumental stone ruins, Guatemala is a Mesoamerican hotspot of abundant biodiversity and a deeply rooted cultural heritage. Today’s Doodle honors Guatemala’s bicentennial Independence Day which commemorates exactly 200 years as a sovereign nation alongside fellow Central American nations Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In honor of this historic day, two official torches have been carried to municipalities across the country since February of 2021. These torches represent the 1821 journey made by government officials from Guatemala through El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and finally to Costa Rica to announce the news of emancipation. Their mission across Guatemala ends on the eve of Independence Day and announces the start of national celebrations. Today, school parades traditionally commence with vibrant processions lined with the white and blue Guatemalan flag, depicted waving in the Doodle artwork. Children perform traditional marimba routines accompanied by customary dances from revelers dressed in trajes—costumes of long skirts and colorful lace shirts that bare traditional Mayan designs. Happy Independence Day, Guatemala! Location: Tags: , , , ,
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 15, 2021 Nicaragua comes together with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to celebrate their shared bicentennial of independence, marking exactly 200 years as sovereign states. Today’s Doodle celebrates Nicaragua’s Independence Day with a depiction of its horizontally striped blue and white flag. Also known as “Patrimonial Month” in Nicaragua, September begins with many citizens mounting the national flag on their residences. Commemorative events continue throughout the weeks that follow with a 240-mile, on-foot relay to transport a symbolic torch, representing the 1821 journey made by officials who spread the news of Central American freedom. An estimated 8,000 students participate in the hand-off that ends at Peñas Blancas, the southern border where Nicaragua meets Costa Rica. When September 15 finally arrives, the Act of Independence of Central America which declared Nicaraguan independence is read in schools throughout the nation. Celebrations typically culminate in a school battle of bands who integrate traditional music and rhythmic choreography in their performances. The top competitors meet in the capital of Managua in a grand finale to determine the year’s victor. Happy Independence Day, Nicaragua! Location: Tags: , , , ,
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 15, 2021 In Costa Rican Spanish, adding the suffix -tico to select words can either imply its small size or indicate affection. So it’s only appropriate that Costa Ricans, known for their hospitality, often refer to themselves as Ticos. Today’s Doodle celebrates one of the most important holidays for Ticos around the world--Costa Rica Independence Day. On this day in 1821, the Central American nations of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica became sovereign nations. Government officials mounted their horses in Guatemala City, Guatemala and set out to carry the news of independence and a symbolic torch on an over 230-mile journey to Cartago, Costa Rica’s former capital. Although the riders didn’t reach Cartago to officially inform citizens of their independence until almost a month later, September 15 remains the annual day of independence celebrations. Traditionally, the annual “Independence Torch Race” re-enacts this journey in the days leading up to the holiday. A series of runners carry a torch on foot from Guatemala City to Cartago, announcing the jubilant celebration with its arrival. Happy Independence Day, Costa Rica! Location: Tags: , , , ,
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 15, 2021 In celebration of U.S. Hispanic Heritage Month, today’s Doodle—illustrated by Riverside, California-based guest artist —honors Panamanian-American nurse and educator Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde. As a foundational figure in the creation of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses , Dr. Murillo-Rohde dedicated her life to enhancing the quality of healthcare for underrepresented communities while equipping other Hispanic nurses with the skills to do the same. Ildaura Murillo was born on September 6, 1920, in Panama into a family of health professionals. In 1945, she immigrated to San Antonio, Texas, where she found that relatively few of the city’s nurses represented the linguistic and ethnic backgrounds of their largely Hispanic patients. Knowing that language barriers and cultural mannerisms often stood in the way of providing patients with the highest quality of care, Murillo-Rohde set out on a lifelong mission to cultivate a nursing workforce that could best serve America’s growing Hispanic community. After earning her doctorate from New York University in 1971, Dr. Murillo-Rohde took various positions that allowed her to clearly identify the underrepresentation of marginalized groups in the medical community as a national issue. To combat this problem, she helped found the Spanish Speaking/Spanish Surnamed Nurses’ Caucus in 1975—now known as the National Association of Hispanic Nurses —and served as its first president. Alongside continued work with the NAHN, Dr. Murillo-Rohde promoted cultural awareness as a psychiatric nurse, faculty member, professor, and dean. The American Academy of Nursing honored her numerous achievements with its prestigious fellowship—one of the highest nursing honors in the nation. Today, the NAHN provides support for Hispanic nurses through various programs, including the Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Scholarship. It also honors members who have exhibited outstanding achievements in nursing education, research, and practice with the Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Award for Education Excellence by a Hispanic Registered Nurse. Thank you for uplifting the next generation of Hispanic healthcare professionals, Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rohde! Guest Artist Q&A with Loris Lora Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Riverside, California-based guest artist, . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? A. Hispanic Heritage Month to me is about celebrating our culture and recognizing the contributions of those who continue to inspire future generations. I enjoy learning about minority women who were trailblazers of their time and helped create opportunities for women who came after them. My sister recently became a nurse and I found it interesting to learn about Dr. Murillo-Rohde and the things she stood for and achieved during her lifetime. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project? A. I felt very honored and excited to take on such a special project. I love highlighting minority women who have helped their community and have made a big change for women of similar backgrounds. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A. I was inspired by her story and her Panamanian background. The colors on this Doodle were inspired by Latin American textiles and orchid flowers . Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A. I hope it sparks curiosity of who this woman was so more people learn about her achievements and how she has been influential to the Hispanic nursing community—and to Latinx communities, in general. Early drafts and sketches of today’s Doodle below Location: , , , Tags: , , , , , , , ,
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 15, 2021 Location: Tags: , , ,
15.09.2021 13:15 Date: September 13, 2021 Location: Tags: , , , ,
