10.10.2022 05:30 Date: October 10, 2022 Today's Doodle celebrates the 94th birthday of Mostafa El-Abbadi, a prominent Egyptian historian and professor of Greco-Roman studies. His work helped create the second great library of Alexandria. El-Abbadi was born in Cairo, Egypt on this day in 1928. His father was the founder of the College of Letters and Arts at the University of Alexandria, which sparked a young El-Abbadi's interest in academia. At age 22, he graduated with honors from the University of Alexandria and the Egyptian government awarded him a scholarship to attend the University of Cambridge. El-Abbadi studied under distinguished historians while working toward his doctorate in ancient history. After completing his degree, El-Abbadi returned to the University of Alexandria where he worked as a lecturer and later as a professor of Greco-Roman studies. He was especially interested in the Library of Alexandria, the first universal library built in ancient Egypt that held an estimated half-million books from a variety of countries and languages. El-Abbadi became a leading authority on the topic and gave lectures on the Library of Alexandria around the world. He documented his findings and research in the critically-acclaimed book, Life and Fate of the Ancient Library of Alexandria. In his lectures he often encouraged a modern recreation of the great universal library. El-Abbadi convinced the Egyptian government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to support his project. After nearly 15 years of conception and construction, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina opened its doors in 2002. The library is home to over eight million books, seven floors, four museums, and a planetarium! It also functions as a research institute that’s open to the public. El-Abbadi served as president of the Archaeological Society of Alexandria and received the Order of the Nile, Egypt's highest state of honor. Happy 94th birthday, Mostafa El-Abbadi! Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
09.10.2022 01:30 Date: October 9, 2022 Happy 60th Independence Day, Uganda! Today’s Doodle celebrates the moment when Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom. On this day in 1962, the British government named Uganda a free state among the international community. Dr. Milton Apollo Obole, leader of the Uganda People’s Congress, became the first Prime Minister. Uganda first came under control of the Imperial British East Africa Company in 1888. They annexed Buganda, a Bunta kingdom within the country, and surrounding territories to create the Uganda Protectorate. After World War II, Britain’s hold began to loosen and calls for independence swept across Africa. Many states gained their independence during this time, including Ghana, Somalia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and more. Ugandans wanted the same for their country. In September 1962, the Ugandan Constitutional Conference took place in London to help start the nation’s journey to independence. By the end of the conference in October, Uganda was a free state. A year later, in October 1963, a democratic republic was established with Buganda’s King Mutesa II as its first official president. To celebrate, a large parade is held every year at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala. The president delivers a holiday speech, recognizing goals for the nation’s future. Other local communities host their own celebrations, featuring ceremonial dances, live concerts and marches. Uganda’s black, yellow and red national flag, like the one waving in today’s artwork, can be seen throughout the country during this holiday. Happy Independence Day, Uganda! Location: Tags:
09.10.2022 01:30 Date: October 9, 2022 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! Location: Tags:
09.10.2022 01:30 Date: October 9, 2022 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Seoul-based guest artist , celebrates Hangul Day . This holiday honors the advent of the modern Korean alphabet , which dramatically increased literacy rates across Korea. Before Hangul, Koreans did not have a written form of their native language. Instead, they used a complex mix of characters from Chinese and other writing systems—which made it difficult for less-educated people to learn to read and write. With the goal of improving literacy, a modern alphabet was created with 24 letters, 14 consonants and 10 vowels. The letters consist of simple strokes and sounds that reflect the spoken word. Today’s Doodle artwork depicts a workshop with women from the Joseon dynasty, who have been known for popularizing Hangul after it was developed. To encourage its use, popular poems, verses and proverbs were translated into Hangul. This efficient writing system allowed Koreans of all ages and classes to learn to communicate through text and significantly boosted literacy. Korea’s nationwide literacy rate is nearly 100% today! Koreans celebrate the holiday by taking the day off of school and work to reflect on this writing system. One way they do this is by exploring the National Hangeul Museum, where exhibits showcase Hangul letters and their impact on the country. Happy Hangul Day, Korea! Guest Artist Q&A with Joonjo Brian Ko Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Seoul-based guest artist . Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: Korean traditional culture has always been my inspiration and Hangul being one of the biggest parts of Korean culture is what made this topic so interesting to me. Working on an illustration related to the letter itself has never been on my idea list oddly enough but working on this Doodle has helped me reflect on the effort that went into its creation and how it has enriched my life. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A: As an illustrator, my focus until now was on creating visual content that helps the audience to understand the context I mean to convey . Since this project is centered around the “Google” letters, I was excited and nervous at the same time! Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: Jiphyeonjeon is the place where Hangul was invented by the scholars of Joseon Dynasty, so this was my initial inspiration for the scene. But even the greatest things don't last unless there are people who find value in it and use it. Doodle Art Director and I progressed the designs to focus more on the people. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: I see a lot of division in the world these days. Working on this project, I felt that many of the things that enrich our lives now came from harmony between people of all classes, places, and ideologies. I hope everyone will simply enjoy this painting and feel what I felt while creating it. Location: Tags:
04.10.2022 18:02 Date: October 5, 2022 Location: Tags:
04.10.2022 18:02 Date: October 5, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Elizabeth Kenny, an Australian nurse who founded an alternative treatment for polio known as the Kenny Method. Her exercises rehabilitated thousands of polio victims all over the world, and is considered one of the most effective forms of treatment prior to vaccines. The Sister Kenny Memorial House, which celebrates her life’s work, opened on this day in Nobby, Queensland in 1997. Kenny was born in 1880 in Warialda, New South Wales. She grew up in an impoverished farming community in rural Australia, where she received little formal education but was an avid reader who loved learning about medicine and human anatomy. Although Kenny did not have the option to attend medical school, at 17 she forged her own path by volunteering at a hospital in Guyra. After shadowing nurses and doctors for more than a decade, Kenny gained enough working knowledge to open her own nursing practice in Darling Downs, Queensland. In 1911, she encountered her first case of polio. She was unaware of the standard treatment at the time, which forced polio patients to lay in body casts for months which, in turn, caused muscle atrophy. This caused many polio victims to become permanently paralysed. With her fresh perspective, Kenny realised the affected muscles were stiff, not permanently damaged. So she healed her patients by applying hot, wet compresses to the affected limbs, before having them perform gradual muscle strengthening exercises. To the surprise of the medical community, her method worked! From then on, the exercises became known as the Kenny Method and news of this effective treatment spread far and wide. Kenny traveled to America in the 1940s to open rehabilitation centers such as the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis, which became a world-renowned center for polio treatment. Her alternative method was so effective that she received honorary degrees from Rutgers University and the University of Rochester. President Franklin D. Roosevelt even invited her to lunch to discuss his own treatment. Impressed by the number of polio victims that the Kenny Method rehabilitated, President Harry Truman authorised Kenny to enter the U.S. as she wished without a visa, a great honor only previously granted to one other non-US citizen. Location: , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
03.10.2022 05:00 Date: October 3, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates German Unity Day, which marks the day when East and West Germany reunited. Following WWII, Germany was divided into East and West sectors by the occupying forces. After the founding of the German Democratic Republic in 1949, the government built the Berlin wall 1961 and closed all borders to prevent its population from escaping the country. When the GDR opened up its borders for travel again—after months long peaceful protests by citizens in 1989—German people tore down the structure until the wall was no more. Almost a year later, a unification treaty was signed and it went into effect on this day in 1990. As a result, The German Unification spurred nationwide celebrations and ended the period of protests. After decades of separation, cultural and economic gaps between East and West Germany became apparent. Following reunification, Germans grow closer each year, creating a woven culture and shared understanding. Today, many Germans gather to reflect on the significance of their hard-earned reunification. No matter the differences in views, East and West Germans will always be banded together by history. Today’s Doodle artwork represents this sense of unification and togetherness. Happy German Unity Day to all! Location: Tags:
02.10.2022 10:31 Date: October 2, 2022 Location: Tags: , , ,
01.10.2022 06:00 Date: October 1, 2022 Today's Doodle celebrates Nigeria's Independence Day! On this day in 1960, the most populous country in Africa achieved independence from Great Britain. Celebrations start on the morning of Independence Day, when the President of Nigeria addresses the general public with a nationally televised speech. Nigerians then proudly sing the national anthem while raising the green and white flag — like the one featured in today's Doodle. Later on, the Nigerian Armed Forces march to the rhythm of thumping drums and perform military maneuvers in the nation's capital, Abuja. Many Nigerians spend the rest of the day enjoying traditional meals with friends and family. It wouldn't be a proper celebration without plantains and chicken served with jollof rice, a treasured Nigerian meal bursting with West African spices. Beaches are also a popular destination for family picnics, and later transform into outdoor clubs where the beat of fuji music continues into the night. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! Location: Tags:
01.10.2022 06:00 Date: October 1, 2022 Location: Tags:
