28.07.2022 16:15 Date: July 28, 2022 Today’s Doodle honors Peru’s independence from Spain, which the country celebrates with a two-day observance called Las Fiestas Patrias. On this day in 1821, Argentinian commander Jose San Martín entered the Plaza de Armas in Peru’s capital of Lima and declared sovereignty. However, independence wasn’t fully achieved until 1824, when Jose San Martín joined Simon Bolivar and Antonio Jose de Sucre to secure lasting liberty. The evening before the festivities begin, Criolla and reggaeton music fill the streets and by midnight, fireworks are crackling across the sky. Patriotic celebrations commence on July 28 with a ceremony that raises Peru’s national flag, like the one featured in today’s Doodle. During the second day of celebrations, a military parade honors the Armed Forces and the National Police of Peru. The main event takes place in the Plaza De Armas, where the president delivers a speech reviewing the past year’s progress. In most plazas around the nation, music plays, people dance and food trucks serve traditional dishes like ceviche, chicharron and papas rellenas . ¡Feliz Bicentenario de la Independencia, Perú! Location: Tags: , , , ,
25.07.2022 23:00 Date: July 26, 2022 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Trinidad & Tobago-based artist , celebrates the steelpan, a percussion instrument made of metal, created and influenced by Trinbagonians. It’s the only acoustic instrument invented in the twentieth century, but has origins dating back to the 1700’s. It was a staple during Carnival and Canboulay, the annual harvest festivals celebrated in Trinidad, and is still used in contemporary music. On this day in 1951, the Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra performed at the Festival of Britain, introducing the steelpan and a new music genre to the world. When enslaved Africans were brought to Trinidad by colonialists in the 1700’s, they brought over their African heritage and traditions of rhythmic drumming with them. When slavery was abolished between 1834 and 1838, Trinidadians joined in on Carnival festivities with their drums. However in 1877, government officials banned their drumming because they feared that the drumming would be used to send messages that would inspire rebellion. In protest of this ban, musicians started to pound tuned bamboo tubes on the ground as alternatives to mimic the sound of their drums. These ensembles were called Tamboo Bamboo bands. Another ban came in 1930, when rival Tamboo Bamboo bands would cause disturbances during Carnival and other street festivals. These bands then looked to a new alternative to carry their rhythm: metal objects such as car parts, paint pots, dustbins, biscuit tins and thus the idea of the pan was born. During World War II, Carnival was forbidden due to security reasons, and musicians began experimenting with the unique instrument to improve the sound quality. Overtime, dents were hammered into the surface of these objects, which played different notes depending on the size, position and shape. In 1948, after the war ended, the musicians switched to using the 55 gallon oil drums discarded by the oil refineries. In addition to changing the shape of the drum surface, they found that changing the length of the drum allowed complete scales from bass to soprano. This formed the basis for the modern version of the pan. The steelpan grew and developed into a legitimate instrument through the likes of pioneers and innovators such as Winston “Spree” Simon, Ellie Mannette, Anthony Williams and Bertie Marshall. Many of their innovations and techniques are still used today. The steelpan is now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, and is a source of great pride and true resilience for its citizens. Steelpans are now enjoyed in concert calls like Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and more. Whether in the UK or Japan, Senegal or the States, the steelpan is an internationally recognized instrument that reminds listeners of its island origins. Guest Artist Q&A with Nicolas Huggins and Etienne Charles Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Trinidad & Tobago-based guest artist and composed by Miami-based musician , Below, they share thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? Nicolas: The Steel Pan is the national instrument of Trinidad & Tobago and was actually invented here. It is an instrument that was born from resistance and rebellion and is truly emblematic of the people of T&T. At the time, African percussion was banned among other things, and the steel pan developed out of that. The fact that such a sweet tune can be extracted from industrial oil drums is something that should be cherished. The steel pan is also closely associated with our national Carnival celebrations, and therefore is a great source of national pride. Etienne: For many reasons. Pan makes up a huge part of my musical development, I grew up in Phase II's panyard aka the Village. I jump at any chance to put Pan and Steelband culture on a global stage. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? Nicolas: When I was first approached to tackle such a culturally significant topic for this Doodle I was a bit nervous because I wanted the story being told to be one that Trinbagonians worldwide would be proud of. I was also very excited because I love creating art that showcases Trinidad & Tobago and this Doodle will allow my country to be showcased on one of the biggest online stages Etienne: First thoughts were those to contain my excitement to get to work with Boogsie on the music, as well as with Nick, Angelica and the whole google team. Then it was figuring out a process. Luckily I had just finished a global steelband project, but this one was a collaborative composition with Boogsie and myself, so he recorded ideas into a phone and sent them to me. From there, I added my part to compliment and arranged the whole piece. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? Nicolas: I drew inspiration from the early innovators behind the story of the Steel Pan. Without them, there is no Pan and the landscape of Trinidad & Tobago, and the entire world in fact, would be much different. These early pan-men like Winston Spree Simon and Ellie Mannette are inspiring for any Trinbagonian. Etienne: I drew inspiration from my first time on the road with a steelband, and my first times hearing the full band sound, as well as Boogsie's music. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? Nicolas: I hope that people can take away the sense of the industriousness and creativity of the people of Trinidad & Tobago. We are a small country on the global stage but the fact that we have given the world such a beautiful instrument is something to be held in the highest regard. Etienne: I'd like people to feel the magic in the steelpan. An instrument born out of Afro-descendant resistance in Trinidad. A symbol of community, artistic excellence, and scientific innovation. Hopefully this makes people more inclined to come hear pan in its birthplace and feel the energy that comes from it. It’s really like nothing else. A special thank you to our guest music and motion design contributors for their collaboration on this Doodle • Steelpan Soloist • Composer, Musician Mick Seegobin • Motion Designer Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags: , , , ,
21.07.2022 23:45 Date: July 22, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates an original member of the Lwów School of Mathematics and founder of modern functional analysis —Stefan Banach. On this day in 1922, this influential 20th-century mathematician officially became a professor Stefan Banach was born in Kraków, Poland. He never knew his mother, and his father sent him to be raised by a family in the city. Due to his poor eyesight, Banach was deemed unfit for military service and taught in local schools during World War 1. After publishing mathematical papers he worked on in his spare time, Banach received a job at Lvov Technical University. He was a mostly self-taught mathematician and professor. Hugo Steinhaus, a distinguished mathematician and educator met and befriended a young Banach. Steinhaus, an early founder of game and probability theory, would later refer to Banach as his “greatest scientific discovery.” With the help of Steinhaus’ academic connections, Banach founded modern functional analysis, an entirely new branch of mathematics. Many concepts are named after him including Banach spaces, Banach algebra and the Banach-Steinhaus theorm. He was also an original member of the famous school of mathematics in what is now present day Lviv, Ukraine. Banach influenced the school’s unique atmosphere. Faculty would meet in noisy cafés, discuss and formulate problems, and write directly on the tables. Banach is widely regarded as one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20th century. He made major contributions to the theory of topological vector spaces, measure theory, integration, the theory of sets, orthogonal series and functional analysis, which is still studied and used today. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to mathematics, Stefan Banach! Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
21.07.2022 04:15 Date: July 21, 2022 Jovelina Pérola Negra’s deep, swinging voice and graceful improvisations revolutionized Brazil’s samba dance movement in the 1980s. Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Rio De Janeiro-based guest artist , celebrates the singer-songwriter’s 78th birthday. Pérola Negra was born as Jovelina Faria Belfort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and grew up singing and dancing samba in the Belford Roxo neighborhood. Her friend suggested the stage name Jovelina Pérola Negra because it suited her radiant complexion and elegant voice. Until age 40, Pérola Negra worked as a housemaid and spent her free time attending Império Serrano, a celebrated samba school in Rio de Janeiro. She regularly sang at community samba parties called pagodes in the working-class suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. After a local producer discovered her at a pagode, Pérola Negra received the opportunity to record her first album, Raca Brasileira, with other newly discovered artists. The singers all performed the Partido Alto subgenre of samba, a style that offers vocal improvisation and singalong opportunities for the audience. Pérola Negra lent her singing and songwriting skills to three compositions on Raca Brasileira. It was wildly successful and the record label, RGE, hired Negra to record her first solo album. Pérola Negra released her self-titled debut album to further acclaim. The song arrangements supported her emotional vocals with a cavaquinho, a Portuguese stringed instrument that resembles a ukulele—like the ones pictured in today’s Doodle. She released four more individual albums in the prime of her career, experimenting with different genres, like the slower-paced samba-canção, and earning a platinum record. Pérola Negra performed around the world in Angola, France and Japan before passing away from a heart attack at age 54. The Brazilian Ministry of Culture awarded Pérola Negra the Order of Cultural Merit in 2016. A community center located in the Pavuna neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro was also named in her honor. Today, her music can be found on streaming platforms and in record stores all over the world. Happy 78th birthday, Jovelina Pérola Negra! Guest Artist Q&A with Lana Carollina Riberio Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Rio De Janeiro-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: My greatest influences in life are in samba, in Brazilian popular culture, in festive and colorful Brazil. To talk about Jovelina is to talk about what I live and hear every day, is to talk about my formation as a person, is to talk about what I believe. It was too exciting for me to have the opportunity to honor her. Long live Jovelina, her music, and long live the enchanted Brazil! Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A: "I did it!". This subject in particular , is usually what I like to talk about in my personal projects as an illustrator. To be able to talk about what I love in a commercial project and still at Google, was a great professional and personal victory. It was always a dream of mine to illustrate a Google Doodle. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: I was inspired by what I live, what my friends and family live, the carioca street culture, the backyard samba, the songs we hear on the street corners in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. I was inspired by Jovelina's samba and by the joyful suburb of Rio. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: Let them remember that wonderful things exist in Brazil. Here we live so contaminated with bad news that sometimes we forget the beautiful things that only exist here. I hope this Doodle brings happy feelings and good memories to those who watch it. Location: Tags: , , , , ,
21.07.2022 04:15 Date: July 21, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Belgium’s National Day! On this day in 1831, Leopold I swore allegiance to the constitution and took the oath as king. Although Belgium became an independent nation the previous year in 1830, this holiday commemorates the country’s first king. After the Napoleonic Wars, the Netherlands annexed Belgium. Between August and October of 1830, Belgians across multiple revolutionary factions united to oust the Dutch. In November, after Dutch forces withdrew from the country, the National Congress declared Belgium a constitutional monarchy and elected Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a German aristocrat, as its first rightful ruler. Every year, several events are held to honor Belgium’s Independence. After the king makes a televised speech, festivities usually start with the Te Deum hymn at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels. The royal family then attends the National Day ceremony at the Place de Palais, where a grand parade takes place. Firework shows, free concerts and flyovers by the Belgian Air Force are also enjoyed by the people. And it wouldn’t be a proper celebration without some crispy and delicious frites, fried to perfection and served with a variety of sauces and condiments. Many frites stands—friterie or frietkot —like the one in today’s Doodle, can be found throughout the country on National Day. In fact, there’s even a museum in Bruges, Belgium called the Frietmuseum dedicated entirely to celebrating frites! Happy National Day, Belgium! Location: Tags: , , , , , , ,
20.07.2022 19:00 Date: July 21, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 77th birthday of Lydia Tin Ha Sum, one of Hong Kong’s most beloved comedians. Affectionately known as “Fei Fei” , as well as “Happy Fruit”, the Shanghai-born actress is a household name in Chinese communities around the world who brought laughter and positive energy through her shows. Sum was born on this day in 1945. She began her career as a teen actress working for the Shaw Brothers Studio, the largest production company in Hong Kong at the time. In 1967, she landed her breakout role as the emcee for a popular variety show called “Enjoy Yourself Tonight.” Soon after, she starred in the popular Cantonese film, “The House of 72 Tenants,” which follows the lives of residents in a run-down apartment. Sum’s realistic portrayal of working-class women struck a chord with theater-goers. The film surpassed blockbuster films, topping Hong Kong’s box office in 1973. Sum went on to play a similar role in “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World,” a four-part blockbuster comedy about an impoverished family in search of wealth. A powerful commentary on social inequality, the classic film series continues to drive conversation in the media today. Beyond Hong Kong, Sum also starred in Singapore's English-language sitcom,“Living with Lydia,” which won her Best Comedy Performance at the Asian Television Awards in 2003. Happy 77th birthday, Lydia Sum! Your films and television shows still bring laughter and joy to Chinese communities all over the world. Location: , , , , Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
20.07.2022 09:30 Date: July 20, 2022 Today’s Doodle commemorates Colombia Independence Day, when the country gained independence from Spanish colonization. On this day in 1810, Colombia signed the Act of the Revolution and became a sovereign state. Overlooking Independence Day celebrations from the Paramos Mountains of Colombia are Andean bears, like the one pictured in today’s Doodle. This particular breed of bear is said to be the country’s guardian. Colombians see the animal as a sacred addition to their land and include it in their oral traditions of legends, myths and songs. In cities around the world, Colombians come together to celebrate their culture and history by observing military parades and historic reenactments. It is tradition for Colombians to show pride in their homeland by painting their faces yellow, blue and red, and wearing their national team’s football jersey. One can’t end Colombian Independence Day without enjoying the savory national dish, bandeja paisa, which consists of grilled beefsteak, steamed white rice, red beans, fried eggs, sweet plantains, fried pork, and slices of avocado. Happy Independence Day, Colombia! Location: Tags: , , , , ,
19.07.2022 04:30 Date: July 19, 2022 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Kerala-based artist , celebrates the 113th birthday of Balamani Amma, a famous Indian poet who was known as the grandmother of Malayalam literature—a language spoken in Kerala, India. On this day in 1909, she was born in Nalapat, her ancestral home in Punnayurkulam located in the Thrissur district. She was a recipient of countless awards for her poetry including the Saraswati Samman—the nation’s most esteemed literary award—and Padma Vibhushanthe—second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Amma never received any formal training or education, but was instead schooled at home by her uncle Nalappat Narayana Menon, who was also a popular Malayali poet. He had an impressive collection of books and works that Amma studied at a young age. At 19, she married V.M. Nair, the managing director and managing editor of Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam newspaper. In 1930, at the age of 21, Amma published her first poem titled Kooppukai. Her first recognition as a gifted poet came from the former ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin, Parikshith Thampuran, who awarded her with the Sahithya Nipuna Puraskaram. As an avid reader of Indian mythology, Amma’s poetry tended to put a spin on the traditional understanding of women characters. Her early poems glorified motherhood in a new light—she became known as the “poetess of motherhood”. Her works adopted the ideas and stories of mythological characters, but depicted women as powerful figures who remained ordinary human beings. Her most famous works include Amma , Muthassi and Mazhuvinte Katha . Balamani Amma was a recipient of multiple awards, and published more than 20 anthologies of poetry, prose and translations. She was also the mother of Kamala Das, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1984. Amma passed away in 2004 and her cremation was attended with full state honors. Her poems describing her love for children and grandchildren earned her the titles of Amma and Muthassi of Malayalam poetry. Happy birthday, Balamani Amma! Location: Tags: , , , ,
17.07.2022 23:45 Date: July 18, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates what would have been the 112th birthday of Oskar Sala, an innovative electronic music composer and physicist. Recognized for producing sound effects on a musical instrument called a mixture-trautonium, Salas electrified the world of television, radio and film. Sala was born in Greiz, Germany, in 1910 and was immersed in music since birth. His mother was a singer and his father was an ophthalmologist with musical talent. At 14, Sala began creating compositions and songs for instruments like the violin and piano. When Sala first heard a device called the trautonium, he became fascinated by the tonal possibilities and the technology the instrument offered. His life mission became mastering the trautonium and developing it further which inspired his studies in physics and composition at school. This new focus led Sala to develop his own instrument called the mixture-trautonium. With his education as a composer and an electro-engineer, he created electronic music that set his style apart from others. The mixture-trautonium’s architecture is so unique that it was capable of playing several sounds or voices simultaneously. From behind the door of a recording studio, Sala composed musical pieces and sound effects for many television, radio and movie productions, such as Rosemary and The Birds . The instrument created noises like bird cries, hammering and door and window slams. Sala received several awards for his work—he gave many interviews, met numerous artists and was honored in radio broadcasts and movies. In 1995, he donated his original mixture-trautonium to the German Museum for Contemporary Technology. Sala also built the Quartett-Trautonium, Concert Trautonium and the Volkstrautonium. His efforts in electronic music opened the field of subharmonics. With his dedication and creative energy, he became a one-man orchestra. Happy birthday, Oskar Sala! Explore about the life and work of German physicist, composer and pioneer of electronic music, Oskar Sala, with . Location: Tags: , ,
17.07.2022 03:30 Date: July 17, 2022 Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón, better known by his pen name Quino, created the iconic comic strip Mafalda. It provided a voice for Latin America in times of political instability and censorship. Today’s Doodle celebrates the Argentinian-Spanish cartoonist's 90th birthday and is illustrated by Buenos Aires-based guest artist . Quino was born in Mendoza, Argentina in 1932. The Son of pro-democracy Spanish immigrants, he grew up trying to make sense of his country’s unstable government and institutions. His artistic ambition was encouraged by his uncle Joaquin, a painter and graphic designer. Quino got his nickname to help distinguish him from his uncle who shared the same name. At age 12, Quino enrolled in art school only to drop out three years later when his father passed away. He moved to Buenos Aires where he dreamed of becoming a cartoonist. After fulfilling his mandatory military service, Quino published his first cartoon in 1954. He spent the next decade honing his craft and released a compilation of cartoons called Mundo Quino. Thanks to Mundo Quino’s success, he was commissioned to create a comic strip as part of an advertising campaign for a home appliance brand. In developing the campaign, Quino created Mafalda– a curious six-year-old Argentinian girl with a knack for noticing the world’s injustices and befuddling her parents. The campaign was canceled, but Quino held onto the cartoons. In 1964, Mafalda debuted in Buenos Aires Weekly and rapidly gained popularity in Spanish-speaking countries around the world. The cartoon used child characters to provide humorous, scathing commentary on authoritarianism, censorship and inequality. Mafalda captured Latin America’s changing political landscape until 1974 when Argentina’s militant government began targeting and detaining state opponents. Due to the volatile political situation, Quino ended the comic strip and went into self-imposed exile in Milan. Until his retirement in 2006, Quino created cartoons while splitting his time between Madrid and Buenos Aires. While he didn’t revive Mafalda, his later work followed a similar tone focusing on themes of privilege and the plight of the working class told through the use of dark humor. Quino’s cartoons have been translated into 26 different languages and Mafalda is still being printed today. In 2014, Quino received Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award and France’s Legion of Honor. His cartoons are sold online and in bookstores around the world. After his passing, many Argentinians honored his life by leaving flowers at the foot of the Mafalda statue in Buenos Aires. Happy 90th Birthday, Quino—you’ve created a comic character whose legacy can never be stripped. Location: Tags: , , , , , , ,
14.07.2022 08:15 Date: July 14, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Bastille Day, also known as la Fête de la Fédération and le Quatorze Juillet in France and is illustrated by Paris-based artist . On this day in 1789, French citizens stormed the Bastille, a royal prison fortress and political symbol that marked the first victory and started the French Revolution. Ruled by King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, France was in a state of disarray and agitation throughout the 1780’s. After inheriting an enormous debt from his predecessor, Louis XVI continued to spend lavishly despite the threat of economic disaster. To make matters worse, unemployment was at an all time high and crop shortages caused a nationwide famine. It’s rumored that Marie Antoinette said, “Let them eat cake!” in response to these issues, proving just how out of touch she was with the people. Although only seven inmates were imprisoned in the fortress, a mob approached the Bastille on the morning of July 14th. By afternoon, French citizens sieged the prison with the help of some French guards sympathetic to the revolution. A few years later in 1793, the French First Republic was born. In 1790, French citizens celebrated the one-year anniversary of the storming of the Bastille and called it the Festival of the Federation. In 1880, the French government recognized July 14th as a national holiday. Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood are the three pillars of the French Republic, represented by the colors of the flag. Bastille Day embodies the French people’s fight against oppression and is celebrated throughout the country with festivities like military parades, free concerts and aircraft flyovers. A magnificent firework show is also displayed each year near the Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars. Vive le 14 Juillet, et bonne fête nationale! Location: Tags: , , , ,
12.07.2022 19:51 Date: July 12, 2022 A picture is worth a thousand worlds. Today’s Doodle celebrates the deepest infrared photo of the universe ever taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope—also known as the JWST or Webb—a scientific phenomenon and one of the biggest engineering feats of humanity. It is the largest, most powerful, and most complex infrared telescope to ever be put into space—and the largest international space endeavor in history! Today, six months since take off, NASA released Webb’s first operational images unveiling new depths and worlds. The JWST is named after NASA’s second administrator, James E. Webb, who led the Apollo missions that landed the first humans on the moon. The telescope was launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on December 25, 2021 and took a month to reach its orbit at 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The launch was made possible through the collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency . Thanks to images from the JWST, astronomers will now have the opportunity to study every phase of cosmic history, which spans a massive 13.5 billion years, and the mysteries beyond our galaxy. NASA aims to explore the early universe, multiple galaxies over time, the star life cycle and other worlds with Webb. The JWST will even be able to observe light from galaxies that formed 400 millions years after the big bang, and detect oxygen and organic molecules on other planets. Long throughout history, humans have wondered, “How did we get here?” and “Are we alone in the universe?” The JWST will allow us to explore these questions and distant worlds that orbit other stars and study our solar system extensively, producing the sharpest infrared images ever taken by a space telescope. It will open the doors to more scientific breakthroughs in the future, shining a new light on space, time, and celestial bodies we’ve yet to discover. Today’s Doodle features the deepest infrared photo of the universe ever taken as well as other initial images from the JWST. Explore them below! An image of Deep Field—the deepest infrared photo of the universe ever taken! Star-Forming region The Carina Nebula is one of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, located approximately 7,600 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina. Nebulae are stellar nurseries where stars form. The Carina Nebula is home to many massive stars, several times larger than the Sun. Stephan's Quintet About 290 million light-years away, Stephan’s Quintet is located in the constellation Pegasus. It is notable for being the first compact galaxy group ever discovered in 1877. Four of the five galaxies within the quintet are locked in a cosmic dance of repeated close encounters. Stellar Death The Southern Ring, or “Eight-Burst” nebula, is a planetary nebula – an expanding cloud of gas, surrounding a dying star. It is nearly half a light-year in diameter and is located approximately 2,000 light years away from Earth. Today NASA released the deepest-ever infrared photo of the universe, taken by the Explore the image and discover about this feat of engineering on Location: Tags: , , , , ,
10.07.2022 12:31 Date: July 10, 2022 Location: Tags: , , ,
09.07.2022 09:00 Date: July 9, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Argentina Independence Day, or Día de la Independencia. On this day in 1816, the congress of Tucumán declared the South American nation’s independence from Spain. Argentinians commemorate this day by waving their sky- blue and white national flag, with a central golden sun, and singing the national anthem. As depicted in today’s artwork, the national bird of Argentina, the rufous hornero, also joins in on the singing. These reddish brown birds—with short tails, long bills and a distinct, high-pitch chirp—are a familiar sight and sound across Argentina, living in both cities and the countryside. Buenos Aires’s Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, is named in honor of independence day. Its 140 meters run through the heart of the capital, where Argentinians attend parades, concerts and military demonstrations. During the festivities, street vendors sell national dishes like locro, a traditional stew made from dried white corn, sweet potatoes, squash and meat. For dessert, fried pastries called pastelitos are served with custards or jellies. Happy Independence Day, Argentina! Location: Tags:
07.07.2022 01:45 Date: July 7, 2022 Today’s Doodle honors Tanabata , a Japanese festival celebrating the timeless tale of two star-crossed lovers named Orihime and Hikoboshi. As legend goes, the couple can only reunite in the Milky Way on this day each year. In this story, Orihime is a celestial princess who weaves beautiful garments for her formidable father—The Sky King. One day she meets a cowherd named Hikoboshi and they fall in love. As Orihime spends more time with her sweetheart, she stops weaving for her father. This upsets the Sky King, who sees the relationship as a distraction. Ignoring his daughter’s wishes, he banishes Hikoboshi to the other side of the galaxy. Once a year during Tanabata a flock of magpies fly across the universe. The iridescent birds form a bridge for Hikoboshi and Orihime to cross and find each other. But poor weather conditions can prevent the magpies from reaching the end of the galaxy. That’s why people across Japan wish for clear skies every Tanabata, so that the ill-fated lovers won't have to wait another year to meet. It is customary for people to write their wishes on a colorful strip of paper . As depicted in today’s artwork, people celebrate Tanabata by enjoying the beautiful, cascading garlands that hang throughout Japan. Happy Tanabata to all who celebrate! May your deepest wishes come true this year. Location: Tags: , , , , , , , ,
