15.09.2022 11:15 Date: September 15, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Honduras National Day. On this day in 1821, Honduras alongside Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, declared independence from Spain. These countries joined to create the Federal Republic of Central America but in 1838 Honduras seceded and gained full sovereignty as an independent nation. Hondurans celebrate the day with street parties, fireworks and parades that are filled with patriotic floats and local school’s marching bands. Street vendors serve popular Honduran dishes like plato típico and baleada, a folded tortilla with beans, cheese and sour cream. To conclude official ceremonies, people gather in the evening to sing the national anthem, but many festivities continue into the night. The Honduran national flag depicted in today’s artwork waves throughout the country, its design symbolic of the country’s Central American pride. The blue and white stripes contain five central blue stars that represent the members of the Federal Republic of Central America. Happy National Day, Honduras! Location: Tags:
13.09.2022 21:00 Date: September 14, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 112th birthday of Rasuna Said, remembered as the Lioness of the Indonesian Independence Movement. She was an influential voice on social issues, especially women’s rights, a teacher and a journalist. She was recognized as an Indonesian national hero, the ninth woman to receive the honor. Rasuna was born near Lake Maninjau in West Sumatra on this day in 1910. From an early age, she was outspoken about the issues of the day. Her tenacity and intelligence as a student quickly paved her way to become an assistant teacher, who motivated young girls to dream big. In 1926, Rasuna was invited to join the Sarikat Rakyat, or People’s Movement followed by Islamic Movement in 1930 which led her to organize the Persatuan Muslim Indonesia which was critical of Dutch colonialism and its unfair treatment of women. In 1931, Rasuna moved to Padang to launch a women’s division in PERMI. It focused on opening literary schools for girls all throughout West Sumatra. In 1932, Rasuna was arrested for speaking out against Dutch rule. Thousands attended her trial in Payakumbuh in 1932. Her defense speech was inspiring and given without hesitation. At 24, after her release from prison in 1934, Rasuna began her journalistic career and wrote for a college journal called Raya. Over the next few years, she opened up more schools for girls and spoke on behalf of countless Muslim women’s groups. In 1945, after working tirelessly to instill nationalism and anti-colonialism through her writing, Indonesia gained its independence. In 1974, Rasuna was declared a National Hero of Indonesia for her services. Happy birthday, Rasuna Said! Location: Tags:
12.09.2022 06:46 Date: September 12, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Mexican-Jewish writer and disability rights activist Gabriela Brimmer on what would have been her 75th birthday. Brimmer made impactful contributions to books and films that authentically portrayed her experience as a person with cerebral palsy, ultimately creating more opportunities for those in the disabled community. Brimmer was born in Mexico City in 1947 to parents who escaped Nazi Austria. Soon after, her parents learned she had severe cerebral palsy, a muscular disorder that can affect a person's movement, muscle tone and posture. Brimmer’scaregivers taught her to communicate through written words and poetry, as she was nonverbal. Her left leg and foot, the only part of her body she could move, became her means of communication with the world. As depicted in today’s artwork, she wrote beautiful passages by using a typewriter that she operated with the big toe on her left foot. Brimmer later teamed up with Mexican novelists and journalists to write three bestselling books that accurately depicted her life. She also worked with producers to repurpose her autobiography into the movie Gaby, a True Story , which won Golden Globes and Oscar nominations. Brimmer went on to found the Association for the Rights of People with Motor Disabilities and participated in many other organizations that advocated for disability rights and accessibility. In 2016, the Gaby Brimmer National Center for Rehabilitation and Educational Integration was created in her honor. Happy birthday, Gabriela Brimmer! Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
11.09.2022 21:15 Date: September 12, 2022 Cock-a-Doodle-Do! Today’s Doodle celebrates the iconic Lampang Rooster Bowl, a traditional tableware design featuring a black-tailed rooster with peony flowers and banana leaves. This durable kitchenware is so popular in Asia that the Thai government registered the rooster bowl as a Geographical Indication product of Lampang on this day in 2013. This means international trade law affirms the quality and reputation of rooster bowls made in the region! The rooster bowl was imported to Thailand from China. In the original artwork, the rooster symbolized hard work while the banana leaf and red peony represented dreams of good fortune. In 1957, entrepreneurs opened many rooster kitchenware factories in Thailand’s Lampang province. The region, teeming with clay minerals, was better suited for ceramic manufacturing. As Lampang began mass producing tableware with rooster designs, the bowl became one of the region’s best-selling products—bringing financial stability and freedom to Lampang locals. Although Lampang continues to manufacture rooster bowls today, few factories can afford to design rooster bowls according to the traditional style and material, causing the original hand-painted rooster bowls to become a rare collector’s item. Be sure to check your kitchen cabinets for vintage rooster bowls—they just might bring your family good fortune! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork by Doodler, Helene Leroux Alt text: rough color sketch of the Doodle concept including a bowl with a running rooster with flowers and leaves flanking the bowl Alt text: white bowl spinning with a rough sketch of a rooster running around the bowl in circles Location: , , Tags:
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09.09.2022 23:30 Date: September 10, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Tết Trung Thu in Vietnam, which recognizes the importance of the moon and the sun and honors the year’s successful harvest. The Mid-Autumn Festival is now celebrated in many Asian countries, but the Vietnamese version has its own unique traditions and legends. Traditionally, Mid-Autumn Festival was a celebration of the autumn harvest—a time for the Vietnamese to give thanks to the moon for the successful harvest season. However, the festival has transformed to focus on celebrating children. This special emphasis of children has links to the harvest. Many parents and family members involved in tending the fields are very busy right up till harvest, unable to spend as much time with their children. Thus, Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to shower attention on children after the hard work has been completed. Many towns turn off electricity so they can only see lanterns and moonlight. As the largest moon of the year rises, many lively crowds dance, sing and bask in the moon’s radiant glow. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork by Doodler, Thoka Maer Today’s Doodle is a photograph of collaged, cut out construction paper assembled in layers. There were two modes used to create the final artwork: Light from the front, showing colorful, detailed lanterns Light from the back, revealing the rabbit in the moon—creating an atmosphere inspired by shadow theater and paper lanterns at night. Alt text: Close-up photograph of the brightly colored paper-crafted Doodle. In the center of the frame, a red bunny sits within a yellow moon radiating green rays. Red hanging lanterns flank the moon and the “GOOGLE” logo is situated on the bottom of the frame. Location: Tags:
09.09.2022 23:30 Date: September 10, 2022 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Seoul-based guest artist celebrates Chuseok . Also known as the full moon festival, this three-day holiday always begins on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This year, September 10th marks the day when Koreans return to their ancestral hometowns and celebrate with loved ones. Chuseok, meaning autumn evening, originated from Korea’s past as an agricultural society. Whenever a full moon appears in a mid-autumn sky, it signals that the harvest season has ended—it’s now time to relax and thank their ancestors for an abundant harvest. Traditionally, Koreans celebrate Chuseok with special meals and folk games. In the morning, many families hold a memorial service called charye to honor their ancestors with offerings like freshly harvested rice and songpyeon . People also enjoy delicious meals with foods like jeon—a pancake-like dish that can be made with fish, meat or vegetables. In modern times, gift-giving has become a new way for Koreans to show their appreciation for relatives, friends and co-workers. Happy Chuseok, everyone! Guest Artist Q&A with Dasom Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Seoul-based guest artist . Below, Dasom shares thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q: What was your creative process for this Doodle artwork? A: With the theme of Chuseok, an illustration emphasizing songpyeon was requested. While thinking about how to make an interesting illustration with Songpyeon as the main theme, I heard from my mom that her family used to gather together to make Songpyeon on Chuseok when she was young. So I thought it would be fun to show the process of making songpyeon. I researched the process of making songpyeon, ingredients, tableware, and clothing, and melted the process into the Google logo. In the case of the color chip, since Chuseok is an autumn holiday in Korea, brown, yellow, and red were mainly used to give an autumnal atmosphere. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? Are there specific elements of the artwork that have symbolic meaning? A: I was inspired by traditional Korean architecture and culture. The doors of traditional Korean houses are in the form of sliding doors, so they were placed on both sides and I wanted to give the impression that a story would pop out when the doors opened. Early Drafts Alt text: Black and white sketches of the Doodle illustration Location: Tags:
09.09.2022 23:30 Date: September 10, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival, or the Moon Festival, which marks an end to the Autumn harvest in Asian culture. Celebrations occur in several regions including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea. Originally, the Mid-Autumn Festival took place under a moonlit sky where food offerings like melons, cakes and pomegranates were left on altars. This long-held tradition symbolized gratitude to the moon for contributing to successful harvests. Although traditions have changed over time, this day is still associated with gathering, thanksgiving and worship—as seen when friends and families come together, decorate spaces with colorful lanterns, eat delicious mooncakes and watch the glowing moon. Because the festival is recognized across a variety of places surrounding Asia, each country celebrates with their own unique customs. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork by Doodler, Thoka Maer Today’s Doodle is a photograph of collaged, cut out construction paper assembled in layers. There were two modes used to create the final artwork: 1. Light from the front, showing colorful, detailed lanterns 2. Light from the back, revealing the rabbit in the moon—creating an atmosphere inspired by shadow theater and paper lanterns at night Alt text: Brightly colored paper clippings layered to create a scene of hanging lanterns flanking a large yellow moon. A decorative frame encloses the scene. The “GOOGLE” logo is positioned at the bottom of the frame. Location: , , , , , Tags:
08.09.2022 00:15 Date: September 8, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 96th birthday of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, an acclaimed Assamese-Indian singer, composer and filmmaker who created music for hundreds of films. He was also one of northeast India’s leading socio-cultural reformers, whose creations and compositions united people from all walks of life. Illustrated by Mumbai-based guest artist , the artwork celebrates Hazarika’s work to popularize Assamese cinema and folk music. Hazarika was born on this day in 1926 in northeastern India. His home state, Assam, is a region that has always been home to different tribes and several indigenous groups—such as the Bodo, Karbi, Mising and Sonowal-Kacharis. As a child, Hazarika grew up surrounded by songs and folk tales about life along the mighty Brahmaputra river. At a young age, Hazarika’s musical talents attracted the attention of renowned Assamese lyricist, Jyotiprasad Agarwala, and filmmaker, Bishnu Prasad Rabha—both doyens of Assam’s rich cultural history. They helped Hazarika record his first song, which launched his music career at 10 years old. By age 12, Hazarika was writing and recording songs for two films: Indramalati: Kaxote Kolosi Loi, and Biswo Bijoyi Naujawan. Over time, Hazarika created numerous compositions, having a penchant for telling people’s stories through songs—stories about happiness and grief, of unity and courage, romance and loneliness, and even strife and determination. Hazarika was not only a child music prodigy, he was also an intellectual. He graduated with a master’s in political science from Banaras Hindu University in 1946, and went on to earn a PhD in mass communications from Columbia University in 1952. After completing his studies in America, he returned to India to continue working on songs and films that popularized Assamese culture on both a national and global scale. Over the course of a six-decade career, Hazarika won several prestigious prizes like the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, for his outstanding contribution to music and culture. He was honored posthumously with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2019. He went on to serve as chairman and director of numerous boards and associations, including the Indian government’s National Film Development Corporation. Happy birthday, Bhupen Hazarika! Your songs and films continue to command respect for Assam’s rich culture. Go behind-the-scenes of today’s Doodle below! Guest Artist Q&A with Rutuja Mali Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Mumbai-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: I got a chance to dive deep into the life and work of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, to understand his brilliance in the field and his contribution to Indian music and cinema. The idea of celebrating someone’s art, their story, and legacy is always so special and inspiring. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A: I was excited and truly honoured to have been given this opportunity. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: I went through a few of his songs, photos and videos and tried my best to reflect his charm in the doodle. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: I hope people get curious to learn more about Dr. Bhupen Hazarika and his work and revisit some of his songs. Location: Tags:
07.09.2022 05:45 Date: September 7, 2022 Today's Doodle celebrates Brazil's Independence Day, which marks the country's declaration of independence from Portugal, which took place on September 7, 1822. Years later, with the signing of the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro in 1825, Brazil finally received formal recognition of its sovereignty. In 2022, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Brazil's independence. Happy Independence Day! Location: Tags:
07.09.2022 05:45 Date: September 7, 2022 Today's Doodle, illustrated by Jamaican guest artist , celebrates Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley’s 103rd birthday. The Jamaican poet, folklorist, activist and entertainer empowered the country to take pride in its language and culture. Known by many Jamaicans as “Miss Lou,” Bennett's social commentary and sense of humor made her a popular personality in the country. Bennett was born on September 7, 1919 in Kingston, Jamaica. She developed a passion for literature and Jamaican folklore in school and began writing poetry. Fascinated by her native language, Bennett wrote in the local dialect. Her first public appearance was her recital of a poem in Jamaican patois at a concert. Soon, Bennett was given a weekly column in The Gleaner, the island’s newspaper at the time, though they originally rejected Bennett’s poems. The majority of Jamaicans speak patois, but critics denounced it as an inferior and improper language. Her column, which captured the experiences of Jamaicans in their own language, gained support across the country. In 1942, Bennett published her first book of poetry, Dialect Verses. It earned her a British Council scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. As the school's first Black student, Bennett worked for the British Broadcasting Commission where she hosted the radio program Caribbean Carnival. After completing her degree, she hosted other programs like West Indian Guest Night and acted in theater companies. Returning to Jamaica in 1956, Bennett worked as a Drama Officer and later Director of the Jamaica Social Welfare Commission. On behalf of the commission, she moved around the country to train village instructors and regional officers with workshops like playmaking, improvisation and mime. She gave lectures on Jamaican folklore in the United States and England. Bennett also hosted radio programs like Laugh with Louise and Miss Lou's Views, and Ring Ding, a beloved Saturday morning children’s TV show airing on Jamaica Broadcasting Commission . In 1998, the Jamaican government appointed Bennett as the country’s Cultural Ambassador at Large. She was also inducted into the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II. Bennett was a champion of her country’s language and culture, inspiring Jamaicans to take pride in both. Happy Birthday, Miss Lou! Photographed: Louise Simone Bennett Coverley Courtesy of the Louise Simone Bennett Coverley Estate Special thanks to the Louise Simone Bennett Coverley Estate for their collaboration on this project. Below, her son Fabian Coverley B.Th. shares his thoughts on Miss Lou’s legacy. “Yu no know wat you have till it gone” - Jamaican proverb While I was living with my mother, whom I called “Aunt Louise,” I did not recognize that she was an icon. My mother was loving, devoted, and faithful to her family. She was a mother to many, some of whom lived with us. She was known by her adopted children as “Mother Lou”. Outside of our home in Gordon Town, Jamaica, my mother was known as “the Cultural Queen, Miss Lou”. She made Jamaicans proud worldwide. She developed her skills, working and researching to become an ethnographer. She was a Jamaican original—poet, writer, folklorist, comedian, encourager, and mentor. My mother inspired Jamaicans to recognize that we have a distinctive language, popularly known as Patwa. As she would say, “It a fi wi” . The journey was not easy. Miss Lou was disregarded as the promoter of a ‘vulgar’ non-language that was not fit to be used in polite society. She faced adversity when she chose to work and talk in the language of the people. She took on the role of freedom fighter and suffered condemnation of the so-called gatekeepers of the society. Today, she would be called a cultural activist. In her dramatic monologues and poetry , she created characters to tell her own truth about Jamaican society. Poems she wrote in the 1940s, such as “Colonization in Reverse,” are still relevant today, Miss Lou is especially known for her influence on children. She taught the enthusiastic children to celebrate our culture—the folk songs, proverbs and stories that define who we are as Jamaicans. My eldest child, and her first grandson, said this about her, “Louise Bennett taught the ones that teach us. She has influenced the present generation who will influence future generations. Her manners and teachings will be forever. She was always, “ON” for her whole existence, for the rich and poor. She respected all Jamaicans and gave her “ALL” to her country. Her credits are embodied in the culture of the people. Her legacy is not only to the African-West Indian community, but to the world.” My mother was kind and loving. She was not tribal. But she always sided with the ordinary people. She believed in them unconditionally. And she valued the language they spoke. Because of Miss Lou, our language is respected and celebrated on the international scene, particularly in music and sports. The world has adopted many of the sayings she promoted such as, ‘Wa a gwaan?’ . Her favorite was, ‘Walk good an good duppy walk with you’ . My mother was a trailblazer and pathfinder. Her legacy is long-lasting. I am blessed to have had such a mother and to have shared her with the world. - Fabian Coverley B.Th., Miss Lou’s son Guest Artist Q&A with Robyn Smith Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Jamaican guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: I grew up learning so much about Miss Lou. There was not a heritage day that went by without skits dedicated to her and the rich history of her contribution to Jamaica's culture. I remember having to learn every line of her poems for school performances, so getting to draw her and celebrate her birthday is really just so special. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A: I SCREAMED. I was just so excited about getting to work with Google, but then on top of that to have it be about a Jamaican subject. AND that subject being Miss Lou, I was washed with pride for Jamaica. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: I drew inspiration from all the times I performed Miss Lou's songs and poems as a child and I also looked up old videos of her performances. She is really such an inspiration. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: I hope people can learn a little about the impact of Miss Lou and truly how much she had a passion for preserving our culture. Location: , , , , , , , , Tags:
05.09.2022 06:15 Date: September 5, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Labor Day in the United States and Canada. The federal holiday honors the hard work and achievements of working people, and recognizes their immense contributions to society. During the Industrial Revolution, many Americans arduous shifts, seven days a week to make a living. This led to the birth of the labor movement, as workers formed labor and trade unions to advocate for rights. Through strikes and rallies, they protested the dangerous working conditions, minimal breaks and poor pay. The holiday originated in the late 19th century as the labor movement was gaining momentum across the U.S. On September 5th, 1892, the Central Labor Union organized a parade in New York City's Union Square—where thousands of workers took unpaid time off and gathered for the first unofficial celebration of Labor Day. After the Union Square parade inspired similar events across the country, the U.S. government officially declared the first Monday in September as a federal holiday in 1894. People commemorate the holiday today with parties, picnics and vacations. While the three-day weekend is a chance for one last break before summer ends, it is also a reminder of how far our country has come in advancing workers’ rights. Thanks to all the past and current labor activists who have raised our nation’s standard of living! Happy Labor Day to all! Location: , , Tags:
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02.09.2022 02:31 Date: September 2, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Vietnam National Day! On this day in 1945, the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam was read aloud to the public, officially recognizing Vietnam as a sovereign nation. On National Day, citizens are given a day off from work to celebrate this public holiday. Red and yellow banners line the streets to commemorate the holiday, and Vietnam’s National Flag is displayed on every corner of the country. Vibrant firework shows and local parades are also enjoyed in Ba Đình Square and other cities across the nation. Today’s artwork features Vietnam’s mythical national bird, the chim lac. Chim lac most closely resembles the crane with its long beak and can be found as intricate decorations on traditional Dong Son bronze drums. Happy National Day, Vietnam! Location: Tags: , , , ,
