09.10.2023 02:16 Date: October 9, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Uganda’s Independence Day. The African nation earned sovereignty after seventy years under British control. On this day in 1962, Uganda was officially declared a free state among the international community. Celebrations kick off in Kampala’s Kololo Ceremonial Grounds where Ugandans gather to watch the president speak to the country’s future. After speeches, parades of festive dancers and thumping bands march through the city. Later, people join their loved ones for traditional meals like the national dish matoke—mashed and steamed bananas served with meat. Today, Uganda’s national flag, like the one in today’s Doodle, flies high throughout the country. It features six stripes of three colors with a central crested crane. The black stands for country, yellow represents sunshine, and red symbolizes brotherhood. The flag was officially recognized on the day Uganda earned its independence. Happy Independence Day, Uganda! Location: Tags:
09.10.2023 02:16 Date: October 9, 2023 Today’s video Doodle, illustrated by Paris-based guest artist , celebrates French singer France Gall, who entered the Yé-yé scene at 16 and remained a prominent singer. On this day in 1947, she was born in Paris with the name Isabelle. Growing up in a family of lyricists, composers, choir founders, and singers, it is no surprise that Gall pursued a musical career. She was playing guitar and piano in her adolescence, and by 15, she signed with a music publisher under her father’s guidance. She released her debut single Ne Sois Pas Si Bête under the pseudonym France Gall, which played on the radio for the first time on her 16th birthday. In 1965, Gall represented Luxembourg at the international song contest Eurovision. Her upbeat performance of Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son earned her first prize and is considered the first pop song to win the contest. By this point, the young Gall was considered a major figure in the Yé-yé movement; she was voted France’s number one female pop star the following year which coincided with a successful international career. Gall worked with several composers and songwriters over the years, notably Michel Berger, whom she would marry in 1976. Some of their most famous collaborations are Évidemment , La Déclaration D'amour , and Mon Fils Rira du Rock 'n' Roll . In 1979 she performed live and starred in the rock opera Starmania which her husband wrote the music for. In the 80s, France Gall released four albums: Paris, France, Tout Pour la Musique, Débranche!, and Babacar. Many of her songs topped the charts like Ella, elle l'a and Il Jouait Du Piano Debout — which is featured in today’s Doodle! France collaborated on two duets with English artist Sir Elton John at his request during this period. Somehow, she still made time to do philanthropic work. Over the years, she organized food drives, held fundraisers, and donated proceeds from some of her songs as well as doing work directly on the ground for causes she supported. During her 50+ year career, Gall made her mark on an international music competition, released over 15 albums, performed in sold-out venues over 3 continents and co-authored the musical Résiste. In 2001, the documentary France Gall par France Gall immortalized the pop performer’s life and career. Happy birthday to this French music icon! Guest Artist Q&A with Mathilde Loubes Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Paris-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 was very proud to celebrate such an inspiring woman and talented artist, but it felt very special to me personally because I remember my aunt singing Résiste to herself, so France Gall’s music has always been very dear to my heart! Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project? A: I was thrilled! I also quickly realized that it would be a tricky task as France Gall’s career was so prolific.. but it made it all the more interesting for sure! I really admire her work and it felt like such an honor to be part of this tribute. Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: Well, I love to have something to listen to when I draw, so of course the main inspiration for this Doodle was France Gall’s music! I was more than happy to dive back into her discography! Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: I hope people who don’t know of France Gall’s music yet can discover her incredible works. And for those who already know her, I hope they can share a little of the joy I had drawing with this great song and maybe be inspired to find out more about her life! Early Doodle Drafts Location: , , , , , , , Tags:
09.10.2023 02:16 Date: October 9, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Hangul Day — the only holiday in the world celebrating an alphabet! Korea’s Hangul helps increase literacy rates across the region. On this day in 1446, Hangul officially became the country’s writing system. Before Hangul, Josun used Chinese characters which were complicated and required education to learn. To solve this issue, King Sejong created Hangul which by design is much simpler — the alphabet contains 24 letters, 14 consonants, and 10 vowels. Almost all Korean is written in Hangul to this day and Korea’s literacy rate is almost 100%, due in large part to this efficient writing system! In 1945, South Korea’s government declared Hangul Day an official holiday. Today’s celebrations vary from town to town. Many Koreans visit the King Sejong Museum in Seoul while others might enjoy the day off by reflecting on their nation’s progress or spending time with loved ones. Happy Hangul Day, Korea! Early Doodle Drafts Location: Tags:
05.10.2023 08:01 Date: October 5, 2023 Happy World Teachers’ Day 2023! Today’s Doodle honors educators across the world who nurture students to become the best version of themselves. To educators: Thank you for all that you do to help your students grow by instilling a love for learning. Check out the to learn more about global teaching and education trends we’ve seen in the past year, and powerful stories of resilience from educators around the world. Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
04.10.2023 21:46 Date: October 5, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the opening day of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This year, it is India’s turn to host the quadrennial flagship tournament — the 13th edition since its start in 1975. Ten national squads are set to compete for the first place trophy. 45 matches will be played in the group stage, with each team set to face all the others once. This year, teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka will be participating. Only four teams will progress to the knockout stage, which consists of two semi-final matches and one cup final in Ahmedabad. The tournament will be played all across India, at stadiums in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Dharamsala and Pune. The first match takes place today - between 2019’s returning champions, England and runners-up, New Zealand, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Good luck to all the teams! Location: , , , , Tags:
03.10.2023 06:01 Date: October 3, 2023 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Wrocław-based guest artist , celebrates the 141st birthday of Karol Szymanowski, an esteemed Polish composer of the early 20th century. His works demonstrated originality, explored many styles, and embodied absolute mastery of orchestration. Very notably, when Poland gained independence in 1918, he helped create its distinct national style. Szymanowski was born on this day in Timoshovka, Ukraine in 1882. He learned how to play piano at an early age and moved to Warsaw to study harmony, counterpoint, and composition in 1901. Despite the invaluable education he obtained there, Szymanowski felt the city’s taste was too conservative. In 1905, he co-founded the Young Polish Composers’ Publishing Company, an organization that provided opportunities to perform his own works on stages across Berlin and Warsaw. Unfortunately this stretch of creative freedom was halted by World War I. He traveled back to his homeland and went into artistic isolation. During this time, he explored foreign sources of inspiration like Mediterranean cultures and ancient Greek philosophy. The turning point in Szymanowski’s career occurred in 1919 when he returned to the newly-independent Poland. He realized the country lacked its own musical identity and style. This sparked a profound transformation in his music — one that was either welcomed or rejected depending on the listener. Ever the explorer, he frequently visited the Polish highlands and drew inspiration from Podhale and Kurpie folk music. In his personal life, he was associated with creatives like writer Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, poet and dancer Borys Kochno, and actor Witold Conti. His works refer to his romantic relationships, including his opera King Roger. Szymanowski earned several awards and accolades throughout his career, most notably the National Prize for Music in 1935. He briefly served as rector of the Warsaw Conservatory, and was an honorary member at other music academies across the world. One thing is for certain: he changed minds both on and off the conductor’s podium, whether it was about his music or identity. Perhaps his life’s forte was helping to establish a young country’s cultural identity amidst a changing world. Happy birthday, Karol Szymanowski! Location: , , Tags:
03.10.2023 06:01 Date: October 3, 2023 Today’s hand-quilted Doodle celebrates German Unity Day, which commemorates the historic reunification of East and West Germany on this day in 1990. The Berlin Wall fell a year earlier, reuniting loved ones after decades of separation and finally allowing people to travel freely inside Germany. However, the cultural and economic gaps that had developed between East and West proved difficult to close. Germans across the country today reflect on their hard-earned reunification and desire to create a woven culture of shared understanding. The public holiday is ultimately about growing closer as a cohesive community and celebrating the country’s diverse customs and identities. Despite sometimes having differences in views, East and West Germans will always remain connected by history. The former concrete border and barbed wires have since transformed into nearly 1,400 kilometers of lush greenery — a symbol of hope and new beginnings. Today’s Doodle artwork is a representation of the East and West working together on either side of the wall to reunite. Happy German Unity Day to all! Einen schönen Tag der Deutschen Einheit! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork by Doodler, Thoka Maer Location: Tags:
02.10.2023 00:45 Date: October 2, 2023 Today’s slideshow Doodle celebrates the Appalachian Trail — click the Doodle to explore the 2,190-mile footpath that spans across 14 U.S. states! The Appalachian trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, and has served sightseeing hikers for nearly 100 years. It traverses through dense forests, across rushing rivers, and over mountain summits along the east coast. On this day in 1968 The National Trails System Act established the Appalachian Trail as one of the country’s first National Scenic Trails. Benton MacKaye, a forester, conservationist, and lifelong outdoorsman, first proposed the idea in 1921. His original plan, titled An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning, outlined a stretch of several self-sustaining agricultural camps along the way. Many like-minded people started joining his cause, and the community eventually became known as the Appalachian Trail Conference. In 1937, thanks to combined efforts of many trailblazers, the Appalachian Trail became fully connected from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Ten years later, a hiker named Earl Shaffer reported the first thru-hike from end-to-end and ignited a wave of interest. Over fourteen thousand people have completed the trek since. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Trails System Act in 1968, which declared the Appalachian Trail as one of the first national scenic trails and recognized it as federal land. Finally, in 2014, the last major stretch of land was acquired, turning initial dreams for the trail into reality. Nowadays, in a collaborative effort to conserve its natural glory, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and many volunteers maintain and manage the historic footpath. Thousands of pathfinders visit the route each year with the intention of completing the four- to six-month long thru-hike. Happy trails! Doodle artist, Nate Swinehart, trekked to the Appalachian Trail to conduct research for today’s Doodle! Check out behind-the-scenes photos from his trip: Painting on the trail in Maine Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee The Hunt Trailhead, the final 10 mile stretch to the Northern Terminus on Mt. Katahdin, Maine Viewpoint at McAfee’s Knob, Virgina Location: , , , , , , , , , Tags:
02.10.2023 00:45 Date: October 2, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 118th birthday of Fumiko Enchi, a Japanese feminist and writer who rose to literary fame during the post-World War II era. She wrote several plays and novels about the unfair domestic lifestyles that women were expected to lead. The characters she created were direct reflections of her own experiences, and evolved as her career and life progressed. Enchi was born on this day in 1905 in Tokyo. From an early age, she was exposed to the art of storytelling — her grandmother introduced her to kabuki theater. At 21 years old, Enchi published her first play titled A Birthplace, which was well received by the public. Unfortunately, the writer grew ill and lost her home during World War II, causing her to temporarily retreat from the literary world. Enchi eventually found her way back to the pen and focused more on fiction, writing tales that explored the gender discrimination, lack of equality, and wrongful treatment of women caused by Japan’s patriarchal society. In 1953, she won the Women’s Literature Prize for her story Starving Days. Throughout the rest of her career, Enchi published novels that featured strong, introspective female protagonists. She was particularly fond of works written by women during the Heian era and adopted similar topics: maternity, familial duty, lust, aging, and more. Enchi’s expressive voice gave these themes a modern twist and cemented her status as a leading Japanese writer. Some of her most celebrated works include The Waiting Years , Masks , and A Tale of False Fortunes . Enchi won several awards including the Bunka Kunsho , the highest honor a Japanese citizen can receive, in 1985. She was also elected to the Japan Art Academy, the nation’s premier institution for recognizing accomplished artists. Happy birthday, Fumiko Enchi! Location: Tags:
01.10.2023 04:45 Date: October 1, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Nigeria’s Independence Day! On this day in 1960, the most populous country in Africa officially became a sovereign nation. Independence Day morning starts with a nationally televised broadcast where the President of Nigeria addresses the general public. In Lagos, a green-and-white crowd gathers to watch the Nigerian Armed Forces perform military maneuvers. Later, many join in on the ceremonial raising of the Nigerian flag, and the cutting of an Independence Day cake. The rest of the day is filled with bustling energy and upbeat fuji music as Nigerians hang out with friends and family. Plantains and chicken served with jollof rice isn’t just a popular meal — it’s a staple of Independence Day and Nigerian culture. Many take celebrations to the beach to dance and enjoy fireworks. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! Location: Tags:
