27.02.2023 06:46 Date: February 27, 2023 Merengue and bachata ring throughout the Dominican Republic as performers in jingle-bell-draped costumes dance in the streets. This joyful scene at the end of February can only mean one thing for Dominicans — It’s Independence Day! Today’s Doodle celebrates how the island nation became a sovereign country on this day in 1844. People traditionally celebrate Independence Day during the last weekend of the Dominican Carnival — a month-long celebration that tops off with patriotic festivities. Dating back to 1520, Carnaval Dominicano is the oldest carnival in the Caribbeans. Each year, Dominicans celebrate its grand finale by enjoying crab callaloo and cassava bread as dazzling performers parade across the country. As pictured in today’s artwork, the red and blue Dominican flag features a white cross emblazoned with the country’s coat of arms. Throughout the year, it waves proudly from buildings across the nation. But the flag is especially prevalent at the end of February. Happy Independence Day, Dominican Republic! Location: Tags:
26.02.2023 02:46 Date: February 26, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Didik Prasetyo , a beloved Indonesian singer and songwriter known as the “Godfather of Broken Hearts.” A master of Javanese campursari music, Kempot wrote over 700 songs throughout his prolific career. On this day in 2020, he received a Billboard Indonesia Lifetime Achievement Award. Kempot was born into a family of entertainers in Surakarta, Indonesia in December 1966. His father and brother were both comedians and his mother was a traditional Javanese singer. At 18, Kempot and his friends formed a street band called Kelompok Pengamen Trotoar — and began busking for a living. For more than two decades, this world-class singer performed undiscovered in the streets of Surakarta and Jakarta. Not only that, “Kelompok Pengamen Trotoar” later became where he got his infamous last name “Kempot”. Although he was penniless, he wrote and performed some of his most famous songs — including "We Cen Yu", "Cidro" , "Moblong-Moblong" , and "Podo Pintere" — during this time. After a long day of busking, Didi often stayed up to record his songs on blank tapes. Although most of the tapes he sent to recording studios never made Startit past the security desk, Kempot never gave up on his dreams. Kempot finally got his big break in 1989 and signed with a music label. His first hit single Cidro became wildly popular in the Netherlands and Suriname — two countries with a large Javanese diaspora. It also paved the way for campursari music to break through the mainstream market. When Kempot traveled to the Netherlands to perform in 1993, he was moved to see fans had memorized the lyrics to his song. He went on to release ten more albums in the Netherlands and Suriname. In recent years, Kempot’s campursari music has experienced a resurgence in popularity among the younger generation. His songs continue to strike a chord with hopeless romantics around the world. Location: , Tags:
25.02.2023 07:45 Date: February 25, 2023 Location: Tags:
24.02.2023 22:30 Date: February 25, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Kuwait National Day! On this day each year, Kuwaitis reflect on their nation’s independence and progress with pride. Did you know that Kuwaitis historically observed National Day on June 19, the day the country gained independence? But Kuwait’s summer heat, often exceeding 52 degrees Celsius , made it difficult for citizens to partake in festivities. As a result, the government changed National Day to February 25 in 1963. Popular sawt music comprising of drums, violins, and lutes fills the air as the white, red, black, and green Kuwaiti flag, depicted in today’s artwork, flies proudly in the sky. In the cooler environment, Kuwaitis can comfortably enjoy parades and picnics with loved ones at Messilah Beach, the Al-Sha’ab Leisure Park, and other scenic spots. As the day draws to a close, families gather to watch fireworks shimmer across the night sky. Happy National Day, Kuwait! Location: Tags:
24.02.2023 03:15 Date: February 24, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Estonia 105th Independence Day. The Republic of Estonia actually celebrates two Independence Days, with the second on August 20th celebrating the Restoration of Independence Day in 1991. But on this day in 1918, Estonia was declared an independent and democratic republic through the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia. On Estonia National Day, early birds can gather at Toompea Castle in the capital city of Tallinn to watch a flag-raising ceremony. A blue, black, and white striped flag, like the one waving in today’s Doodle, is hoisted into the air while orchestras and choir groups perform patriotic songs. People enjoy traditional Estonian food like kartulisalat , vürtsikilu suupiste , and mulgikapsad , the national dish of Estonia. Other festivities include an impressive military parade, where various regiments march through the streets or roll by on tanks. Military bands march along, beating drums and blaring brass instruments. The evening wraps up with concerts and a speech delivered by the President of the Republic. Happy Independence Day, Estonia! Location: Tags:
16.02.2023 07:01 Date: February 16, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the Restoration of the State Day in Lithuania. On this day in 1918, the Council of Lithuania chose not to join Germany or Russia. Instead, the Lithuanians signed the Act of Independence, declaring Lithuania a sovereign state with Vilnius as the capital. The country has two independence days, with the second one on March 11th, called Restoration of Independence Day, celebrating the end of Soviet rule in 1990. The Restoration of the State Day honors Lithuania’s struggles and perseverance to gain independence. Those who signed the Act of Independence are honored throughout the day, and people of all ages learn about the significance of the holiday. To celebrate the national holiday, schools and businesses close so folks can attend festivities around the country. These include flag-raising ceremonies, free opera concerts, and ballet performances in the cathedral square in Vilnius. Many don the national colors of red, green, and yellow and wave the Lithuanian flag like the one waving in today’s Doodle. Those watching the celebrations often enjoy Lithuanian delicacies like burokėlių sriuba , šakotis , and the national dish cepelinai . Happy Restoration of the State Day, Lithuania! Location: Tags:
15.02.2023 03:30 Date: February 15, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Serbia National Day, which is observed for both historical and cultural reasons. The first Serbian Uprising started on this day in 1804 and eventually led to freedom from Ottoman rule after more than five centuries. Also on this day in 1835, Serbia passed the Constitution of Sretenje and established its first national parliament. These two events formed the foundation of the parliamentary, democratic Serbia known today. The first constitution got its name from Sretenje, a folk tradition where the mythical bear goddess Mečka Božana wakes from her winter slumber and leaves her cave. If she sees her shadow, she’ll retreat back to her cave and expect more weeks of winter. However, if she doesn’t see her shadow, Mečka Božana will welcome the warmer weather and search for food. On National Day, Serbians believe if it’s cloudy, the rest of winter will be beautiful. If the skies are clear, the remaining days until spring will be frigid and bitter. Location: Tags:
13.02.2023 13:46 Date: February 14, 2023 Rain or shine, will you be mine? Today’s Valentine's Day Doodle celebrates the most romantic day of the year, when people all over the world express affection to their lovers, friends, and partners through gifts, greetings, and more. Did you know that during the Middle Ages, European countries like England and France believed that February 14th was the start of mating season for birds? They associated this phenomenon with love and began romantic celebrations soon after. The holiday became more popular throughout the world in the 17th century. Whatever your forecast looks like today, we hope you enjoy celebrating with your special someone. Happy Valentine’s Day! Early Draft Location: Tags:
10.02.2023 00:30 Date: February 10, 2023 Today’s Doodle honours P.K. Rosy, who became the first female lead in Malayalam cinema. On this day in 1903, Rosy was born Rajamma in Thiruvananthapuram, formerly Trivandrum . Rosy’s passion for acting began at a young age. In an era when performing arts was discouraged in many sections of society, especially for women, Rosy broke barriers with her role in the Malayalam film Vigathakumaran . Though she never received recognition for her work during her lifetime, Rosy’s story is relevant to conversations about representation in the media. Today, her story serves as motivation and inspiration for many. Thank you for your courage and the legacy you leave behind, P.K. Rosy. Location: Tags:
08.02.2023 01:31 Date: February 8, 2023 Today’s animated Doodle celebrates the 67th birthday of Kamn Ismail, a cartoonist and pioneer in Malaysian animation. He created Keluang Man, Malaysia’s first superhero, and played a pivotal role in modernizing the country’s animation industry. Ismail was born on this day in 1956 in Pengkalan Balak, Malacca, a small town by the sea. He fell in love with drawing as a child and dreamed of becoming a comic artist. When he was a teenager, his skills attracted the attention of McMillen Film Company, which hired him to oversee the creative aspects of a movie called Paper Tiger. Ismail wanted to continue his career as a cartoonist but his father cautioned him against it. He feared Malaysia’s emerging animation industry couldn’t give his son a stable income. Ismail reluctantly put his aspirations on hold. For the next 17 years, he worked as a clerk and held several positions at the Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway. But Ismail never gave up on his dreams and secretly learned computer animation techniques in his spare time. His skills eventually landed him an opportunity to work for Kharisma Pictures. He trained the company’s animators and directed Malaysia’s first animated television series, Usop Sontorian, in 1996. Soon after, Ismail became a director at UAS Animation Studios, where he created the hit animation series Keluang Man. He brought the character to life by blending 2D and 3D animation. An innovative technique for its time, Ismail helped modernize Malaysia’s animation industry. Ismail’s work has won numerous prizes such as the Best Animated Film at Malaysia Film Festival and was awarded as a Malaysian Animation Icon. Happy 67th birthday to the father of Malaysian animation! Special thanks to the family and friends of Kamn Ismail for their partnership on this project. Below, his daughter, Dalila, shares her thoughts on the Doodle and Kamn’s legacy. “This project is a good platform to give tribute to Malaysian achievers who have given so much contribution to the country until the end. This project is inspirational and to include Kamn Ismail is very big and special. On behalf of my family, I would like to say thank you to Google Malaysia for this recognition of Kamn Ismail and the opportunity to be part of this project. I am honored.” - Dalila Kamarudin, daughter of Kamn Ismail Pictured: Kamn Ismail Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kamn Ismail family Location: Tags:
08.02.2023 01:31 Date: February 8, 2023 In honor of Black History Month, today's Doodle celebrates Haitian American model and disability rights advocate Mama Cax. Illustrated by Brooklyn-based guest artist , Mama Cax is best known for shattering expectations around beauty. The model and advocate proudly strutted down catwalks on her prosthetic leg, often designed with colors and patterns. On this day in 2019, Mama Cax made her debut on a runway at New York Fashion Week. Mama Cax was born Cacsmy Brutus on November 20, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At age 14, she was diagnosed with bone and lung cancer. As a result of her cancer, she underwent an unsuccessful hip replacement surgery at age 16 which led to the amputation of her right leg. At first, Mama Cax was depressed and struggled to accept herself with a prosthetic leg, as she wanted it to look realistic and match her skin tone. As time passed, Mama Cax began accepting and loving her new body. She started wearing stylish prosthetic covers with pride incorporating it as part of her personal style. She also began expressing her love for fashion and style with colorful outfits, hair dyes, and bold makeup. During this time of embracing her disability, Cax also leaned into her athleticism and learned to handcycle — she went on to complete the New York City Marathon! As the body positivity movement grew, Mama Cax noticed that Black women and women with disabilities were underrepresented in social media. She began posting regularly and advocating for inclusivity in fashion and using social media to discuss her body insecurities. She officially broke into the fashion industry as a model in an advertising campaign in 2017 and was signed by Jag Models shortly after. In 2018, she landed a Teen Vogue cover, and the following year, Mama Cax walked in both the February and October New York Fashion Weeks. Mama Cax’s life was tragically cut short by medical complications in 2019. The model and activist is remembered for expanding the image of what people with disabilities should be or look like. Today’s vibrant Doodle artwork is a reflection of her bright life. The artwork highlights the many facets of her identity including her Haitian heritage, her NYC hometown, and her fashion career with her prosthetic incorporated into the look. Thank you for being a positive role model and advocating for inclusion in the fashion and beauty world, Mama Cax. Pictured: Mama Cax Courtesy of The Cax Family Guest Artist Q&A with Lyne Lucien Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Brooklyn-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Early Drafts Special thanks to Mama Cax’s estate, for their collaboration on this project. Below the Brutus & Vilus families share their thoughts on today’s Doodle and Mama Cax's legacy. We are honored that Google is celebrating Mama Cax . Today, people are reflecting on Mama Cax as a daughter, sister, friend, model, and disability rights activist, ruminating on the imprint she undoubtedly left on their lives. Following her many early life challenges, Mama Cax developed a renewed sense of self, created a much-needed lane in the world for amputees, and rose to fame, all on her own terms. Mama Cax carved a path for herself in the fashion industry and social media sphere. In the face of doubt and uncertainty , she managed to successfully combine her love for fashion and disability rights activism into a career that saw her share her experience and wisdom at the Obama Administration’s White House and The Women Leaders Global Forum in Iceland. Mama Cax’s used her life experiences to empower and revitalize others, from her Instagram posts and interaction to her meet and greets with her followers. Mama Cax’s passing was devastating for all of us. Beyond her resilience, triumph over cancer, and her impressive career, Mama Cax was our sister. As the eldest, she guided us in her own way through life and its many challenges. All of us came into the world with a built-in best friend and role model because of her. She is the reason we call our mom, “Manmi” and pillows, “zoye” — any slight inflection or mispronunciation on her part is taken as law by the rest of us. Mama Cax used her creative genius to gift us moments of escapism through sister story times — whether it was during bouts of political unrest while living in Haiti or when lived in a small one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. While her time with us on earth was far too short, all those who had the privilege of meeting her instantly valued her great company, her unparalleled wisdom, her crazy sense of humor, and her commitment to making this world a better place. Her legacy can never be forgotten. She is sorely missed. Love you forever, Mama Cax. The Brutus & Vilus Family Pictured: The Cax Family from left to right: Cassline R. Brutus , Mama Cax/Cacsmy Brutus, Marie R. Vilus , Lei S. Brutus , Sabienne Brutus , and at the forefront of the picture is Ashely R. Brutus Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
05.02.2023 16:31 Date: February 6, 2023 Today’s Doodle commemorates Waitangi Day, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national day, and was illustrated by local guest artist . This marks the anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. The treaty is widely considered the country’s founding document. In 1840, British Crown representatives and hundreds of Māori chiefs gathered on the ground of Waitangi. Today, the Treaty grounds remain a central part of celebrations. An annual gathering features speeches from Māori dignitaries and cultural performances like kapa-haka—a powerful group dance that expresses strength and unity. New Zealanders across the motu attend events to mark the day. Today’s Doodle artwork features a Māori-inspired design — a tiki form with outstretched arms representing the ancestors of Māori and non-Māori and their aspirations in the Treaty of Waitangi, for the protection of land, community and partnership. The colour is representative of pounamu, or jade, which is considered a taonga in Māori culture. Guest Artist Q&A with Hori-te Ariki Mataki Today’s Doodle was illustrated by guest artist . Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: In considering a concept for this Doodle I thought about the ambitions of those that signed the Treaty, their want to protect their taonga for future generations and how many generations since our responsibility is greater than ever. How can we work together to continue their legacy. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A. Really excited and proud to represent our community, our culture and artwork to the world on the largest platform in human history. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A. My heroes in the Toi Māori world are Fayne Robinson, Riki Manuel and Cliff Whiting, I often consider how they might approach their craft, I look at traditional carving forms and try to add a bit of my own personality derived from the digital tools as a modern day toki . Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A. Māori culture and language has been through many ups and downs since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and this just confirms how amazing our culture and language really is. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A. As a young boy growing up in Aranui we were told we wouldn’t amount to much, drawing on computers and especially speaking te reo Māori… Our ancestors' ambitions are alive and well in 2023. Location: Tags:
04.02.2023 21:31 Date: February 5, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuan Xiao or the Shang Yuan Festival. It’s observed in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and more. Each year on the 15th of the first lunar month, which signals the end of the lunar new year celebrations, people throughout Asia light ornate lanterns and hang them in the night sky for good fortune. Lantern Festival celebrations began over 2,000 years ago in the Han Dynasty. Several myths explore the origins of this holiday, and the most famous one tells the story of the Jade Emperor. Legend has it that a villager accidentally hunted down his favorite, prized crane. Seething in anger, the emperor wanted to burn down the village in retaliation. Right before he ordered his army to begin the raid, his sympathetic daughter warned the villagers and encouraged them to create an illusion of destruction. The villagers hung red lanterns in front of the houses and released many lanterns into the sky to imitate fire. Thinking the village was already ruined, the emperor called off the attack. The colorful lanterns, usually red, symbolize departure of the old and arrival of the new. People often write wishes on the lanterns in hopes of having them granted in the new year. Some lanterns even contain riddles — and children who solve them can receive a special gift. Several lion and dragon dances are held during the festivities, where dancers dressed in costume perform acrobatic tricks and martial arts-inspired stunts. Festival goers can also help themselves to a popular delicacy called tang yuan, steamed or boiled rice balls stuffed with sweet fillings. Happy Lantern Festival! Location: , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
04.02.2023 02:46 Date: February 4, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Sri Lanka’s Independence Day. On this day in 1948, the Dominion of Ceylon, later renamed the Republic of Sri Lanka, officially gained independence. Official celebrations kick off in the country’s capital, Colombo. National bands and military forces march through bustling city streets and Galle Face Green, a seaside park. Many band members play the magul bera, a double-sided ceremonial drum, which echoes throughout the city. After national leaders give speeches and planes soar through the sky, citizens gather to raise the Sri Lankan flag, which is depicted in today’s Doodle. The flag features orange and green vertical stripes and a golden lion atop a dark red background. The rest of Independence Day is filled with traditional Sri Lankan cuisine like kiribath and varai . Tea is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest exports and citizens celebrate the day by sampling national favorites. People also attend lectures held at universities in major cities that focus on national history. Happy Independence Day, Sri Lanka! Location: Tags:
01.02.2023 09:00 Date: February 1, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Sương Nguyệt Anh, the first female newspaper editor of the first women’s newspaper in Vietnam. On this day in 1918, the first publication of Nu Gioi Chung was published — the newspaper where Nguyệt Anh was editor in chief. Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Hanoi-based guest artist, . Nguyệt Anh was born on March 8, 1864 in An Binh Dong village of the Ben Tre province. Her father, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, was a poet and teacher who taught her how to read and write in both Chinese and Chữ Nôm, a form of Vietnamese language that uses Chinese characters. Nguyệt Anh started writing her own poetry. In honor of one of her most well known poems centered around apricot blossoms, the Doodle artwork incorporates apricot blossoms and an apricot color palette. The next few decades were a tragic time for Nguyệt Anh. Her father died when she was 24, and she and her brother took over his school to teach the locals. She then moved to Rach Mieu in My Tho City, married, and gave birth to a daughter. Two years later, her husband passed. She became the first female editor in chief in Vietnam when she started writing for the Nu Gioi Chung newspaper in Saigon under the pen name Sương Nguyệt Anh, meaning “Widowed Nguyệt Anh.” Many of the newspaper’s issues spoke about women’s roles in Vietnamese culture and society. Sương Nguyệt Anh is remembered for her bright mind and personality, as well as her resilience through adversity. She was a pioneer for women writers and editors in Vietnam and paved the way for generations to come. She had connections with people from all walks of life and treated everyone with respect. There are several streets named after Nguyệt Anh in cities like Ho Chi Minh, Da Lat and Vung Tau. Guest Artist Q&A with Camelia Pham Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Brooklyn-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'm very honored to be one of those illustrators who gets to lead on one of the select Vietnamese Doodle subjects. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A: I was thrilled to be messaged by Google for this project. I know a few other illustrators who have created a Doodle before – it is very exciting to be one of them now! Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: Yes, I got a lot of inspiration from the poems Suong Nguyet Anh wrote in response to various mens’ love confessions for her. I tried to find visual symbols in one of her most famous poems, which features apricot blossoms, to include in the illustration. I also mixed a flat graphic style with retro colors, which adds a sense of nostalgia while remaining modern. Suong Nguyet Anh was a feminist before the term 'feminist' really existed. She actively tried to smash the glass ceiling by having her own newspaper for women. I was trying to express that strong determination and will through her expression in the illustration. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: I just want more people to know about Vietnamese women and their struggles . Hopefully this will serve as inspiration for generations to come. Location: Tags:
