14.07.2023 04:31 Date: July 14, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates France’s Fête Nationale , known as Bastille Day in English-speaking countries. On this day in 1789, French citizens united and charged the Bastille prison fortress, starting the French Revolution. The people of Paris fought back after years of mistreatment by the monarchy, and the storming of the Bastille represents the first victory against tyranny. On the one-year anniversary of the triumph, delegates from all over France met in Paris for a celebration called Fête de la Fédération to honor the achievements of the revolution in solidarity. Today, festivities take place across France on le Quatorze Juillet . Military parades march by in different cities, accompanied by aircraft flyovers that spray streams of blue, white, and red smoke. Dance performances showcase various talents, people attend free concerts, and the night ends with magnificent fireworks displays. Vive le 14 Juillet ! Long live the 14th of July! Location: Tags:
12.07.2023 03:15 Date: July 12, 2023 Today’s interactive game Doodle celebrates pani puri — a popular South Asian street food made of a crispy shell stuffed with potatoes, chickpeas, spices, or chilis and flavoured waters. And there’s a variety of pani puri for everyone’s taste buds! On this day in 2015, a restaurant in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, achieved the World Record for serving the most flavors of pani puri by offering 51 options! This snack goes by different names, as there are many regional variations that exist across India. In Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, the name pani puri describes the bite-sized street food commonly filled with boiled chickpeas, a white pea mixture, and sprouts dipped in tangy and spicy pani. In the northern Indian states of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and New Delhi, the potato and chickpea-filled treat dunked in jaljeera-flavored water is called gol gappe or gol gappa. The name puchkas or fuchkas is used in West Bengal and parts of Bihar and Jharkhand, with the key ingredient for this variety being tamarind pulp. A legend says that the epic Mahabharata proposes that the newlywed Draupadi invented pani puri when she was challenged to feed five men with scarce resources. With just some leftover aloo sabzi and a small amount of wheat dough to work with, Draupadi got creative. She filled small pieces of fried dough with the potato and vegetable mixture. Thus, pani puri was created. Though there are many different types of filling and pani for everyone's unique palette, there are two things everyone can agree on: eat the pani puri quickly to avoid the puri getting soggy or leaking, and always eat it in one bite to avoid a crumbly mess. Play today’s interactive game Doodle, and help a street vendor team fill orders for pani puri. Choose the puris that match each customer's flavor and quantity preference to keep them happy. Let’s get to serving! Doodler Food Research Pani puri from the local chaat place: potato, chickpea, onion, tamarind, and mint water with boondi Beauty shot Early Doodle Draft & Art Early draft Puri fillings from left to right: hing , mint, tamarind, potato & onion, sev , garlic, and sprouts Panit states Purnima states The puri patron matrix Pani Puri Doodle Team ART & UX Art & UX Lead: Anthony Irwin Art: Olivia When UX Research: David Sharek ENGINEERING Engineer Lead: Jonathan Shneier Engineers: Grant King, Daniel Dovali, Stephanie Gu MUSIC & SFX Michael Perusse ACCESSIBILITY ADVISOR Peter Saathoff-Harshfield PRODUCTION Marketing | Perla Campos, Caroline Moran, Jessica Sharma, Ankita Chemburkar, Sampada Srivastava, Abhilasha Chhabra Business Affairs & Partnerships | Madeline Belliveau Doodle Team Interactive Leads | Nate Swinehart, Jacob Howcroft Doodle Team Engineering Lead | Tom Tabanao Doodle Team Lead | Jessica Yu Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
09.07.2023 08:30 Date: July 9, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Argentina's Independence Day, or 9 de julio. On this day in 1816, the Congress of Tucumán declared its freedom from Spain. Today’s Doodle artwork features Casa de Tucumáan where the declaration was signed. Many cities throughout the country have a street named in independence day’s honor. Buenos Aires hosts the most popular parades on Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world. People gather for parades and concerts, and enjoy national dishes. Vendors line the street to sell dishes like fried pastries called pastelitos and locro – a thick stew with white corn, sweet potatoes, and squash. Today, many Argentines wave their sky-blue and white national flag, with a central golden sun. The sun references the beginning of the independence revolution in May 1810, when it's believed the sun shined through the clouds. Happy Independence Day, Argentina! Location: Tags:
09.07.2023 08:30 Date: July 9, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Colombian artist, painter, storyteller, and writer Emma Reyes. On this day in 1919, Reyes was born in Bogotá, Colombia. Despite growing up facing poverty and neglect, Reyes achieved great success in her life. She lived with her sister, mother, and another young boy in a single room until her mother abandoned the family and five-year-old Emma Reyes. A convent took in the Reyes sisters, but life didn’t get easier — the girls were kept illiterate, and Reyes reported doing embroidery, tailoring, and laundry for 10 hours a day. After spending about 15 years here, she stole the keys to the convent door and escaped into the world. She traveled and lived in many different places — Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Jerusalem, Washington, Rome, Paris — creating art as she explored the world. In the 1940s, she spent a lot of time in Paris and Buenos Aires, learning from painter André Lhote. Reyes started to gain attention in 1947 after participating in an international art contest in Argentina. She spent time in Mexico in the 1950s, studying with muralist Diego Rivera, and spent the ’60s between Israel and Italy. The painter eventually settled in France, where she was praised for her works depicting her culture and became known as “mama grande” to other Latin American artists. Her subject matter was intentionally simple, often featuring people, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and human-animal hybrids. Many people who knew Reyes told her she should write a book and tell the stories of her childhood. She claimed she couldn’t because it was hard to organize her thoughts, and she never received formal language education. Historian Germán Arciniegas found a solution by asking Reyes to write letters about her childhood to him. Between 1969 and 1997, Reyes wrote 23 letters that make up The Book of Emma Reyes. She didn’t want spelling and grammar mistakes in the memoir corrected because she was proud of them; every error was a reminder of the childhood she survived. Reyes herself edited the book, but it was published in 2012 after she passed away, so she didn’t get to see it become a worldwide success with glowing reviews. Happy birthday Emma Reyes, thank you for sharing your stories and creations with the world. Location: , , , , , , , , , Tags:
06.07.2023 22:45 Date: July 7, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the Japanese festival Tanabata . On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, dazzling fireworks crackle and echo throughout Japan’s skyline where two star-crossed lovers reunite. Legend has it the couple can only meet up in the Milky Way on this day each year. Today’s Doodle artwork is made from hand-cut paper and shows the lovers meeting framed by tanzaku and bamboo. Below the dazzling night sky, millions of people flock to vibrant festivals in celebration of the beloved Japanese folktale. On the first day, many make wishes or tanzakus for the season ahead. These wishes are customarily written on bright paper streamers and hung from bamboo branches in homes or at public celebrations. Glowing floats decorated with dolls and ornaments parade through the heart of the events while street vendors line the sides. The most popular snacks include octopus-filled dough balls called takoyaki and okonomiyaki, mouth watering pancakes served with cabbage and mayonnaise. Each Tanabata festival, people across Japan hope for clear skies. According to legend, the lovers can’t find one another in poor weather conditions. Happy Tanabata to all who celebrate! May all your wishes come true. Location: Tags:
05.07.2023 08:16 Date: July 5, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Venezuela’s Independence Day. On this day in 1811, the country’s delegates formally decided to pursue freedom from Spanish rule. After a decade of struggle, it became the first independent nation in South America. In 1953, Venezuela organized a week of celebrations like military parades and sporting events in the capital city of Caracas, and the tradition continues to this day. Harps fill the air with traditional music called Joropo for Venezuelans to dance along to, and snacks like arepas—cornmeal cakes filled with ham and cheese are enjoyed by many. Today, many citizens wear the patriotic colors of yellow, blue, and red. Depicted in today’s artwork, the national flag features an arc of eight white stars atop horizontal stripes. In 2006, Venezuela added an eighth star to represent the historical province of Guayana. Happy Independence Day, Venezuela! Location: Tags:
05.07.2023 08:16 Date: July 5, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Algerian Independence Day, a national holiday that honors the hardships the country’s people faced on the path to independence. On this day in 1962, the nation broke free from French colonial rule after 132 years. Algeria began fighting for its autonomy in 1954. Freedom came after an arduous eight years of the war for independence. Leaders of the two countries signed a peace treaty called the Evian Accords in March of 1962, and the country’s independence was made official in early July. Algeria celebrates its independence on July 5th, the anniversary of the initial French invasion, giving the day new meaning and association. Festivities like parades, concerts, and cultural events are held for Algerians to come together, show their national pride, and preserve traditions. Today’s Doodle features the country’s flag, a vertical bicolor of green and white, with a red crescent moon and star in the middle. The flag flies proudly across the republic today, and people often wear these colors to show patriotism. Happy Independence Day, Algeria! Location: Tags:
04.07.2023 13:15 Date: July 4, 2023 Happy birthday, America! On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress passed the Declaration of Independence. After revising the document drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the United States officially became an independent nation from Britain. On the Fourth of July, Americans exercise their freedom in countless ways. While some traditions have faded away, many like local parades and patriotic concerts have endured for centuries. Today, red, white, and blue pride shows up at festive firework shows, bustling barbecues, and backyard games throughout the country. Amid all of the excitement, some opt for a more laid-back celebration, like staying cool floating the river in the July heat just like the stars in today's Doodle. Happy Independence Day, to the US of A! Location: , Tags:
02.07.2023 12:15 Date: July 2, 2023 Today’s Doodle honors Indigenous Argentine human rights activist Amancay Diana Sacayán. On this day in 2012, Sacayán became the first Argentine trans woman to receive a national identity card affirming her gender. The Doodle artwork, illustrated by Buenos Aires-based guest artist depicts Sacayán as a joyful activist whose persistence, in spite of all the violence she suffered throughout her whole life, left a huge legacy. A proud descendant of the Diaguita people, Sacayán was born in Tucumán, Argentina, on December 31, 1975. She and her 15 siblings moved to Buenos Aires, where she would spend most of her life. Sacayán enjoyed school until she was expelled as a result of coming out as transgender. She faced police persecution quickly and was arrested multiple times for her clothing choice and trans identity. Sacayán fought tirelessly for LGBTQ+ rights during her life. She was involved with many activist groups, notably a member of the National Front for the Gender Identity Law and a leader of the International Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Association. She founded the Movimiento Antidiscriminatorio de Liberación , which was dedicated to improving human rights for the queer community, focusing on inclusion within schools, workplaces, and hospitals. Today, because of her activism, trans people can have their name and gender respected when they access health care. 1% of public sector employees in Buenos Aires are in the trans community, thanks to the Trans Labor Quota Law that Sacayán promoted. This law was expanded to the national level in 2020, but tragically, Sacayán was not around to see it. She was killed in a hate crime in 2015, and her murderer is considered the first person in Argentina to be convicted of a hate crime against the trans community. Her resilience and accomplishments continue to inspire. She persuaded the public sector to include trans people, advocated for hospitals to use people's correct names, and set an example by being the first legally recognized trans person in her country. Thank you for dedicating your life to vastly improve trans rights, Amancay Diana Sacayán. Guest Artist Q&A with Juan Dellacha Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Buenos Aires-based guest artist . Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: As part of the LGBT+ community, I felt very touched with the opportunity to illustrate Diana, who was such an important person to us and whose activism I admire. It is so important to see the faces of the people who have fought so long and so hard to have the rights we have today. I think of her as a heroine, she was an example to follow. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project? A: When I received the proposal to work on a Doodle I was already excited, but when I was told that it was to celebrate Diana Sacayán, it was even more thrilling! I felt a lot of responsibility, but most of all, I felt very honored to illustrate a portrait that celebrated her. The first ideas I had were about representing her joy and her legacy. The first image that comes to my mind when I think of her is her peaceful glance and her beautiful smile. I think that the joy she transmitted and her tireless activism, despite all the violence she went through, was revolutionary. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: I googled pictures to capture her smile and joy and I also watched interviews. When you see her speaking, you can see she conveyed a lot of calm and wisdom, she had a quiet but firm way of speaking. Those subtleties can say a lot about a person and were a source of inspiration. I also wanted to represent her native roots and environmental consciousness, so I included flowers and plants that are native from Argentina, for which I had to do some research, too. And what was a huge inspiration in particular was a poem that she wrote. It is called . It talks about her after death and funeral, and it has all the things I wanted to communicate: her identity, her class consciousness, her native roots, her ideals, her humor and her joy. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: Diana believed that the fight for LGBT+ rights also needed to have social, environmental, native and class consciousness too. It couldn’t be one without the other. I deeply agree with that and I think it’s very important to have that in mind, especially in the times we are living in. That’s why I was very interested in showing her intersectional activism, mixing all these different elements in one image that celebrated her, with Diana’s joyful smile in the middle. Location: , , , , Tags:
01.07.2023 07:30 Date: July 1, 2023 Today’s Doodle recognizes the national holiday, Canada Day, by depicting the country’s diverse communities and majestic landscapes. July 1st is a great opportunity to spend time with family, spend time outdoors, and to explore the country's enchanting natural wonders. Canoeing, picnics, bike riding, nature strolls - just a few of the picturesque activities highlighted in today’s Doodle to give you some inspiration about how you might want to spend the long weekend. Did you know this country has more lakes than any other nation in the world? In fact, there are over 560 lakes in Canada that are greater than 100 square kilometres in size. To put that into perspective: the entire city of Vancouver is just over 114 square kilometres Canada also has an incredible range of terrains, from fertile prairies to barren Arctic tundra to lush rainforests filled with vibrant wildlife and everything in between. It’s also important to note that while today marks the 156th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, that this nation is situated on lands and waterways that have been habited for thousands of years. Many people spend Canada Day reflecting on how the country was built on Indigenous territories and the path towards reconciliation. The Inuit, First Nations, and Métis people have been stewards of the land and landscapes depicted in today’s Doodle — and Indigenous peoples continue to protect and preserve our lands. To learn more about how Canadians can support Indigenous communities, please refer to the We hope today’s events and reflections can help create a more equitable future for all. Early Doodle Drafts Location: Tags:
