30.09.2023 07:30 Date: September 30, 2023 Today's hand-crafted Doodle celebrates the Ain Ghazal statues — roughly 9,000 years old and considered one of the earliest large-scale representations of the human form. On this day in 1983, the statues were discovered in Jordan. Why did ancient sculptors create these statues? Researchers still don’t have concrete answers. However, it is known that after the statues served its purpose, our prehistoric ancestors strategically buried the sculptures, aligning them east to west. Archeologists discovered the first cache of underground statues in 1983 and a second group of sculptures in 1985 at ‘Ain Ghazal, a Neolithic site in Jordan. The Ain Ghazal figures depict men, women, and children with intricate human features such as almond-shaped eyes, prominent noses, and realistic legs, toes, and toenails. The statues have gained global appeal and can be viewed today at galleries such as the Jordan Museum, Jordan Archaeological Museum, British Museum, and Louvre Abu Dhabi to ponder the mysteries of the past. Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
30.09.2023 07:30 Date: September 30, 2023 Location: Tags:
30.09.2023 07:30 Date: September 30, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Deaf French educator and intellectual Ferdinand Berthier. He was one of the first advocates for Deaf culture in a time when those who had hearing differences were outcast by society. Berthier was born in Saône-et-Loire, France on this day in 1803. As an eight-year old Deaf child, he started attending the National Institute for the Deaf in Paris. His parents hoped he would learn basic vocational and literacy skills to prepare him for a job as a tradesman. However, Berthier thrived in school and drew inspiration from his teachers to pursue a career in education. After further schooling, he returned to teach at the National Institute for the Deaf. By age 27, he became one of the school’s most senior professors. In 1834, Berthier organized the first silent banquet for Deaf Frenchmen. In the following years, women, journalists, and government officials began to attend the annual event. Berthier also successfully petitioned the French government to create an organization that represented the Deaf community's interests. The Société Centrale des Sourds-muets was born. The first formalized group of its kind, it helped organize adult education classes and mutual aid efforts for people with Deafness. After becoming a public figure through those initiatives, Berthier used his newfound fame to spotlight other inspiring Deaf people and teachings. He wrote books about the history of sign language and biographies about those who fought for Deaf rights, often referencing sign-language poets as authors in his work. Meanwhile, he pushed Société Centrale des Sourds-muets to become a global organization. In 1849, Berthier received the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur — the first Deaf person to be awarded France’s highest honor. Berthier remains one of the key activists for Deaf rights, and his efforts advanced education and perception of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community across Europe and America. Today, silent banquets are still held around the world. Berthier's work also helped to raise awareness of the importance of sign language and Deaf culture, and to promote the use of sign language in Deaf education. As a result of the hard work and advocacy of Berthier, Deaf and hard of hearing people are now able to enjoy more of their human rights than ever before including access to medical care, and the right to drive vehicles. Happy Birthday, Ferdinand Berthier! Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
29.09.2023 02:00 Date: September 29, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Chuseok, a three-day harvest festival treasured in Korea. It takes place during the largest full moon of the year, the harvest moon. The holiday is also called Hangawi, which refers to the middle of autumn on the Lunar calendar, giving this day another nickname, the mid-autumn festival. A memorial service called charye kicks off Chuseok for many families. People gather in their homes to honor and thank their ancestors with words, thoughts, and an assortment of food. Songpyeon, a half-moon-shaped rice cake filled with seeds, nuts, or beans and steamed over pine needles, is typically included . Another family-focused custom is seongmyo, visiting the burial grounds of one's ancestors. Many visit the graves and remove weeds a short while before the holiday, so the visit can be devoted to showing respect and appreciation for past generations. Playful games, presents, and feasts are a large part of Chuseok. Some common games and activities include a circle dance game known as Ganggangsullae, a form of Korean wrestling called ssireum, and juldarigi, a tug-of-war game played with thick ropes made of rice straw. Gifts are traditionally given to older family members, but more recently, other relatives and friends exchange oil, cosmetics, wine, or food to show appreciation. Happy Chuseok! Chuseog Jal Bonaeseyo! 추석 잘 보내세요! Location: Tags:
29.09.2023 02:00 Date: September 29, 2023 Today’s annual Doodle celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, which marks Today’s an end to the Autumn harvest in Asian culture. The holiday occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month every year, when the full moon shines brightest in the night sky. Celebrations occur in several regions including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea. Historically, people celebrated under a moonlit sky giving offerings like fruits and cakes on altars in gratitude to the moon for contributing to successful harvests. Traditions have changed over time in each country but everywhere Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated, friends and families gather, decorate spaces with colorful lanterns, and eat delicious mooncakes . Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork by Doodler Olivia When Behind the scenes of painting, and stop-motion, replacement animation Early tests on a claymation version Alternate illustration version showing the making process Location: , Tags:
29.09.2023 02:00 Date: September 29, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 89th birthday of Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, a Hungarian-American psychologist who pioneered the scientific study of happiness and creativity as well as coining the term “flow”: the mental state of completely absorbing oneself in an activity. It’s a state of optimal performance and well-being that is characterized by focus, enjoyment, and fulfillment. Csíkszentmihályi was born on this day in 1934 in Fiume . His family struggled financially as a result of the economic downturn caused by WWII. Consequently, Csíkszentmihályi dropped out of school to help support his family. The profound suffering that Csíkszentmihályi witnessed during the war inspired him to dedicate his life to understanding the science of happiness. He turned to art, philosophy, and religion as he sought answers. In this exploration, he stumbled upon a lecture by Carl Jung, who spoke of the traumatized psyches of Europeans after World War II, and how their mental states caused them to project the UFO sightings into the sky. This interesting study led him to psychology. He moved to the U.S. at 22 to study psychology at the University of Chicago. His interest in flow began during his graduate studies, when he observed painters so absorbed in their work they lost track of time and would disregard basic survival cues for food, water, and sleep. Several of his interview subjects described their experiences through the metaphor of a water current, thus the term “flow state” was born. He graduated with a PhD in Positive Developmental Psychology in 1965. Csíkszentmihályi's book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience was published in 1990 and has since been translated into more than 20 languages. Business leaders, presidents, and sports coaches have praised its scientific insights into the nature of productivity and well-being. Csíkszentmihályi went on to become a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University. He founded and co-directed the Quality of Life Research Center. He was also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and earned several prestigious awards, including the Clifton Strengths Prize and the Széchenyi Prize. Happy 89th birthday, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi! Early Doodle Drafts Location: , , , , , , , , , , , Tags:
29.09.2023 02:00 Date: September 29, 2023 Today’s annual Doodle celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Children’s Festival or Tết Trung Thu, in Vietnam. The holiday occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month every year, when the full moon shines brightest in the night sky. Vietnamese people organize feasts, lion dances, family gatherings, and more to give thanks for a bountiful harvest season and wish for good fortune. There are several folk legends about the origins of Tết Trung Thu. First is the story of Hằng Nga, who became one with the moon after drinking a divine medicine to keep it safe from wicked hands. Then there’s the tale of Chú Cuội, a poor woodcutter who found an old banyan with magical leaves and used them to cure a sick princess. When the tree was damaged, he failed to keep it rooted and floated up to the moon with it. Lastly is the fable of Thỏ Trắng, a rabbit who was invited to live on the moon after demonstrating its bravery and kindness to three fairies disguised as beggars. Each year, people in Vietnam parade through the streets with brightly colored lanterns, hoping to catch the attention of these three heroes. Meanwhile, bands of skilled dancers dress up in decorative lion costumes and perform lively stunt shows to grant luck and prosperity for all who watch. Families also pay homage to their ancestors with five-fruit tray offerings before munching on bánh dẻo and bánh nướng, sweet and savory pastry treats called mooncakes . Trung thu vui vẻ! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Vietnam! Check out the behind-the-scenes process for today’s Doodle artwork by Doodler Olivia When Behind the scenes of painting, and stop-motion, replacement animation Early tests on a claymation version Alternate illustration version showing the making process Location: Tags:
27.09.2023 19:45 Date: September 28, 2023 Location: Tags:
26.09.2023 14:45 Date: September 27, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Google’s 25th year. And while here at Google we’re oriented towards the future, birthdays can also be a time to reflect. Let’s take a walk down memory lane to learn how we were born 25 years ago... By fate or luck, doctoral students Sergey Brin and Larry Page met in Stanford University’s computer science program in the late ‘90s. They quickly learned they shared a similar vision: make the World Wide Web a more accessible place. The pair worked tirelessly from their dorm rooms to develop a prototype for a better search engine. As they made meaningful progress on the project, they moved the operation to Google’s first office — a rented garage. On September 27, 1998, Google Inc. was officially born. Much has changed since 1998 — including our logo as seen in today’s Doodle — but the mission has remained the same: to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Billions of people from all over the globe use Google to search, connect, work, play, and SO much more! Thank you for evolving with us over the past 25 years. We can’t wait to see where the future takes us, together. Location: Tags:
25.09.2023 08:30 Date: September 25, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates South African jazz pianist, composer, and journalist Todd Matshikiza and was illustrated by South Africa-based guest artist . On this day in 1956, his commissioned cantata Uxolo was played by the orchestra at the 70th Johannesburg Festival. Matshikiza was born in Queenstown, South Africa, on March 7th, 1921. His mother, a singer, and his father, an organist, taught Matshikiza and his six siblings piano while they grew up. He attended St Peter’s College in Johannesburg and went on to earn his music and teaching diplomas. Putting these degrees to work, he taught high school English and math and composed choral works and songs such as Hamba Kahle. In 1947, Matshikiza moved back to Johannesburg, where he taught and eventually established his own private school, the Todd Matshikiza School of Music. He taught piano, his forte being jazz music. During much of this time, he was in the Syndicate of African Artists, which aimed to spread music and concerts to the whole country. Matshikiza’s passion for jazz music and journalism came together when he became one of the first writers at Drum magazine. He wrote a column about the artistry and evolution of jazz and one on township life called With the Lid Off. Several of his articles from the latter column are immortalized in the book With the Lid Off: South African Insights from Home and Abroad 1959-2000. As a composer, he is most famous for his work on the song Quickly in Love, which plays in the 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, and the score for two theatrical productions, King King and Mkhumbane. The all-Black jazz musical King Kong premiered in 1958 and was a smash hit, spreading as far as London. The musical Mkhumbane with compositions by Matshikiza and Alan Paton was equally powerful, but the political and satirical commentary about the Black experience in Cato Manor in the 1950s limited its popularity. He played piano, was a freelance journalist, and presented radio programs in London for a few years before moving to Zambia, where he worked as a broadcaster and a music archivist. His story lives on through his autobiography Chocolates for My Wife , which describes apartheid in South Africa and his move to London. Thank you for sharing your compositions, piano skills, music critiques, and story with the world, Todd Matshikiza. Guest Artist Q&A with Keith Vlahakis Today’s Doodle was illustrated by South Africa-based guest artist . Below, they share their thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: This topic means a great deal to me. It means the world. It’s an incredible honour to work on a Google Doodle, a design and art dream come true. The very last major design project I worked on while I was in university studying design was about South African Jazz History. I had to research the history of the country's greatest Jazz musicians and how their legacy, music and life stories enriched so many people's lives and how "stories of struggle were told through song". I remember sneaking into university on weekends to work on my Jazz brief because I didn't own my own computer at the time.I vividly remember all the late nights playing Jazz albums in the computer lab while dreaming of my future in design. When the topic was announced to me, that I was going to be making a Google Doodle all about celebrating a South African Jazz Legend, I had flashbacks to my final years in university. I had been preparing for this opportunity to happen without even knowing it. I didn't get to research Todd Matshikiza's legacy back in university, so getting into Todd's music catalog and learning about his life story was an amazing journey. I discovered so much about his legacy and his contributions to SA Jazz. The journey of creating the Google Doodle was an amazing full circle dream moment. Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: I drew most of my inspiration for the Google Doodle from Todd's Music and especially from the music he composed for the legendary South African musical "King Kong" — the theater production based on the life of Ezekiel Dlamini. I was heavily influenced by the album cover design for King Kong. The typography and colour palette of the album actually shared stylistic qualities to my own work. I'm a pop artist, and I use bright magenta and yellow in my typographic designs and street art mural styles, so the bright pinks and yellows on the album spoke directly to my own design story. I then fused all these ideas together to create a design that paid homage to these design elements and celebrated the life and work of Todd Matshikiza. Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: That anything is possible. Dreams come true if we work hard, pray, and have faith. I hope that this Google Doodle educates people about the amazing story of Todd Matshikiza, that it brings honour to his legacy and contributions, and I hope people realise that the continent of Africa has an amazing amount of creativity, love, resilience, warmth, and radiant power and that our stories matter. Location: , , , , , , Tags:
24.09.2023 01:15 Date: September 24, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 122nd birthday of Giovanna Boccalini Barcellona, an Italian educator and women’s rights activist in the early 20th century. She played a significant role in the advancement of emancipation and gender equality. Boccalini Barcellona also helped establish Italy's first women's football team, a groundbreaking achievement in a male-dominated sport. Boccalini Barcellona was born in Lodi on this day in 1901. She studied education at the Scuola Normale Femminile and went on to become a primary school teacher. As an educator, Boccalini Barcellona worked to introduce reforms that aimed to provide girls and women with wider access to resources and opportunities. While teaching, she also enrolled in the Generale Workers’ Mutual Aid Society of Lodi and discovered her passion for social and political activism. Her most notable legacy was founding the country’s first women's football team, the GFC . This act undoubtedly broke down gender barriers during a time when official sports were mostly played by men. Boccalini Barcellona’s work not only empowered women to pursue athletic endeavors but also challenged stereotypes about women's abilities and interests. She was also one of the founding members of the GDD , an organization that was committed to equality and emancipation for women. Boccalini Barcellona's inspiring contributions to women’s education, rights and equality left a lasting impact on Italian society. Happy birthday, Giovanna Boccalini Barcellona! Location: Tags:
23.09.2023 04:15 Date: September 23, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Saudi Arabia’s National Day. On this day in 1932, the nations of Najd and Hijaz united to officially become the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The capital of Riyadh hosts the most popular celebrations, but communities around the country celebrate in their own way. In Riyadh, airplanes soar over cities as people gather in the streets and wave the green and white national flag — just like the one in today’s Doodle. Many spend the day at traditional folk festivals, while others take advantage of the abundant celebratory deals at malls. Families feast on meals like the national dish kabsa — a combination of golden brown chicken, pine nuts, raisins, and rice. At night, fireworks dance across the skyline of green-lit buildings and homes. This year’s National Day theme is “We Dream and Achieve,” inspired by the country’s rapid progress and bright prospects. Happy National Day, Saudi Arabia! Location: Tags:
21.09.2023 02:01 Date: September 21, 2023 Today’s annual Doodle celebrates Armenia’s Independence Day! On this day in 1991, the Armenian National Assembly held a referendum that declared independence from the Soviet Union. The country’s citizens voted overwhelmingly in favor of freedom. One month later, Levon Ter-Petrosyan became the first elected Armenian president. He faced many hardships at the start of his term, including the introduction of democratic government structures. In December, after the dissolution of the USSR, the Supreme Council of Armenia proclaimed full sovereignty, ending nearly 70 years under Soviet rule and fulfilling the long awaited dreams of its people. On Independence Day, Armenians attend public celebrations including firework shows, music concerts, parades, and more. The main event occurs at Republic Square in the capital city Yerevan. Many enjoy national delicacies such as khorovats , harissa , and dzhash . Happy Independence Day, Armenia! Location: Tags:
20.09.2023 06:15 Date: September 20, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates German author Hedwig Dohm. She was an early pioneer of feminism and an advocate for gender equality. Dohm was born in Berlin, Germany on this day in 1831 to a family of eighteen children. Dohm loved reading from an early age and found school exciting. However, her parents forced her to quit her formal education at fifteen and help out around the house. With hopes of continuing to learn, Dohm convinced her parents to let her attend Lehrerinnenseminar, a women’s teachers’ college. In 1853, Dohm married the editor-in-chief of the satirical weekly newspaper, Kladderadatsch. Her husband encouraged her literary ambitions and they’d spend hours in deep discussions about politics and art. In the following years, she gave birth to five children, four of them daughters. Dohm spent those early years teaching her children, determined to give her girls opportunities she herself didn’t have. Meanwhile, her house became a popular hangout for Berlin artists and intellectuals. In the early 1870, when her children reached adulthood, Dohm pursued a career as a writer. She wrote and published her first piece, Was die Pastoren von den Frauen denken , in response to two conservatives’ writings that argued higher education would harm women. She became famous after publishing other essays like Die Antifeministen , a dissection of those who opposed women’s rights. At this time, Dohm was one of the few German feminists to advocate for women’s right to vote. She’d go on to write books like Sibilla Dalmar, Schicksale einer Seele, and Christa Rolan. Dohm often told stories of modern-day women who struggled against patriarchal societies. In 1888, she founded the Deutsche Frauenverein Reform and helped write the first chapters of the movement. The program advocated for women to be allowed to study all subjects in universities. Her work is celebrated for its witty social commentary. Happy Birthday, Hedwig Dohm! Location: Tags:
20.09.2023 06:15 Date: September 20, 2023 Today’s Doodle celebrates Mexican filmmaker Matilde Landeta. Known for her realistic depictions of female protagonists, Landeta was one of the first women to work as a director and screenwriter in the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. Landeta was born in Mexico City on this day in 1913. She grew up with her grandma in San Luis Potosí. Landeta’s brother, who later became an actor, introduced her to movies at a young age. She dreamt of being a film director, but the Mexican film industry disregarded female talent at the time. In 1933, she got her foot in the door as a script supervisor. After over a decade of conflicts with the Directors’ Association, Landeta finally convinced them to let her work as an assistant director. She spent three years collaborating with some of the most notable Mexican directors, but it became clear the government-subsidized film industry wouldn’t allow her to direct a film herself. In 1947, Landeta, her brother, and several colleagues founded Tecnicos y Actores Cinematograficos Associados . It was time to yell, "Action!" on her dream to make independent films. Landeta wrote a screenplay, Tribunal para menores, that she intended to direct, but those in the association selected a male director instead. However, she did win the prestigious Ariel Award for her screenplay. Finally, Landeta directed her first feature, Lola Casanova in 1949. Thanks to the film’s success, Landeta earned the chance to direct her own screenplay adaptation of La Negra Angustias. It later received acclaim for its feminist perspective and exploration of class and gender tensions. Landeta made one more feature before she had a falling out with the director of the National Cinematographic Bank. They barred her from making movies for six years. Landeta was a trailblazer who helped put women in front of and behind the Mexican film cameras. In 2004, the Matilde Landeta Cultural Association started to award screenwriters annual scholarships. Her work and ambition continue to inspire directors around the world. Happy birthday, Matilde Landeta! Location: , , , , , Tags:
