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Google Doodle Celebrates - Dragon Boat Festival 2023 | 22 June On your mark, get set, row! The Dragon Boat Festival is being celebrated with today's Doodle. This traditional event takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Because of this, it is sometimes called the Double Fifth Festival. This holiday has been celebrated since the third century BCE. It remembers the life and death of the artist Qu Yuan. Today's Doodle is a yarn and cardboard copy of a Dragon Boat that was made by hand.  When Qu found out that the Chu State had lost, he was so sad that he jumped into the Miluo River. The story goes that people in the area rushed out in boats to try to find him and save him. When they couldn't stop the fish, they threw sticky rice cakes into the water. People say that this is why they eat zongzi, which are rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves to look like a pyramid, at the event. The dragon boat races may also come from this story because they show how the boat...

Google Doodle Celebrates -  Yukie Chiri's 120th Birthday | Google Doodle が祝う - 知里幸恵生誕 120 周年 Today’s Doodle commemorates the 120th birthday of Ainu translator, Yukie Chiri and was illustrated by guest artist Yumi Koizumi. The Ainu are an Indigenous group of people that reside in the northern regions of Japan. When they were forced to relocate and assimilate into Japanese culture during the early 1900s, Chiri created an anthology of Ainu epic tales, called yukar, to ensure their stories and culture were correctly preserved. Chiri was born on this day in 1903 in Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido during a time when the Ainu people were being compelled to adopt traditional Japanese values. As a girl, she was sent to reside with her aunt in Asahikawa and learned both Japanese and Ainu. She was a gifted student and excelled in language arts. When she was a teenager, Chiri encountered a Japanese linguist named Kyōsuke Kindaiachi who was working to record Ainu folklore and traditions. S...

Google Doodle Celebrates - Abdul Rahman Munif's 90th  Birthday. Today's Doodle honors Abdul Rahman Munif, a writer, journalist, and reviewer of culture. Munif was born in Amman, Jordan, on this day in 1933. Munif went to Iraq in 1952 to go to the University of Baghdad and study law. After he left Iraq, he got his bachelor's degree from Cairo University in Egypt. He then went to the University of Belgrade and got his Ph.D. in petroleum economics in 1961. As an economist in Baghdad, he worked in the oil business. Later, he worked for the Oil Ministry in Syria and OPEC. Munif was an editor at the monthly magazine al-Naft wa al-Tanmiyya (Oil and Development) and living in Iraq. He started writing when he was young and thought that "the purpose of literature is to make people more aware." Before writing his first book, he put out a few short stories. While he was working as an editor, his first book was being made. Al Ashjar wa-ightiyal Marzooq (Trees and the Murder of...

Google Doodle Celebrates - South Africa Freedom Day 2023 | 27-April Today's Doodle commemorates South Africa's Freedom Day. On this date in 1994, the first democratic elections were conducted.  The elections ushered in a new democratic government and marked the first time that a large number of South Africans could vote. As depicted in today's Doodle, people decorate their residences and buildings with their national flag today. In April of 1994, the six-colored flag was raised for the first time.  South Africans spend the day visiting historical sites and honouring those who fought for their independence. Constitution Hill in Johannesburg and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner, are popular destinations.  Families may also participate in local parades and barbeque (braais).  Happy Independence Day to South Africa!

Google Doodle Celebrates - King's Day 2023 | 27-April Today's Doodle honors King's Day, a Dutch holiday that recognizes the rich cultural heritage of the Netherlands. The night before Koningsnacht (King's Night) festivities, cafes remain open throughout the night as crowds congregate on the streets to celebrate.   As the sun rises, the air is filled with the aroma of Dutch delights such as the orange tompouce pastries depicted in today's Doodle.  King's Day may sound like a large Dutch celebration. But ultimately, the holiday is about celebrating pleasure and community. Throughout the day, friends and families reunite by attending street gatherings, listening to live music, and perusing enormous vrijmarkt flea markets.  The most popular celebrations take place in Amsterdam, where orange boats float through the city's renowned waterways, causing the historic canals to explode with color.  Happy King's Day, Dutch people! 

Google Doodle Celebrates - Senegal Independence Day 2023 | 04- April Today's Google Doodle celebrates Senegal's National Day, also known as Independence Day! After more than 250 years of colonial domination, the nascent nation signed a transfer of power agreement on this date in 1960. Two months later, Senegal attained its independence. This year marks the nation's 63rd year of independence. On the national holiday, Senegalese citizens celebrate their nation's progress with fireworks, parades, performances, and ethnic specialties. Concerts of Mbalax music motivate inhabitants to dance to a contagious rhythmic beat, while those with less enthusiastic feet like thieboudienne music (rice with vegetables and marinated fish all cooking in a single pot). At the big parade in Dakar, participants proudly sing Le Lion Rouge (or The Red Lion) and wave the green, yellow, and red flag of Senegal high into the air. The green color indicates optimism and faith, while the yellow color...

Google Doodle Celebrate Gerald "Jerry" Lawson's 82 Birthday Gerald "Jerry" Lawson, one of the pioneers of contemporary gaming who led the team that built the first home video gaming system with replaceable game cartridges, would have turned 82 today. Davionne Gooden, Lauren Brown, and Momo Pixel are three American guest artists and game creators that contributed to the Doodle. On this day in 1940, Lawson was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began tinkering with electronics at a young age, fixing televisions in his neighbourhood and building his own radio station out of salvaged components. He attended Queens College and City College of New York before moving to Palo Alto, California, to begin his profession. The city and its surrounding region had become known as "Silicon Valley" at the time due to the influx of new, creative tech enterprises. Lawson began working as an engineering consultant for Fairchild Semiconductor after landing in California. L...

Google Doodle - Day of the Dead 2022 Today, the streets are alive with Spanish traditional tunes as one of Mexico's most important yearly festivals, Day of the Dead, or Da de los Muertos, begins! People with skeleton face paint now walk by homes with vivid sugar or clay skulls. To maintain the tradition, the Doodle artwork is made with actual sugar! Indigenous tribes in Mexico established Day of the Dead rituals thousands of years ago. The Aztec and Mexica people believed that the souls of the dead could visit the living and encouraged their loved ones to return home each year. The ceremony is so profound that 16th-century Spanish immigrants embraced it and made it a holiday. Mexican families prepare to honour their loved ones on this day by arranging their images on an ofrenda, or home altar, along with candles to help guide them home. As individuals welcome their neighbours inside to observe the ornate altars, plumes of copal incense waft into the air. Friends eat Pan de Metros, ...

Google Doodle Celebrating Mountain Day 2022 Today's Doodle, illustrated by Japan-based guest artist Kouhei Miyazaki, commemorates Japan's Mountain Day. While the country is a pioneer in technological innovation, it also has thousands of acres of breathtaking mountains, hot springs, and over 100 volcanoes. Since the beginning of this holiday in 2016, people have left the urban jungle on this day each year to experience Japan's natural treasures. With mountains covering over 70% of Japan's geography, city dwellers don't have to travel far to enjoy the great outdoors. The tallest peak in Japan is located 60 miles outside of Tokyo. Mount Fuji, which stands more than 12,000 feet tall, is a stratovolcano—a high, conical mountain formed by multiple layers of solidified lava and tephra. Mount Aso, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, may also appeal to thrill seekers. Aso, located in the country's south, is home to a stunning 600-meter-diameter crater. Gentle vapou...

Google Doodle Celebrating Luisa de Medrano's 538th Birthday Today’s Doodle celebrates the 538th birthday of Luisa de Medrano, a poet, and philosopher who is considered Spain’s first female professor.  On this day in 1484, De Medrano was born in Atienza, Spain, which is now Guadalajara. During the Conquest of Granada, a conflict that would unify Spain under Catholic rule, her father, a member of the "Twelve Lineages of Soria" military order, was killed in action. In recognition of the family's devotion, the Catholic Monarchs adopted Luisa and her brothers and nurtured them as honorable children. De Medrano studied alongside royal children while being instructed in history, culture, and humanist philosophy by Queen Isabella I. De Medrano made history by becoming the first female professor at the University of Salamanca in the early 16th century, where it is thought that she taught Latin and when the majority of women were unable to pursue an education. The Luisa de Medr...

Google Doodle Celebrating Father's Day 2022 (August 08) The third Sunday in June is the Father's Day holiday with the most attendees. Many nations now observe this date, which was first observed in the USA. In the 1930s, the custom of a Father's Day spread throughout Scandinavia. The Nordic nations resolved to change the date in 1949 from the American date to the second Sunday in November. This choice was made to increase sales during a typically slow shopping period before Christmas, as well as to situate it half a year away from Mother's Day. Only Denmark defied international convention. Father's Day continued to fall on the same day as their other early June celebration, Constitution Day because they omitted to let the public and the media know about the change in schedule. Father's Day is celebrated on August 8th in Taiwan because the Chinese for eight is 'ba' and a colloquial phrase for father is 'ba-ba' - therefore the eighth day of the eig...

Google Doodle Celebrating Qixi Festival 2022 Today's Doodle honors the Qixi Festival, a traditional Asian event based on a love legend that is celebrated in Taiwan, Singapore, and other regions of Asia. It's also known as the Magpie Festival, the Double Seventh Festival, and the Night of the Sevens. On the lunar calendar, it is observed on the seventh day of the seventh month. Singles and couples give presents such as flowers and sweets to their love interests on this day. In ancient times, the ancient Chinese worshipped stars and discovered Niulang (or oxherd, Altair) and Zhinü (or weaver maiden, Vega) meeting in the sky on the double seventh. The romantic tradition tells of an oxherd and a fairy who, despite their differences, fell madly in love. According to the narrative, Zhinü chose to remain on Earth without permission and became a weaver girl. When the queen mother of the heavens found out about their marriage, she made Zhinü return. Niulang then sailed into the heavens ...

 Google Doodle Switzerland National Day 2022 The Google Doodle for today honours Switzerland's National Day. The three forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden joined together on this date in 1291 to sign the Federal Charter and fight against Habsburg control. The charter is recognised as the cornerstone of Switzerland and is the country's oldest constitutional text. The day is celebrated in Switzerland with family get-togethers, barbecues, and parades. The President of the Swiss Confederation addresses the people at an official celebration held at Rütli Field, the site of the signing of the Federal Charter, before fireworks and bonfires. Locals congregate in the streets around the country, carrying flags representing villages and cantons. The Swiss national flag is shown in today's artwork as a white cross on a crimson ground. Today, the flag is used to decorate homes, gardens, lanterns, and even cuisine. Happy National Day, Switzerland!

Google Doodle Celebrates Peru Independence Day 2022 The Doodle for today celebrates Peru's independence from Spain, which the nation commemorates with the two-day Las Fiestas Patrias festival.  On this day in 1821, Argentine commander Jose San Martn invaded Lima's Plaza de Armas and declared sovereignty. However, it wasn't until 1824 when Jose San Martn joined Simon Bolivar and Antonio Jose de Sucre to guarantee enduring liberty. Criolla and reggaeton music fills the streets the evening before the festivities begin, and by midnight, fireworks are sparking across the sky. Patriotic celebrations begin on July 28 with a ceremony raising Peru's national flag, as shown in today's Doodle. A military parade commemorates Peru's Armed Forces and National Police on the second day of celebrations. The major event takes place in Plaza de Armas, when the president makes a speech summarizing the previous year's achievements. Music is played in most plazas around the count...

Google Doodle Celebrates Celebrating Celebrating Steelpan Today's Doodle honors the steelpan, a percussion instrument constructed of metal that Trinbagonians invented and inspired, as portrayed by Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins. Although it was the sole acoustic instrument created in the 20th century, its roots go all the way back to the 1700s. It is still employed in modern music and was a mainstay during Trinidad's yearly harvest festivities, Canboulay and Carnival. The Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) gave a performance at the Festival of Britain on this date in 1951, popularising the steelpan and a brand-new musical style. When colonialists brought enslaved Africans to Trinidad in the 1700s, they carried their African history and rhythmic drumming practices with them. When slavery was abolished between 1834 and 1838, Trinidadians celebrated Carnival with their drums. However, in 1877, government officials prohibited their drumming becau...

 Go ogle Doodle Celebrates  Celebrating Stefan Banach Today's Google Doodle honors Stefan Banach, a founding member of the Lwów School of Mathematics and the father of contemporary functional analysis. On this day in 1922, a renowned twentieth-century mathematician was formally appointed as a professor. Stefan Banach was born in the Polish city of Kraków. He never met his mother, and his father abandoned him to be raised by a city family. Banach was ruled ineligible for military duty due to his poor eyesight and taught at local schools during World War I. Banach was hired at Lvov Technical University after releasing mathematical articles he worked on in his leisure time. He was a mathematician and professor who was mainly self-taught. Hugo Steinhaus, a well-known mathematician and educator, befriended a young Banach. Steinhaus, a pioneer in game and probability theory, subsequently referred to Banach as his "biggest scientific discovery." Banach established contemporary f...