Chuseok 2017

Today [ 04.10.2017 ] marks the start of Chuseok (also called Hangawi), the three-day autumnal harvest festival celebrated across Korea. On this day, families honor their ancestors by making food offerings (charye) and visiting ancestral graves (beolcheo and seongmyo).

Today’s [ 04.10.2017 ] Doodle showcases Korea’s rich culture through the panels of a traditional byungpoong. The first panel shows young children in the hanbok, Korea’s colorful national dress. The second panel depicts a persimmon tree, which symbolizes the importance of education and transformation and carries deep cultural significance in Korea. Half moon shaped sweet rice cakes called songpyeon (on the third panel) form part of the ritual ancestral offerings. Traditional games are a fundamental aspect of Chuseok celebrations. The remaining three panels depict the games of yut nori (a traditional board game), tuho (in which one throw sticks in a jar from a distance), and neolttwigi (which involves jumping high in the air on a seesaw).

On this important day of the autumn harvest, these traditions celebrate and honor the cornerstone of Korean life — family. Wishing everyone a Happy Chuseok!

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Gerardo Murillo's (Dr. Atl) 142nd birthday

Today's [ 03.10.2017 ] Doodle celebrates "Dr. Atl," born Gerardo Murillo in Guadalajara in 1875.

In a time of revolution and renaissance, Murillo greatly influenced Mexico’s political and cultural identity. He was an activist, artist, writer, journalist, and overall cultural leader.

Murillo pioneered the idea of artistic nationalism. To show his pride in his Mexican heritage, he took on the name "Atl," meaning water in Náhuatl. He worked his entire life to promote Native Mexican culture, writing extensively on folk art, music, and dance.

Murillo loved nature, and in volcanoes, he found his greatest inspiration. He frequently hiked to Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, living and painting on the volcanic slopes for weeks at a time. In 1943, he witnessed the birth of Paricutín and documented the experience in his book Cómo nace y crece un volcán, el Paricutín (How a Volcano Is Born and Grows – Paricutín).

For his contributions to the artistic and cultural heritage of Mexico, he was awarded the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor and the National Arts Award.

Today’s {03/10/2017} Doodle, by artist Julian Ardila, depicts Murillo painting one of his beloved volcanoes.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Dr. Atl!

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German Reunification Day 2017

It began with the Peaceful Revolution. The movement started with prayers at churches around the country and spilled out into the streets. Following months of this, the Berlin Wall fell in November of 1989. Less than a year later in October of 1990, Germany became a unified nation again, after four decades of separation. Families were reunited, travel was reinstated, and the border that separated a people was dissolved.

German Reunification Day is still a relatively young holiday! Today’s Doodle, by guest artist Andreas Preis, symbolizes the joyous reunion between East and West, as the characteristic cars continue down the road side by side.

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Grandparents' Day (Italy) 2017

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Children's Day (Guatemala) 2017

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Nigeria Independence Day 2017

On October 1,1960, the flag of British Colonial Nigeria was lowered and new flag was raised. After a century of British influence, the region we know today as Nigeria became a commonwealth realm. This made the new country a sovereign state, and gave it the same political status as other countries around the globe.

Though 1960 is generally celebrated as the birth year of Nigeria, it wasn’t until 1963 that the rule of monarchy was abolished and the Federal Republic of Nigeria was born. In any case, October 1 is a significant date in the history of Africa’s most populous nation.

Today we celebrate this diverse nation and its glorious green and white flag. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

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Grandparents' Day (Greece) 2017

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