GooG DooD

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Denmark Constitution Day and National Elections 2019

Today’s Doodle celebrates Denmark’s Constitution Day, known to Danes as Grundlovsdag. Each year, proud citizens commemorate the day in 1849 when King Frederik VII signed the document that made Denmark a constitutional monarchy. This marked the end of enevælden (absolute monarchy), and the beginning of democracy in Denmark.

June 5th was also the day when important amendments were made to the constitution: In 1915, Danish women received the right to vote, and in 1953, women were allowed to succeed to the throne.

Rather than fireworks and parades, Danes traditionally mark the occasion with flag-raising ceremonies, which often feature group singing or fællessang. According to legend, Dannebrog, as the red and white Danish national flag is known, fell from heaven during the Battle of Lyndanisse on June 15, 1219—so there is much to sing about!

Highly engaged in the political process, many Danish citizens enjoy attending friluftsmøde(open-air meetings) on this day. Local politicians turn up to engage with their constituents while they enjoy picnics in the park or pølser (hot dogs) and beer. Families also take this opportunity to spend quality time together, as June 5th also happens to be Father’s Day in Denmark.

This year, the date also coincides with Denmark’s National Elections.

Glædelig Grundlovsdag!

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Elena Cornaro Piscopia's 373rd Birthday

Today’s Doodle celebrates the distinguished Italian philosopher and theologian Elena Cornaro Piscopia. Born in Venice on this day in 1646, Elena was also the first woman to earn a Ph.D.

By the time Elena was seven, her parents had recognized her giftedness. A family friend encouraged them to give her lessons in Greek and Latin. She also mastered Hebrew, Spanish, French, and Arabic, while studying the harpsichord, clavichord, harp, and violin. Elena’s later studies also included mathematics and astronomy, but her greatest interest was in philosophy and theology. After becoming president of the Venetian society Accademia dei Pacifici, she enrolled at the University of Padua in 1672.

Although she was allowed to study there, Elena’s application for a Doctorate of Theology was rejected, because church officials would not bestow the title on a woman. With her father's support, she applied for a Doctorate of Philosophy. Her oral examination in 1678 attracted so much interest that the ceremony had to be moved from the university to Padua Cathedral to accommodate an audience that included professors, students, senators, and invited guests from Universities all over Italy.

Elena spoke in Latin, explaining difficult passages randomly selected from Aristotle’s writings. Her eloquence so impressed the committee that they expressed their approval viva voce rather than by secret ballot. A wreath of laurel was placed on her head, a gold ring on her finger, a book of philosophy in her hand, and an ermine cape upon her shoulders.

At the age of thirty-two, Elena became the first woman with a university doctorate, blazing a trail for generations of women to follow in her footsteps into the highest levels of academia.

Doodler Up Close

Today's Doodle was created by California-based Doodler Alyssa Winans, who shares her thoughts on Elena Cornaro Piscopia below:

Q: What part of Elena Cornaro Piscopia’s story do you personally find most inspiring?

A: I personally was inspired not only by Elena’s single-minded dedication to her studies but also by the sheer enjoyment she felt at the prospect of quiet study. Although she received many accolades in her life, it was clear that they were never what she was after; she simply loved knowledge.

Q: Which aspect of her life and/or work did you seek to express in this Google Doodle?

A: From my research, it sounds like Elena was at her happiest when she was able to study undisturbed, whether at home or at many of the libraries she would frequent in her life.

Q: What medium do you prefer to use in your illustrations? Did you do anything different on this one from a technical standpoint?

A: I created this one entirely on the computer; the art itself was fairly straightforward, although I did take some creative liberties on the portrait, as we only have paintings left from her time.

Q: How important do you think it is to highlight the accomplishments of women in academic fields?

A: I think it’s vital, not only to inspire students of today to recognize what they can accomplish but also to paint an accurate portrait of women’s contributions throughout history.

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Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Mudik 2019

Starting today, the big cities of the Indonesian archipelago empty out as people return home for the annual Idul Fitri feast (also known as lebaran), jamming the roads and railways of over 11,000 islands, including Java, Sumatra, Borneo, New Guinea, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan. Today’s Doodle celebrates this festive mass exodus, known as mudik, an Indonesian term which means ”homebound trip” towards one’s home village.

Mudik is about strengthening the bonds of community, spending quality time with family and loved ones, taking part in traditional rituals, and visiting ancestral gravesites to pay respects. It’s also a time to share treats like sweet Nastar cakes and cheese-filled Kastengel cakes.

The practice of returning home dates as far back as the 14th century, although the term "mudik" became popular during the 1970s. Traffic jams are common and special arrangements are made to ensure that transportation goes as smoothly as possible. Officials estimate that over 20 million Indonesians will make the joyful journey to all parts of the country.

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Celebrating 50 Years Of Pride

Today's slideshow Doodle celebrates 50 years of Pride by taking us through five decades of Pride history—all told through the lens of a growing, evolving, and international Pride parade!

Below, Doodler Nate Swinehart shares more on the making-of today's Doodle, as well as what the project means to him.

The Pride Parade is a symbol of celebration and liberation for the entire LGBTQ+ community. From its early days of activism on Christopher Street in New York City, to the worldwide celebrations of today, it has empowered and given voice to a bright and vibrant community.

In celebrating 50 years of Pride, my coworker Cynthia Cheng first had the idea to depict the parade itself and show it growing in size and momentum across the decades.

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Inspired by this concept, I began exploring different styles that could fully capture the feeling of a growing parade and relate to all who are a part of it. After several experiments, I landed on the idea of using strips of cut paper to depict the people and setting.

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Paper is flat and simple by nature, but by adding multiple layers of depth across the decades, I could show the growth of the community over time. Color also played a huge part in the concepting, as I wanted to depict the vibrance and energy of the community. While everything begins with shades of grey, we first see the rainbow through a community space. Color then begins to spread, first in individual people, then to the city around them, until it finally overtakes the entire composition. I also wanted the progression of color to be meaningful, beginning with the initial pink triangle that was reclaimed by the community as a symbol of liberation. From there, we go backwards through the rainbow from purple to red, until we see all the colors come together harmoniously in the final image.

Working on this Doodle was a very personal project for me. As a member of the LBGTQ+ community, I am very familiar with the struggle of feeling included, accepted, and that I am a ‘part’ of this world. Before I joined Google in 2014, I remember opening up the Google homepage to see a Doodle celebrating the Winter Olympics, depicting the colors of the Pride flag. I was completely blown away. Looking at the front page of Google, I was filled with hope and a feeling of belonging. That moment was a large part of why I wanted to become a Doodler. I recognized the opportunity we have to make a positive impact on the world, and to help make people feel seen, heard, and valued.

I have witnessed the strides forward for queer people over the decades, and today, many of us celebrate a level of freedom I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams while I was growing up. I'm hopeful for the future and a day when everyone, regardless of their identification, can stand and march proudly in celebration. Happy Pride!

Google Doodle Art Director Erich Nagler, who also partnered on this project, shares his thoughts on the Doodle below:

When I was 18 years old, I went to college in New York City. Even as I was still finding my way out of the closet, I found myself on a walk through Greenwich Village, across Seventh Avenue where the street grid shifts and the streets get names instead of numbers. I passed Sheridan Square onto Christopher Street, the historic gay heart of the city. Here was the Stonewall Inn, the Lucille Loretta Theatre, the entrance to the PATH train, and the piers out into the Hudson River. Here was a neighborhood and a community where I could begin to love myself more and hate myself less, where I finally felt accepted, where I didn’t have to hide or pretend, where I could fully be me and find others like me. Over the past 50 years, that powerful spirit of pride has spread from Christopher Street to other streets and neighborhoods and communities, connecting people all around the world. That expanding spirit of love and acceptance is something we've hoped to capture in today's Doodle.

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Italy Republic Day 2019

On this day in 1946, the Kingdom of Italy held a national referendum to choose a form of government, with over 12 million Italians voting in favor of a Republic—putting an end to 85 years of monarchy. The second day of June has since become a national holiday known as Festa della Repubblica, which is celebrated all over Italy, in Italian communities worldwide, and in today’s Doodle.

Republic Day is one of the biggest events in the capital city of Rome, marked by a grand parade along the historic Via dei Fori Imperiali, which runs from the Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum, draped with an Italian flag to mark the occasion. A wreath is laid in honor of fallen soldiers at the Altare della Patria, and the Italian president opens the gardens of his residence, the Palazzo del Quirinale, where various military bands play for the public.

The day isn’t complete until the Italian Air Force’s world-renowned Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour Arrows) perform a synchronized flyover in their customized Alenia Aermacchi MB-339A jets, filling the sky with Italy’s national colors: green, white, and red.

Buona Festa della Repubblica!