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Theodor Kittelsen’s 160th Birthday



A nature lover with an affinity for fairy tales, painter Theodor Severin Kittelsen is one of Norway’s most prized artists. Kittelsen was born on April 27, 1857, in the coastal town of Kragerø. At the age of 11, he was apprenticed to a watchmaker, but his budding talent caught the eye of a benefactor. By 17, he was on the path to becoming an accomplished artist, studying in Christiania (now Oslo), Munich, and Paris before returning to his homeland.

Norway agreed with Kittelsen. The artist set up his studio near Prestfoss and dubbed it "Lauvlia." He drew inspiration from the beauty in his midst, including Mount Andersnatten overlooking Lake Soneren. He created scenic paintings in a style described as Neo-Romantic or naive. He also drew illustrations of trolls and animals — sometimes stark and haunting, sometimes whimsical — for children’s books, earning him the nickname “The Father of All Trolls.” In 1908, Kittelsen was named Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.


Lauvlia is now a private museum that houses Kittelsen’s iconic work. Today we honor his 160th birthday with a Doodle that reflects the lake he loved, as well as some of his more gothic creations.

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King's Day 2017



King’s Day (formerly “Queen’s Day”) is the annual Dutch national holiday in honor of King Willem-Alexander, who turns 50 today. This day is celebrated all over the Netherlands, but Amsterdam is the centerpiece of the festivities, with over 750,000 people traveling here to partake in the fun. The day starts bright and early and calls for partiers to put on their best orange outfits (the national color) and take to the streets in the morning.

On this day, street-selling regulations are lifted, so the entire city becomes an enormous open air flea market for shopping second-hand treasures. Kids sell their toys, artists sell their handicrafts, homemakers sell delicious baked goods...and it’s all found at discounted “friends and family” style rates. This element of the cultural tradition poignantly illustrates the entrepreneurial and community-driven spirit of the country.

Today’s Doodle by Dutch Doodle artist Gerben Steenks salutes the King on his 50th birthday year. Happy King’s Day to all!

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Celebrating Freedom Day and Enoch Sontonga



Today South Africans celebrate Freedom Day! The first post-apartheid elections were held on this date in 1994, and each year this important event is remembered with a public holiday.

Today's Doodle also honors choirmaster, poet, and composer Enoch Sontonga, who wrote the first version of Africa’s democratic national anthem, “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (“God Bless Africa”), in 1897. Over the years, the song developed and gained popularity, even making it to a London recording studio in 1923. It later merged with the country’s other anthem, “Die Stem” (“The Call of South Africa”).

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Marie Harel’s 256th Birthday



If not for Marie Harel, born April 28, 1761, brie might have no gooey counterpart. Harel, who’s credited with creating the first camembert in 1791, is said to have encountered a cheese whisperer at the Normandy manor where she worked as a dairymaid. According to legend, a priest (purportedly from the region of Brie) took shelter at Beaumoncel near Vimoutiers during the French Revolution, and he shared his secret for making the now-famous soft-centered cheese. Harel added her own signature, packaging the cheese in its iconic wooden boxes.

Like brie, camembert is made from raw cow’s milk, but without cream. The cheese is yellow in color, with an earthy aroma, creamy taste, and an edible white rind. Today, only camembert made from unpasteurized milk receives the designation Camembert de Normandie. The village of Vimoutiers, home of the Camembert Museum, boasts a statue of a cow — as well as one of Harel, who made such a delicious contribution to French cheese culture.

Our Doodle celebrates Harel’s 256th birthday with a slideshow that illustrates how camembert is made, step by step. It's drawn in a charming, nostalgic style reminiscent of early 20th-century French poster artists, such as Hervé Morvan and Raymond Savignac.

Bon appetit!

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Tama’s 18th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates little Tama, the beloved stationmaster of Kishi Station in Kinokawa, Wakayama, Japan.

For many years, the train station was lightly traveled, causing officials to close it in 2004. But in 2007, the railway appointed Tama the calico cat to be the stationmaster. The new local celebrity drew crowds of travelers to see her in her office, where she sometimes wore an official cat-sized cap. Not only did Tama draw tourists to her new cat-themed cafe and gift shop (even the station itself got a cat-themed makeover!), but her celebrity also kept the train service open for local residents.

Though Tama passed away in 2015, a new kitty called Nitama (or “Tama the second”) keeps the trains running and poses for selfies with passengers.

Happy birthday to the world’s first feline stationmaster!

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Labour Day 2017



Also known as International Workers Day, Labor Day offers a proud “hats off” to working class men and women around the globe. This Spring holiday dates back to May 1886, when thousands of US workers went on strike across the country in support of the 8 hour working day. The celebration reaches far and wide, although some countries, like the US and Canada, mark Labor Day in September.

Today’s Doodle depicts different work environments inspired by vintage posters and WPA (Works Progress Administration) murals.

So put down those tools, close your laptops and take it easy this Labor Day!

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Affandi’s 110th Birthday



Indonesia was the home country and final resting place of Affandi, a prolific painter who lived from 1907 until 1990. Before taking up painting, he worked several jobs, including painting billboards. He was able to save the leftover paint and used it to discover his own talent. Largely self-taught, Affandi learned to imitate works he saw in magazines imported from London. He soon developed his own technique of squeezing paint directly from the tube onto his canvas, and often spread paint with his hands rather than working with a paintbrush.

Today's Doodle honors Affandi's memory with a style that matches his own method of applying paint directly from the tube. The lines, like Affandi's, are fluid yet vibrant, with a color palette similar to ones Affandi used in his paintings. While he experimented with many styles, it was this one that became his signature. Happy birthday Affandi!

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First of May - Maypole 2017



Happy May Day! Revelers in various regions of Germany will raise a maypole today to celebrate the merry month of May. The maypole is usually a decorated tree trunk, traditionally placed in the village green or town square. As today's Doodle illustrates, there might also be a procession through the town, complete with a brass band and traditional costumes. Some regions have maypole climbing competitions, and in others, everyone joins in a maypole dance with ribbons that form a festive braid.

Guest Doodler Christoph Hoppenbrock combined various traditions and customs, like a May bug (Maikäfer) and a smaller birch tree with a heart and streamers for placing in a sweetheart's yard. The Doodle’s whimsical style reflects the lighthearted fun that May Day inspires. "Deer are often used in traditional German folk art,” Christoph notes. “I found it especially fun to draw a deer in lederhosen."

The maypole (Maibaum) symbolizes unity and togetherness, so gather your family, friends, and neighbors and celebrate the season!

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100th Anniversary of Giro d'Italia



The Giro d’Italia, or Tour of Italy, is one of the world’s most famous bicycle races. Twenty-two international teams compete for three weeks in a contest of racing tactics, willpower, and raw athleticism. The 2017 Giro is extra special: it's the 100th race!

As one of cycling’s three European “Grand Tours,” Italy’s famous race boasts dramatic vistas and picturesque small towns. The route, however, is anything but leisurely. In 2017, riders will cover 3,615 km over 21 stages, averaging 171.7 km a day. The Giro is especially well known for its mountain stages, where riders labor up long, grueling climbs, then zoom down the other side (at up to 110 km/h) on twisting alpine roads.

After every stage, leaders in four categories are honored with specially-colored jerseys. Our Doodle rider has earned the coveted maglia rosa, or pink jersey, which is awarded for the best combined time across all the preceding stages.

Andiamo and forza to all the racers and spectators at the 100th Giro d’Italia!

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Ferdinand Monoyer’s 181st Birthday



Ferdinand Monoyer, born on this date in 1836, rose to prominence as one of France's most famous ophthalmologists. He developed the diopter, the unit of measurement for vision that's still used today. The diopter measures the distance you'd have to be from text to read it. Most notably, Monoyer devised an eye chart where every row represents a different diopter, from smallest to largest.

Monoyer was known to change the font of a particular letter if it didn't suit him; after all, if you're going to judge a person's vision by it, that letter had better be as legible as possible! If you look closely at today's Doodle, you might be able to spot a tribute to another of Monoyer's signatures: his name, hidden in the chart.