Stupid Guest Tricks

Asmahan’s 103rd Birthday



Amal al-Atrash, better known by her stage name, Asmahan, was one of the most acclaimed singers and actresses in Egypt during the 1930s and ‘40s. Known for her powerful voice, versatility, and commanding stage presence, she earned great fame at a time when society often frowned upon women entertainers. Her success helped pave the way for the female performers who came after her.

Verghese Kurien’s 94th Birthday



There are few things to give one’s country as sacred and invaluable as nourishment. Today we salute Verghese Kurien, whose ingenuity transformed India’s milk industry and continues to soothe countless stomachs and minds.

Thanksgiving 2015



This papercraft doodle, colorfully constructed by guest artist Julia Cone, brings to life the “Three Sisters” of North America’s native agriculture: corn, beans, and squash. While it’s common to see the Sisters at today’s Thanksgiving tables, these crops prospered through thousands of years of careful domestication.

This planting technique, combining the three crops, originated in Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) villages, and was commonly used at the time of the European settlements in the early 1600s. This indigenous practice revolutionized horticulture and helped stave off starvation in many areas, including the Old World — an incredible agricultural achievement for which we can all give thanks!

42nd Anniversary of the official recognition of the letter ё

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 141st Birthday



Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote her first novel in 1905. It was rejected by every single publishing house that received it. A few years later, Montgomery tried shopping it again and succeeded. Her story about the adventures of a red-headed girl in Prince Edward Island became a smash hit. That novel ultimately became one of Canada’s most all-time popular books, being translated into around 20 languages and selling more than 50 million copies to date. Anne of Green Gables and its many sequels made Montgomery a wildly successful author and turned PEI into a destination for the book’s thousands of fans.

One of Canada’s most celebrated writers, Montgomery also wrote hundreds of poems and short stories as well as a number of novels apart from the Anne series. She was the first Canadian woman to be made a member of the British Royal Society of Arts and was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Today, on what would have been her 141st birthday, we salute Lucy Maud Montgomery with a Doodle that pays tribute to her most iconic book.

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 141st Birthday



Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote her first novel in 1905. It was rejected by every single publishing house that received it. A few years later, Montgomery tried shopping it again and succeeded. Her story about the adventures of a red-headed girl in Prince Edward Island became a smash hit. That novel ultimately became one of Canada’s most all-time popular books, being translated into around 20 languages and selling more than 50 million copies to date. Anne of Green Gables and its many sequels made Montgomery a wildly successful author and turned PEI into a destination for the book’s thousands of fans.

One of Canada’s most celebrated writers, Montgomery also wrote hundreds of poems and short stories as well as a number of novels apart from the Anne series. She was the first Canadian woman to be made a member of the British Royal Society of Arts and was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Today, on what would have been her 141st birthday, we salute Lucy Maud Montgomery with a Doodle that pays tribute to her most iconic book.

Saint Andrew's Day 2015



Every 30th of November, Scottish pride, ever-present and known worldwide for its fervor and zeal, culminates in glorious fashion.

Saint Andrew’s Day is a time to celebrate all things Scottish, with parties, kilts, and of course, the flying of the iconic blue-and-white Saltire. We went in search of one of Scotland's most reclusive citizens this year and even they have come out to play today.

Park Kyung-ni’s 89th Birthday

Matilde Pérez's 99th Birthday



Matilde Pérez Cerda was a Chilean kinetic artist, painter, sculptor and visual artist. She is regarded as a pioneer of modern and kinetic art in Chile. Her best known public pieces include Túnel Cinético (Kinetic Tunnel) in 1970, and "el Friso", which was originally constructed at the Centro Comercial Apumanque in 1982, but is now located at the University of Talca.

Whina Cooper’s 120th Birthday



When she was 18, Whina Cooper organized her first demonstration, rallying a small group to protest the leasing of land where the Maori people traditionally fished. When she was close to 80, Cooper led another protest, this time organizing thousands of people on a landmark march from the Far North to Parliament in Wellington to publicly decry the loss of millions of acres of Maori land. Not only did the march unite many different groups--a major feat at the time--, but it also attracted significant national attention, taking public awareness of Maori land rights to new heights.

Whina Cooper was an activist for most of her life. She fought tirelessly for the rights of Maori people, especially women, serving as the first president of the Maori Women’s Welfare League. In recognition of her efforts, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1981, and a member of the Order of New Zealand in 1991.