Google Celebrating Children and Children's Stories With Doodles Worldwide

Google Doodle logos are popping up in various Google sites around the world. While they are all different, they share a common theme: children.

Russia: Peter and the Wolf

A unique Google Doodle appeared on Google Russia. A three-frame custom Google logo, with graphic scroll buttons depict the 1936 orchestral children’s story, “Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev.

At the request of the Central Children’s Theatre in Moscow, Prokofiev wrote “Peter and the Wolf” as a musical symphony for children to cultivate children’s musical tastes from a young age. Many U.S. children still encounter this timeless tale in elementary school.

The story tells the tale of Peter, a young boy, his grandfather and a bunch of animals. Each character in the story is also represented by a specific musical instrument. Peter gets an upbeat violin melody; his grandfather a bumbling bassoon.

Each of the various animals also get their own instruments: a flute for the bird, oboe for the duck, clarinet for the cat, French horns for the wolf and various woodwinds and drums for the hunters who save the day.

Turkey: National Sovereignty and Children’s Day

Turkey claims that the actual Children’s Day holiday originated in their country. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey was established on April 23, 1920, during the Turkish War for Independence.

During the war, may children were left orphaned and homeless. Mustafa Kemal, first president of Turkey established the Institute for the Salvation of Children that same day. The two events have been celebrated together ever since.

Interestingly enough, Google used this exact same Doodle a few weeks ago in celebration of Children’s Day in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

United Kingdom: St. George and the Dragon

Today is St. George’s Day in the UK and many other countries around the world. The story varies from culture to culture, but the essential pieces remain the same. A dragon (or devil) was terrorizing a city and demanded the sacrifice of a young woman (King’s daughter). St. George hears of the news slays the dragon and saves the girl and the town.

The legend lives on, but is based in true stories believed to go back to the Crusades. St. George is the patron saint of England and Georgia. However, St. George’s day is celebrated in may countries throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Macedonia and Canada.