Google Doodle Celebrates Nowruz, Designed by Iranian Artist

Thousands-year-old, Nowruz or Persian New Year was featured in a Google Doodle on Tuesday ahead of the start of the 2024 celebrations.

The Doodle, created by Iranian artist Pendar Yousefi, was described by Yousefi as a "dream come true."

He described his design as one that draws on his childhood memories of Nowruz and incorporates crucial shared aspects of the artistic heritage from regions that celebrate the festival, all with a “fresh, modern take.”

"I decided to use the visual language of illuminated manuscripts as the anchoring theme, since that’s part of the artistic heritage across the regions that celebrate Nowruz," he said.

"From there, it was about finding a fresh, modern take on the unique geometries and patterns of that style and making sure the letterforms weren’t lost," he added.

He said that his personal experience of Nowruz evoked "feelings of joy, togetherness, and hope," which he aimed to capture through the “animal friends who have gathered in a flower-filled courtyard to ring in the coming of spring under the blossoming tree."

Nowruz is a 13-day festival celebrated annually by hundreds of millions of people to welcome the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

Its start date typically falls between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. In 2024, it begins on March 20 at 3:06 AM GMT or 6:36 AM in Tehran.