Nov 18, 2020
Latvia Independence Day 2020
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates Latvia’s Independence Day, also known as Latvijas Republikas proklamēšanas diena (Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia). On this day in 1918, the People’s Council of Latvia declared the country’s independence from German and Russian occupation.
Depicted in today’s Doodle is the Latvian national flag, which features a single narrow white stripe against a field of crimson. The flag was formally adopted in 1990—a year before Latvia again proclaimed its autonomy after roughly half a century of Soviet rule–but its design traces back centuries. According to a 14th-century manuscript named Livländische Reimchronik (“Livland Rhyme-Chronicle”), a similar banner was flown by Latvians as far back as 1279.
Happy Independence Day, Latvia!
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