Feb 29, 2016
Leap Year 2016
This Doodle’s Key Themes
2016 is very special and not just because it’s 11111100000 in binary. Today's Doodle celebrates a rare day indeed: Leap Day!
The 29th of February only happens every four years. This is to keep our calendar in sync with the rotation of the Earth around the sun. Without Leap Day, we'd be out of sync by about six hours per year.
But wait, there’s more...Leap Day happens every four years unless that year is divisible by 100. If you were around in 1900, you would have missed out on the magic of February 29. For anyone born on Leap Day, that's one less birthday party — we hope today's Doodle illustrated by Olivia When, helps make up for lost time!
Early concepts by Doodler Olivia When
Where this Doodle appeared
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The very first Doodle launched as an “out of office” message of sorts when company founders Larry and Sergey went on vacation.
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The first Doodle launched in 1998, before Google was officially incorporated.
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The first same day Doodle was created in 2009 when water was discovered on the moon.
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Doodle for Google student contest winners have gone on to become professional artists
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The time it takes from sketch to launch for a Doodle varies widely: some have taken years and others just a few hours!
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Hundreds of Doodles launch around the world every year. Often, several different ones are live in different places at the same time!
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Our most frequently recurring Doodle character is Momo the Cat - named after a real-life team pet!
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