Google's Valentine's Day Doodles - A Flash Back

The Google Doodle dates back to 1998, but it wasn’t until 2000 that Valentine’s Day was deemed worthy of one. Since then Valentine’s Day has been an annual Doodle subject, with the exception of a couple of years when the Olympic Games competed successfully for the affections of Google’s Doodlers. Here’s how Google has looked on Feb. 14 over the years:

Cupid. Hearts. No flowers?

Can’t go wrong with teddy bears and chocolates.

Doodle ignores Valentine’s Day in favor of the Winter Olympics and alpine skiing. (Or perhaps it was a nod to the inevitable ups and downs of any relationship.)

Keeping it simple

Those O’s had been eyeing each for some time.

It took the Doodlers six years to get around to roses.

Another Olympic year, but the choice of ice dancing seems an obvious attempt to bridge the world of sport and affairs of the heart.

Back to chocolate. Some have questioned whether the Doodler responsible for this one forgot that there’s an “L” in Google, although the generous will see it in the green stem.

AARP Doodle is the most elaborate to date. Again, there were those who saw no “L” in Google, but we’ll accept the green balloon strings.

Team Doodle apparently had trouble deciding this year, so they did two.

Pairs skating takes care of both Vancouver Olympic Games and Pairs Day.

Inspired by the iconic sculpture of American artist Robert Indiana.