Azerbaijanis mark National Flag Day
By Amina Nazarli
Each year, Azerbaijanis mark November 9 as the National Flag Day - a sign of sovereignty and freedom which symbolizes patriotism, people's love for the country, and sense of the statehood.
Azerbaijanis regard their three-color flag as a glory, honor, loyalty and sincerity and raise it with a great pleasure and proud around the world.
The sacred flag, waving above Azerbaijan was firstly raised on November 9, 1918, as the national flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR).
After regaining of Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, the flag was approved as the official flag of Azerbaijan on February 5.
In accordance with the presidential decree dated November 17, 2009, November 9 announced as the National Flag Day in memory of the ADR.
Flag is an attribute, a state symbol which is taken to the front line during wars, proudly raised by its citizens and laid on the graves of martyrs.
The first blue stripe stands for the Turkic origin of Azerbaijani people and its Turkic heritage and is connected with the idea of Turkism. The middle red stripe means building a modern society, developing a democratic and modernized country. The third green stripe expresses affiliation to the Islamic civilization and the Islamic religion.
The crescent on the flag is a symbol of the Turkic people. The eight-pointed star has two meanings: One is related to the way of writing the word "Azerbaijan" in the old alphabet, which was written with eight letters. The second meaning is connected to the principles of Mammad Amin Rasulzade, the founder of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic: Turkism, Islamism, modernity, statehood, democracy, Azerbaijanism, equality, and culture.
The National Flag Museum, opened on November 9, 2010 featured tip elements of flags of 17th -18th centuries, the national emblems, the brochures of the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic adopted at various years in the museum.
Visitors also can see the postal marks, specimen of money, order and medals remaining in Azerbaijan's territory from the ancient times till its independence.