National emblem of Azerbaijan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emblem of Azerbaijan Azərbaycan gerbi
Armiger	Republic of Azerbaijan
Adopted	19 January 1993
Compartment	Wheat and Oak

The state emblem of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan gerbi) combines old and new symbols. The main part of the emblem is a flame shape. This flame looks like the word "Allah" (meaning God) written in Arabic. This shows that most people in Azerbaijan are Muslim.

The flame also reminds us of Azerbaijan's natural oil and gas. Because of these resources, Azerbaijan is often called the "Land of Eternal Fire."

The emblem has a crossed stalk of wheat and an oak branch below it. Wheat is a symbol of plenty and good harvests in Azerbaijan. Wheat bread is also a very important food there. The oak tree stands for strength and youth.

History of the Emblem

The government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic started a contest for a national emblem on January 30, 1920. They planned to choose a design by May of that year. However, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic ended on April 28, 1920, so the emblem was never officially chosen.

Later, on November 17, 1990, the Supreme Mejlis (a high council) of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic talked about the national emblem. They asked the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR to start a new contest for the emblem.

The new contest began on February 5, 1991, by a decision of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic. Many designs were submitted between 1991 and 1992. Some people also suggested using one of the designs from the 1919–1920 contest.

Finally, on January 19, 1993, the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic approved one of the older designs from 1919–1920. They made a few small changes to it.

Like other countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan's current emblem kept some parts from its Soviet-era emblem. For example, the wheat and the red color on the shield were also seen in the older designs.

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  The coat of arms of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from 1920.

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  The emblem of Soviet Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan S.S.R.).

What the Emblem Means

The colors used in the emblem come from the national flag. Green represents Islam, which is the main religion. Red stands for Azerbaijan's progress and democracy. Blue shows that Azerbaijanis are a Turkic people.

The eight-pointed star (octagram) on the emblem represents the eight main groups of Turkic peoples. Between each point of the star, there is a small yellow circle.

The National Emblem shows that Azerbaijan is an independent country. It looks like an old-fashioned shield. Below it are oak branches and wheat ears. Inside the shield, the word "Allah" (God) is shown as a flame. This flame is in the center of an eight-pointed star, with the colors of the national flag in the background. This design reminds everyone that Azerbaijan is known as the "Land of Fire."

Where the Emblem is Used

You can see the Azerbaijani emblem in several important places:

• The home and office of the President of Azerbaijan.
• The building of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, including its meeting hall and the office of the parliament's leader.
• All courts, military court buildings, and judicial meeting halls. It's also in the private offices of the heads of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
• Buildings of government bodies, as required by law.
• Buildings of Azerbaijan's embassies, trade offices, and consulates in other countries.

See also

In Spanish: Emblema nacional de Azerbaiyán para niños

• Emblem of the Azerbaijan SSR