State Flag Day is observed in Azerbaijan every November 9 to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the Azerbaijani flag in 1918. This public holiday was established in 2009 by President Ilham Aliev and first celebrated in 2010. The original flag featured a red field with a white crescent and an eight-pointed star, symbolizing the nation's progress towards democracy, Islam, and the eight letters of "Azerbaijan" in Arabic, or alternatively, the eight Turkic peoples in the country. The holiday honors the significance of the flag, which held sacred meaning for the nation until it was replaced by the Azerbaijan SSR flag in 1920. Celebrations typically include various public events and activities that reflect national pride and identity.