The flag of Algeria shows two vertical stripes in green and white, above that, "above all", a red half-moon with a red five-pointed star. The color green, the half-moon and the star are symbols of islam, while red was formerly the color of socialism, but stands today for freedom. The white color stands for uprightness and honesty. It goes back to a standard of the freedom-hero Abd el-Kader (1808–1883). The flag was first in use in 1925 at anti French demonstrations. Afterward it was adopted by the Algerian People's Party, and in 1954 even by the National Liberation Front (FLN). On 3rd of July in 1962, the independence day, the flag was officially hoisted up. The creator of the flag is Messali Haj.
Initially, the coat of arms of Algeria was shown on a shield, but from 1971 - following French heraldic tradition - no coat of arms was used in Algeria, but a state seal. At first it was black and white, later also colored. It was round and showed a red star and a red crescent in the middle, three ears of wheat, two state flagnes and the hand of Fatima, a symbol of luck, above the crescent. The whole thing was surrounded by a wreath of a palm and an olive branch. In 1975 a new seal was introduced. In addition to the hand of Fatima and the crescent moon with the star, it also shows a mountain landscape with the rising sun, industrial plants and agricultural crops, since 1976 with an Arabic inscription.
The name of the country goes back to the capital Algiers. The name of the capital is in Arabic: "Al-Djazair" what means "The Island", and refers to the situation of the around the years 950 by Berbers founded city.
