Kuwait, is an Arab country in Western Asia. Situated in the north eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it shares borders with Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. The name "Kuwait" is the diminutive of Arabic, meaning "fortress". The country covers an area of 17,820 square kilometres (6,880 square miles) and has a population of 2.6 million as of 2012.
Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Kuwait City serves as the country's political and economic capital. Kuwait is often described as the most liberal country in the region. The country has the world's fifth largest oil reserves. Kuwait is the eighth richest country in the world per capita. Kuwait is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and is designated as a major NON-NATO ally of the United States.
Flag Of Kuwait: The flag of Kuwait was adopted on September 7, 1961, and officially hoisted November 24, 1961.Before 1961, the flag of Kuwait, like those of other Persian Gulf states, was red and white with the word "??????" in the middle. The present flag is in the Pan-Arab colours, but each colour is also significant in its own right.
Black represents the defeat of the enemy,
While red is the colour of blood on the Kuwaiti swords.
White symbolizes purity, and
Green is for the fertile land.
The colours' meaning came from a poem by Safie Al-Deen Al-Hali:
White are our deeds
Black are our battles
Green are our lands
Red are our swords
Emblem of Kuwait: The Emblem of Kuwait was adopted in 1962 and it consists of the shield of the flag design in colour superimposed on a golden falcon (Hawk of Quraish) with wings displayed. The falcon supports a disk containing a boom sailing ship, a type of dhow, with the full name of the state written (in Arabic) at the top of the disk.
The dhow is a symbol of the maritime tradition of the country . The falcon is a symbol of the Banu Quraish line, to which the prophet Muhammad belonged and is likewise found in many coats of arms of the Arabian Peninsula.
National bird of Kuwait: Falcon
National animal of Kuwait: Camel
National flower of Kuwait: Arfaj (Rhanterum Epapposum)
The coat of arms replaced an older emblem with a falcon and two crossed flags.
The 19th of June 1961 is considered to be the genuine day of Kuwait’s Independence from the British occupation. In that day, the deceased Amir, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the eleventh ruler of Kuwait, signed the Declaration of Independence.
Although the 19th of June 1961 is the genuine day of Kuwait’s Independence, yet Kuwait celebration on the 19th of June only occurred once in 1962. Starting from 1963 and due to the extreme hot weather of June, the celebration of Kuwait’s Independence was moved to the 25th of February, which is the same day Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah came to power after the death of his cousin, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Since then, Kuwait celebrates the 25th of February every year, for it’s a day of joy and happiness.
On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein, the ruler of Iraq, gave the orders to invade Kuwait. After two days, the Iraqi forces managed to occupy the entire country.
On February 26, 1991, and after seven months of occupation, Kuwait was finally liberated. Since then, Kuwait celebrates the 26th of February of every year as a day of liberation, joy and happiness.
The National and Liberation Days highlight the iconic history behind the independence of Kuwait. Rejoicing in the spirit of patriotism, the celebrations are held on 25 th and 26 th February every year and are of tremendous significance to Kuwaitis.
Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah GCB (Hon Saba? Al-'A?mad Al-Jabir Al-?aba?; born 16 June 1929) is the Emir of Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah was sworn in on 26 January 2006 after confirmation by the National Assembly of Kuwait. He is the fourth son of Emir Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Sheikh Sabah is the head of the Sabah monarchy, which has been Kuwait's monarchy since 1938.
Kuwait's 50 years of Independence and 20 years of Liberation was celebrated in a very grant manner on The State of Kuwait broke a Guinness World Record by organizing the biggest firework show in the world.
Kuwait fired this evening 77,282 firework projectiles in the biggest ever firework show in the world, to mark the 50th anniversary of its national Constitution.
On 26th January, 2014 Kuwait marked the eighth anniversary of the accession of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the ruler ship of the State of Kuwait.
This great country is celebrating its 53rd National Day and 23rd Liberation Day this year. This country has provided us expatriates a great living experience and has given us all the comforts in life. So let’s thank and congratulate this great nation on this happy occasion and show our gratitude to this great country, which has been so kind to us.
Long live Kuwait.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day
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Vijay Anant,
IIK Young Reporter |
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