Flags of the World - Algeria Blog Post

مرحبًا

I am StJohn Wright from Notarial Services (Yorkshire & Derbyshire) Limited, practicing as StJohn Wright Notary Public. Welcome to the seventh blog post about ‘Flags of the World’: this week the blog post is about Algeria.

The flag of Algeria, which you can see above, features two equal vertical bands of green and white, and a red 5-pointed star within a red crescent. The green represents Islam, the white implies purity and peace, and the red conveys liberty; the crescent and star are Islamic symbols. Did you know that the crescent in this flag is more closed up than other countries’ flags because the Algerians believe that long crescent horns bring happiness?

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and is (surprisingly) the 10th largest country in the world. 99% of Algerians are Muslim (mainly Sunni): this allows a more community feel for the country, as people are more likely to have similar views on topics and experience less cultural tension. However, in the 1990s, Algeria fought a fierce civil war between Islamists and the military government, which left 200,000 Algerians dead. If you or someone you know needs a Power of Attorney (a document to take legal control over something, i.e. land), then look no further than myself as a Notary, and contact me via my contact details at the bottom of this blog post, so we can discuss the procedure.

Algeria’s national animal is the fennec fox, it is the world’s smallest fox, and it has large ears. In 2019, Algeria became the 2nd African country to be recognised as malaria-free, after Mauritius in 1973. Algeria houses 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and of those the most famous one is Timgad, a Roman city dating back to 100 AD. The Djamaa El Djazair mosque, in Algeria, has the world’s tallest minaret – at an incredible height of 265m – which was completed in 2019. Algeria’s capital city, Algiers, is known as ‘Alger la Blanche’ (Algiers the White) due to its white-washed buildings.

The traditional dish of Algeria is Chakhchoukha. This is a flavour filled stew of torn pieces of flatbread known as rougag and marqa, stew made with lamb, tomatoes, chickpeas, onions, and flavourings such as cumin, ras el hanout, caraway, galangal, lavender, and red chilli peppers. This dish is often popular at celebrations and festivities, especially in the Islamic calendar, such as Eid al-Adha. It was invented by shepherds who needed a filling meal after working in cold nights.

In Algeria, the traditional drink is Mazagran. Mazagran is prepared with strong, hot coffee that is poured over ice and served in a narrow glass. It is a firm favourite across the country because most (if not, all) Muslims don’t drink alcohol.

Algerians regularly invite visitors and friends to drink tea with them: in a café, having one cup with a host is acceptable, whereas, in somebody’s house, three cups of tea are customary. If anyone you know is looking for work abroad, for example in a café serving tea, then they will need to contact a Notary to discuss their options. This is because they may need Certified Copies of legal documents to obtain a visa to work abroad, and they can be done through a Notary, such as myself. Please contact me via the details below or follow the link to find my details on my website.

To conclude, I am a Notary, who has been practicing for 16 years, and I would urge you to get into contact with me if you require any of the services that I have mentioned in this blog post. Please see my website (Notary in Sheffield | England | StJohn Wright Notary Public) to find out more about me and what I can do to help you. Also, do not hesitate to call me on 07863252272.

Thank you for reading this seventh Blog Post on the ‘Flags of the World’. Look out for the next one about Vietnam!