Azerbaijan Celebrates Alphabet and Language Day on August 1

On August 1 Azerbaijan marks Alphabet and Language Day, a national observance established by a decree signed by former President Heydar Aliyev on 9 August 2001. The date commemorates the creation of the Azerbaijan Alphabet Commission on 1 August 1990, which was chaired by linguist Afad Gurbanov, the scholar who scientifically justified the shift to a Latin‑based Azerbaijani alphabet.

The celebration highlights the role of the alphabet as a cultural cornerstone, urging all Azerbaijanis, wherever they live, to preserve and promote their language, traditions, and national heritage. It also recalls the authors of the national anthem—poet Ahmad Javad and composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli—underscoring the broader cultural legacy tied to the language.