National emblem of North Macedonia

National emblem of North Macedonia
Versions
As used by the Government of North Macedonia
Armiger	Republic of North Macedonia
Adopted	July 27, 1946; 77 years ago (1946-07-27) (original version) November 16, 2009; 14 years ago (2009-11-16) (current version)

The national emblem of North Macedonia depicts two curved garlands of sheaves of wheat, tobacco leaves and opium poppy fruits, tied by a ribbon decorated with embroidery of traditional Macedonian folk motifs. In the center of the ovoid frame are depicted a mountain, a lake and a sunrise. The features of the national coat of arms contain a rising sun which symbolizes freedom, the Šar Mountains^[1] with its peak named Ljuboten^[1] or Mount Korab^[2] and the river Vardar,^[1][2] with Lake Ohrid. The emblem also contains opium poppy fruits; this poppy was brought to the area during Ottoman times in the first half of the 19th century.^[3] Until 16 November 2009, the emblem also depicted a socialistic five-pointed star in the top. This emblem (including the red star) had been in use since 1946, shortly after the republic became part of Yugoslavia.

The emblem is based upon the emblem of Yugoslavia. Until 2009, along with Belarus and the disputed territory of Transnistria, North Macedonia was one of the few remaining European jurisdictions that continued to employ socialist symbolism in its national emblem.