The oldest national anthem is the Dutch national anthem "Het Wilhelmus", which was written between 1568 and 1572. The Japanese anthem, "Kimi ga Yo", has its lyrics taken from a Heian period (794–1185) poem, yet it was not set to music until 1880.

Anthems became increasingly popular among European states in the 18th century

 For example, the British national anthem "God Save the Queen" was first performed under the title "God Save the King" in 1745.

 However, the first anthem to be officially adopted as such was the Spanish anthem Marcha Real, in 1770; its origins remain unclear, being suggested to have sixteenth century Venetian origins, or even to have been composed by king Frederick the Great himself; it is also one of the few national anthems that has never had official lyrics..

The French anthem "La Marseillaise" was written half a century later in 1792, and adopted in 1795.

UNISON WORLD SCHOOL is a world in itself, we have students from Korea, Nepal, Thailand, Afganistan and India. We have a blend of most all the worlds national anthem

National Anthem of Nepal (UNISON WORLD SCHOOL, INDIA)

Sayou thunga phool ka hami  eutai  mala napali

Sarwabham bhai failieka mechi mahakali

Sayou thunga phool ka hami eutai mala nepali

Sarwabham bhai failieka mechi mahakali

Prakriti ka koti koti sampada ko aachala

Bir haru ka ragatale swatantra ra atala

Gyana bhumi shanti bhumi tarai pahad himal

Akhanda yo pyaro hamro maatri bhumi napal

Bahul jati bhasha dharma sanskriti chan bishala

Agragrami rashtrya hamaro

Jaya jaya nepal

                                                         By Meghana

                                                                    IX IGCSE

AFGANISTAN’S NATIONAL ANTHEM (Unison World School, India)

Contributed by Alisha, IGCSE

pashto

Daa watan afghanistan do daa ezzat de har afghan di
Kor de soli kor de tori har bachi ye qahraman di
Daa watan di tolo kor di de balocho, de uzbako
De pashtoon aw hazarwoo de turkmano de tajeko
Worsara arab, gojar di pamirian, noristanian
Barahawi di, qizilbash di ham aimaq, ham pashaiyean
Daa hiwad ba til zaligi laka limar pa eshna aasman
Pa sina ki de asia laka zera wi jawidan
Noom de haq mo di rahbar wayoo Allah o Akbar, wayoo Allah o Akbar

NIGERIA

"Arise, O Compatriots" (1978-present)

Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria's call obey 
To serve our fatherland 
With love and strength and faith 
The labor of our heroes past 
Shall never be in vain 
To serve with heart and might 
One nation bound in freedom, peace and 
unity.

Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause 
Guide our leaders right 
Help our youth the truth to know 
In love and honesty to grow 
And living just and true 
Great lofty heights attain 
To build a nation where peace and justice 
shall reign.

National Anthem – Korean (Unison World School,India)

Contributed by Minju Kim IGCSE

1절 : 동해물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록, 하느님이 보우하사 우리나라만세.

(후렴) 무궁화 삼천리 화려강산 대한사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세.

2절: 남산위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른듯, 바람서리 불변함은 우리기상일세.

(후렴) 무궁화 삼천리 화려강산 대한사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세.

3절: 가을 하늘 공활한데, 높고 구름없이 밝은 달은 우리가습 일편단심일세.

(후렴) 무궁화 삼천리 화려강산 대한사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세.

4절: 이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여 괴로우나 즐거우나 나라사랑하세.

(후렴) 무궁화 삼천리 화려강산 대한사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세.

Thai National Anthem (Unison World School, India)

Contibuted by Kanyaphat, IGCSE

Indian waving flag

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF INDIA

Jaana Gaana Maana Adhinayaka Jayehe
Bharata bhagya vidhata;
Punjaba Sindhu Gujarata Maratha,
Dravida Utkala Banga,
Vindhya, Himachala, Jamuna, Ganga,
Ucchhala Jaladhitaranga;
Taba Shubha Naame Jaage
Taba Shubha Ashish Maage
Gaye taba jaya gaatha.
Jana gana mangala dayaka jaya he
Bharata bhagya vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
Dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of the Punjab,
Sind, Gujarat, and Maratha,
Of the Dravid, and Orissa and Bengal.
It echoes in the hills of Vindhyas and,
Himalayas, mingles in the music of the
Jamuna and the Ganges and is chanted by
the waves of the Indian sea.
The pray for the blessings,
and sing by the praise,
The saving of all people
waits in thy hand.
Thou dispenser of India's destiny,
Victory, victory, victory to thee.

UK NATIONAL ANTHEM

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and Glorious,
Long to reign over us;
God save the Queen!

CROATIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM - LYRICS

National Anthem of Croatia

Original Version

Lijepa naša domovino

Lijepa nasa domovino, 
Oj junacka zemljo mila, 
Stare slave djedovino, 
Da bi vazda sretna bila!

              NATIONAL ANTHEM OF UKRAINE

            UKRAINIAN                                ROMAN TRANSLITERATION

Ще  не вмерла України і               Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i 

слава, і воля.                                   slava, i volia.

Ще нам, браття молодії,               Shche nam, brattia molodii,            

усміхнеться доля.                          usmikhnetsia dolia.

Згинуть наші воріженьки,            Zhynut’ nashi vorizhen’ky,

як роса на сонці.                            yak rosa na sontsi. 

Запануєм і ми, браття, у               zapanuyem I my, brattia, u

своїй сторонці.                                svoyiy storontsi.

ПРИСПІВ х 2                                    PRYSPIV x 2

Душу й тіло ми положим              Dushu y tilo my polozhym

За нашу свободу,                            za nashu svobodu,

І покажем, що ми, браття,            I pokazhem, shcho my, brattia,

Козацького роду.                            Kozats’koho rodu.

    ENGLISH TRANSLATION                    LITERARY TRANSLATION

Ukraine’s glory has not yet perished,       She lives on, our Ukraina!

nor has her freedom.                                 Her freedom and glory -

Upon us, young brothers, fate shall         let us hope that once more fortune

smile once more.                                        May illume Her story.

Our enemies will vanish, like dew in        Like the dew before the sunshine

the morning sun,                                        Our foes disappearing,

And we too shall rule, brothers,              We shall rule, oh, youthful brethren!

In our own land.                                         Our land nothing fearing.

CHORUS x 2                                               CHORUS:

We’ll lay down our souls and bodies        Soul and body sacrificing

for our freedom.                                         For our freedom cherished,

And we’ll show that we, brothers,             we shall show we are the sons of

are of the Cossack nation.                         mighty Cossacks perished!

AND NOW STAND UP FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM/S OF...

SOME MORE EXAMPLES WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

1. SPAIN

Marcha Real
 
¡ Viva España !
Alzad los brazos, hijos
del pueblo español,
que vuelve a resurgir.  
 
Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.  
Gloria a la Patria que supo seguir,
sobre el azul del mar el caminar del sol.
 
¡ Triunfa España !
Los yunques y las ruedas
cantan al compás
del himno de la fe.

RUSSIA

Славься, славься, родина-Россия! 
Сквозь века и грозы ты прошла 
И сияет солнце над тобою 
И судьба твоя светла. 
 
Над старинным московским Кремлём 
Вьется знамя с двуглавым орлом 
И звучат священные слова: 
Славься, Русь – Отчизна моя! 
 
 
Latin Transliteration 
 
Slav'sya, Slav'sya, rodina-Rossiya! 
Skvoz' veka i grozy ty proshla! 
I siyayet solntse nad toboyu 
I sud'ba tvoya svetla! 
 
Nad starinnym moskovskim Kremlyom 
V'yotsya znamya s dvuglavym orlom 
I zvuchat svyashchennye slova: 
Slav'sya, Rus' - Otchizna moya! 
 
 
English Translation 
 
Be glorious, be glorious, motherland-Russia! 
You passed through the centuries and the thunderstorms 
And the sun shines above you 
And your destiny is bright. 
 
Above the ancient Moscow Kremlin 
Waves the banner with the two-headed eagle 
And the sacred words resound: 
Be glorious, Russia – my fatherland! 

MOLDOVA: Original Lyrics 
 
LIMBA NOASTRĂ 
 
Limba noastră-i o comoară 
În adîncuri înfundată 
Un şirag de piatră rară 
Pe moşie revărsată. 
 
Limba noastră-i foc, ce arde 
Într-un neam, ce fără veste 
S-a trezit din somn de moarte, 
Ca viteazul din poveste. 
 
Limba noastră-i numai cântec, 
Doina dorurilor noastre, 
Roi de fulgere, ce spintec 
Nouri negri, zări albastre. 
 
English Translation 
 
OUR TONGUE 
 
A treasure is our tongue that surges 
From deep shadows of the past, 
Chain of precious stones that scattered 
All over our ancient land. 
 
A burning flame is our tongue 
Amidst a people waking 
From a deathly sleep, no warning, 
Like the brave man of the stories. 
 
Our tongue is made of songs 
From our soul's deepest desires, 
Flash of lighting striking swiftly 
Through dark clouds and blue horizons. 
 
Our tongue is the tongue of bread 
When the winds blow through the summer, 
Uttered by our forefathers who 
Blessed the country through their labour. 

CAMBODIA

CAMBODIAN LYRICS

Som pouk tepda rak sa moha khsath yeung
Oy ben roung roeung doy chey monkol srey soursdey
Yeung Khnom preah ang som chrok Krom molup preah Baromey
Ney preah Noropdey vong Khsattra del sang preah sat thm­r
Kroup Kraung dèn Khmer borann thkoeung thkann.

Prasath séla kombang kan dal prey
Kuor oy sr­may noeuk d­l yuos sak Moha Nokor
Cheat Khmer dauch Thmar kong vong n­y l­ar rung peung chom hor.
Yeung sang Khim por pheap preng samnang robuos Kampuchea.
Moha r­th koeut mien you ang veanh hey.

Kroup vath aram lu tè so sap thoeur
Sot doy am no rom lik koun poth sasna
Chol yeung chea neak thioeur thiak smos smak tam bep donnta
Kong tè thévoda nùng chuoy chrom chrèng phkot phkang pra yoch oy
Dol prateah Khmer chea Moha Nokor 

---

CAMBODIAN LYRICS (Khmer script)


 
---

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Heaven protects our King
And gives him happiness and glory
To reign over our souls and our destinies,
The one being, heir of the Sovereign builders,
Guiding the proud old Kingdom.

Temples are asleep in the forest,
Remembering the splendour of Moha Nokor.
Like a rock the Khamer race is eternal.
Let us trust in the fate of Campuchea,
The empire which challenges the ages.

Songs rise up from the pagodas
To the glory of holy buddhistic faith.
Let us be faithful to our ancestors' belief.
Thus heaven will lavish its bounty
Towards the ancient Khmer country, the Moha Nokor.

FEELING PROUND AND HAPPY WHEN HEARING/SINGING ONE'S OWN NATIONAL ANTHEM

TUNES/MELODY OF A NATIONAL ANTHEM

HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

When World War I broke out in 1914, "O Canada" was the patriotic song sung by the young soldiers going off to war. Those supporting Canada’s involvement in the Great War must have stood proud as they sang the words at the homefront. It was a long time though before "O Canada" actually became the country’s national anthem.

The music for "O Canada" was composed by Calixa Lavallee in 1880. The French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier as a hymn for the great "Congrès national des Canadiens-Français" in 1880. The French version has never changed.

ORIGINS OF NATIONAL ANTHEMS

NATIONAL ANTHEMS

Hymns, marches, anthems or fanfares used as official patriotic symbols.

National Anthems are the equivalent in music of a country's motto, crest or flag. The English term 'anthem' as applied to such a piece became current in the early 19th-century; in most other languages the word corresponding to the English 'hymn' is used. The occasions upon which National Anthems are required vary from country to country, but one of their main functions has always been to pay homage to a reigning monarch or head of state; they are therefore normally called for on ceremonial occasions when such a person or his representative is present. The tradition, in Europe at least, of playing National Anthems in theatres, and more recently in cinemas, dates from 1745, when Thomas Arne's version of 'God Save the King' was sung at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

National Anthems are frequently used today at football matches and other sports meetings, notably at the quadrennial Olympic Games, where the winner of each event is saluted with the Flag and National Anthem of the country he represents. The power of a National Anthem to strengthen a nation's resolve was demonstrated during World War II when the BBC's weekly broadcasts from London of the National Anthems of the Allied Powers attracted an audience of millions throughout Europe. It is now as much a matter of course for every country to have its own National Anthem as to have its own flag. Many of the older National Anthems, including those of France and the USA, came into being during a period of national crisis.

The earliest of all, that of Great Britain, was sung and printed at the time of the Jacobite rising, though the melody itself is probably much older; and by the end of the 18th-century, Spain, France and Austria had also adopted National Anthems. It was the growing awareness of nationalism in the 19th- century that led to their proliferation, especially in central Europe and South America.

Japan's National Anthem dates from 1893, but it is only since 1949, when China adopted hers, that Eastern countries as a whole have followed the West's example in this way. The emergence of new independent states in Africa and elsewhere since the end of World War II has led to a corresponding increase in the number of National Anthems now in use. The texts of National Anthems are rarely of literary merit. Patriotic fervour is usually the keynote, though the forms and images used to express it vary a good deal and can reveal much about the character of a nation at the time the words were written.

The text of a National Anthem may often have to be revised or modified in the light of political changes within the country or in its relations with its neighbours. Some countries, particularly those that have enjoyed long periods of peace and political stability, choose National Anthems that dwell upon the natural beauty of the land.

Several National Anthems are built around a national hero, such as Denmark's King Christian and Haiti's Jean-Jacques Dessalines, or around a nation's flag, like those of Honduras and the USA. Many are in effect prayers, like 'God Save the King/Queen', or calls to arms, like France's 'La marsillaise'. The struggle for independence (or the pride in achieving it) is a favourite theme among those countries that have emerged since 1945.

A 20th-century development stemming from the National Anthem is what might be termed, the 'international' or 'supra-national' anthem. The tune known as the 'Internationale' (formerly the National Anthem of the USSR) has been used as a left-wing revolutionary song in many countries, including Italy and Albania. The melody of Tanzania and Zambia has existed for many years as a pan-African anthem, especially among the southern Bantu.

In January 1972, an arrangement by Herbert von Karajan of the main theme from the finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was adopted (against the wishes of many musicians) as a European Anthem by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The United Nations Organization also has an Anthem by Pablo Casals to words by W. H. Auden, though this has not been (nor is likely to be) officially adopted.

National Anthems are rarely noted for their musical quality any more than for their texts, though most countries have succeeded in finding a tune that is suitably dignified or stirring. Not surprisingly there has been a tendency for some countries to emulate their neighbours, with the result that the musical style of a National Anthem is often determined as much by geographical locality as by the date it was written.

Broadly speaking, National Anthems may be divided according to their musical characteristics into five categories, which are not, however, entirely exclusive.

(a) Hymns: 
The stately rhythmic tread and the smooth melodic movement of 'God Save the King/Queen' have served as a model for many National Anthems, both in Europe and among those countries that were formerly British colonies. European National Anthems of this kind tend to be among the oldest.

(b) Marches: 
Together with the first group, these account for the majority of all National Anthems. The earliest march to be adopted as a National Anthem was the 'Marcha real' of Spain (1770), but it is 'La marseillaise' that has provided the main inspiration for National Anthems of this type. Its initial phrase is echoed, either rhythmically or in pitch, in many examples.

(c) Operatic: 
The tendency for a National Anthem of one country to resemble those of its neighbours is nowhere more clearly shown than in the examples of South and Central America. As a group they are strongly influenced by the style of 19th-century Italian opera, and at least three of them were composed by Italians. They are without question the longest, most elaborate and most impractical of all National Anthems. Always in march rhythm and often with an imposing orchestral introduction, they are mostly cast in a ternary form of chorus-verse-chorus. The longest and most ambitious, that of El Salvador, would not be out of place in one of Verdi's middle-period operas.

(d) Folk: 
A notable and perhaps disappointing feature of the National Anthems of those countries previously under the rule of Britain, France or Belgium is that they have mostly been content to imitate European traditions. Several of them were composed by nationals (missionaries or government officials) of the former controlling powers. For National Anthems independent of the European tradition one must look mainly to Eastern countries such as Japan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, who's National Anthems rely strongly upon folk music and sometimes call for indigenous instruments and are accompanied by formal gestures.

(e) Fanfares: 
A small group of anthems, mainly those of oil-producing countries in the Middle East (Bahrain and Kuwait) amount to little more than a fanfare-like flourish without text.

HISTORY: The French National Anthem is known as the Marseillaise.

The words and music were written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (1760-1836), then an officer in the French army, based in Strasbourg.

The song was originally called 'Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin' ('War Song for the Army of the Rhine'). It is a pretty brutal song, urging the French to fight against the Prussian invasion that followed the revolution, and was was subsequently banned under Napoleon and for much of the 19th century, only being permanently adopted after 1879.

The song was first sung in April 1792, and reached Marseille with the troops three months later. It's rousing theme was was an immediate success, and it was a battalion from marseille that sung the anthem in Paris later that year - hence the name Marseillaise was adopted.

There are frequent calls for the words of the anthem to be revised, given their 'inappropiateness' to a modern Europe.

National Anthem hymn or song expressing patriotic sentiment and either governmentally authorized as an official national hymn or holding that position in popular feeling.  During the 19th and early 20th centuries, most European countries followed Britain's example, some national anthems being written especially for the purpose, others being adapted from existing tunes. The sentiments of national anthems vary, from prayers for the monarch to allusions to nationally important battles or uprisings.

The National anthem of the Republic of Croatia is "Our Beautiful Homeland". It was written by Antun Mihanović. It was printed for the first time as "Croatian Homeland" in the 'Danica' newspaper in 1835. Under the name "Our Beautiful" it became the Croatian anthem. A cadet named Josip Runjanin set Mihanović's lyrics to music, with V. Lichtenegger noting and harmonising the piece in 1891.
In 1891, during the exhibition of the Croatian-Slavonian Economic Association in Zagreb, it was sung for the first time as the Croatian anthem under the title "Our Beautiful".

A short history of the Croatian national anthem

The song "Our Beautiful Homeland" was written in the late 40s of the 19th century. The actual year of origin has never been determined but 1848 has been frequently mentioned in this context. The author of music has not been indisputably determined although the late 19th century tradition suggests that it might have been the music amateur Josip Runjanin (1821 - 1878). At the time when the song was supposedly written he served as a cadet in the 10th border infantry regiment in Glina, which is commonly designated as the place of origin.

The song was composed to the verses of "Horvatska domovina" (Croatian Homeland) by Antun Mihanović (1796 - 1861), a predecessor and contemporary of the Croatian national and literary reformation movement, which was published in 1835 in the tenth issue of the literary paper "Danica". The poem has 14 stanzas, but the melody contains only two of them thus belonging to the form structured on the model of a small two-part song, which contains sixteen bars (a a1 b a1). Such a melody normally included singing of the first and second as well as the penultimate and ultimate stanzas of the poem.

It has not been known what was the original form of the melody because the first copy has not been recovered to this day. The melody has been identified according to the record allegedly jotted down by the music educator Vatroslav Lichtenegger in 1861 and based on the singing of his students, trainee teachers. He "set the melody to music according to trainees' singing" (F.Ks.Kuhač). Lichtenegger harmonised the melody and arranged it for men's four-part singing. In 1862 the song was published in "Sbirka različitih četveropjevah mužkoga zbora" - svezak II, broj 9 ("A Collection of Various Four-Part Songs for Men's Choir" - volume II, no. 9) of the National State Music Institute in Zagreb. Subsequently, it was published in some other collections of the same type under the title of "Hrvatska Domovina" (Croatian Homeland). The title "Liepa naša" (Our Beautiful) was mentioned for the first time in 1864 in the collection of "various four-part songs published by the Music Society of Zagreb Spiritual Youth". The subsequent issues featured both titles, but in the late 19th century the title of the song became the first line of "Lijepa naša domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland), which has been retained to this day.

A few decades later Lichtenegger's harmonisation was followed by other harmonisations, arrangements for men's, women's, children's and mixed choirs, piano and organ, tamburitza and brass bands as well as symphony orchestra.
The text of the poem has undergone certain changes. The first stanza words "domovino" and "djedovino" have been changed to "domovina" and "djedovina", "junačka" used to be replaced with "hrvatska", "vazda" with "svagda" and "čestna" with "častna", "časna" and "sretna". Even the fourth line has been rendered poetically to "Daj, o Bože, sretna bila". Some major changes have been implemented in the penultimate and ultimate stanzas - "Drava" was inserted in the first line of the penultimate stanza, "Sava" stopped being "swift" ("hitra") whereas "Dunaj" became "Dunav". The word "Drina" was inserted into the first line during the Second World War and there were several attempts at inserting "sea" ("more") into the poem, which actually does not exist in the original.

Until the late 19th century the song belonged to the group of songs performed at various national ceremonies, so F. Ks. Kuhač mentioned it in 1889 as one of national anthems (Mnogaja ljeta, Carevka/Kraljevka, Još Hrvatska nij' propala, Mi smo, braćo ilirskog, Bože živi). Subsequently, it was performed quite frequently and denoted as the national anthem. So, in 1907 the Association of Croatian Singing Clubs submitted to the Croatian Parliament a petition "regarding the enactment, i.e. official proclamation, which would introduce the song 'Our Beautiful Homeland' as the Croatian national anthem". The Parliament did not issue any declaration regarding the petition.

Nevertheless, the song was officially considered the Croatian national anthem and performed at ceremonies after the song Carevka. It was performed on various occasions - in the Croatian Parliament on 29th October 1918 when Croatia solved legislative relations with Hungary and Austria, in the period between the two wars when the first part of the anthem was included in the unofficial national anthem of the time, during the Second World War on the warring sides and in the period succeeding the War (after Hej, Slaveni). It was officially proclaimed the Croatian national anthem in the subsection 4 of the first constitutional amendment of 29th February 1972 and the formulation used was as follows: "The national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (...), 'Our Beautiful Homeland' ". The given formulation was literally written in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Croatia in 1974. The status and function of the Croatian national anthem was further established in the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia in 1990. The official lyrics of the anthem have been cited in the Article 16 of the Law on the Coat of Arms, the Flag and the National Anthem of the Republic of Croatia, and the Article 17 of the same law brings the score. Thereby both constituent parts of the anthem were established and defined as obligatory components.

GENERALLY SPEAKING IT IS:

- RESPECT FOR YOUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE,

- TRADITION,

- ETIQUETTE /CODE OF CONDUCT/ WHEN BEING PLAYED PLAYS A VITAL ROLE

- PRIDE,

- CULTURE ROOTS...

A national anthem (also national hymn, song etc.) is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.

National anthems are used in a wide array of contexts. They are played on national holidays and festivals, and have also come to be closely connected with sporting events. During sporting competitions, such as the Olympic Games, the national anthem of the gold medal winner is played at each medal ceremony; also played before games in many sports leagues, since being adopted in baseball during World War II.^[3] When teams from two different nations play each other, the anthems of both nations are played, the host nation's anthem being played last. The use of a national anthem outside of its country, however, is dependent on the international recognition of that country. For instance, the Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) is not recognized by the Olympics as a separate nation and must compete as Chinese Taipei; its National Banner Song is used instead of itsnational anthem.^[4]

In some countries, the national anthem is played to students each day at the start of school as an exercise in patriotism. In other countries the anthem may be played in a theatre before a play or in a cinema before a movie. Many radio and television stations have adopted this and play the national anthem when they sign on in the morning and again when they sign offat night.

There may also be royal anthems, presidential anthems, state anthems, etc. for special occasions.

Certain etiquette may be involved in the playing of a country's anthem. These usually involve military honours, standing up, removing headwear etc. In diplomatic situations the rules may be very formal.

The most common adjectives related to national anthems

beautiful

glorious

ancient

virtuous

heroic

...

TO MY PROJECT PARTNERS

Below: Canada, opening ceremony; the Olympics

KEY WORDS FROM THE NATIONAL ANTHEMS GIVEN

Beautiful,

Fearless,

Gracious,

Ancient,

God,

Love,

Homeland,

Heart,

Glory/glorious

Destiny,

Sun,

People,

Freedom

ON WHAT OCCASIONS IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYED: INDIA

Playing of the Anthem

1. The full version of the Anthem shall be played on the following occasions:
   1. Civil and Military investitures;
   2. When National Salute (which means the Command “Rashtriya Salute – Salami Shastr” to the accompaniment of the National Anthem is given on ceremonial occasions to the President or to the Governor/Lieutenant Governor within their respective States/Union Territories;
   3. During parades – irrespective of whether any of the dignitaries referred to in (ii) above is present or not;
   4. On arrival of the President at formal State functions and other functions organized by the Government and mass functions and on his departure from such functions;
   5. Immediately before and after the President addresses the Nation over All India Radio;
   6. On arrival of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor at formal State functions within his State/Union Territory and on his departure from such functions;
   7. When the National Flag is brought on parade;
   8. When the Regimental Colours are presented;
   9. For hoisting of colours in the Navy.
2. The short version of the Anthem shall be played when drinking toasts in Messes.
3. The Anthem shall be played on any other occasion for which special orders have been issued by the Government of India.
4. Normally the Anthem shall not be played for the Prime Minister, though there may be special occasions when it may be played.
5. When the National Anthem is played by a band, the Anthem will be preceded by a roll of drums to assist the audience to know that the National Anthem is going to be played, unless there is some other specific indication that the National Anthem is about to be played, as for example, when fanfares are sounded before the National Anthem is played, or when toasts are drunk to the accompaniment of the National Anthem or when the National Anthem constitutes the National Salute given by a Guard of Honour. The duration of the roll, in terms of marching drill, will be 7 paces in slow march. The roll will start slowly, ascend to as loud a volume as possible and then gradually decreases to original softness, but remaining audible until the seventh beat. One beat rest will then be observed before commencing the National Anthem.

Mass Singing of the Anthem

1. The full version of the Anthem shall be played accompanied by mass singing on the following occasions:
   1. On the unfurling of the National Flag, on cultural occasions or ceremonial functions other than parades. (This could be arranged by having a choir or adequate size, suitably stationed, which would be trained to coordinate its singing with the band etc. There should be an adequate public audition system so that the gathering in various enclosures can sing in unison with the choir);
   2. On arrival of the President at any Government or Public function (but excluding formal State functions and mess functions) and also immediately before his departure from such functions.
2. On all occasions when the National Anthem is sung, the full version shall be recited accompanied by mass singing.
3. The Anthem may be sung on occasions which, although not strictly ceremonial, are nevertheless invested with significance because of the presence of Ministers etc. The singing of the Anthem on such occasions (with or without the accompaniment of an instruments) accompanied by mass singing is desirable.
4. It is not possible to give an exhaustive list of occasions on which the singing (as distinct from playing) of the Anthem can be permitted. But there is no objection to the singing of the Anthem accompanied by mass singing so long as it is done with due respect as a salutation to the motherland and proper decorum is maintained.
5. In all schools, the day’s work may begin with community singing of the anthem. School authorities should make adequate provision in their programmes for popularising the singing of the Anthem and promoting respect for the National Flag among students.

General

1. Whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary the Anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the Anthem.
2. As in the case of the flying of the National Flag, it has been left to the good sense of the people not to indulge in indiscriminate singing or playing of the Anthem.

IS IT THE SAME WITH ALL NATIONAL ANTHEMS IN THE WORLD?

ISLAND

Lofsöngur (Song of praise) 
 
Music composed by Sveinbjorn Sveinbjornsson. 
Lyrics by Matthias Jochumsson. 
 
 
Ó, guð vors lands! Ó, lands vors guð! 
Vér lofum þitt heilaga, heilaga nafn! 
Úr sólkerfum himnanna hnýta þér krans 
þínir herskarar, tímanna safn. 
Fyrir þér er einn dagur sem þúsund ár 
og þúsund ár dagur, ei meir: 
eitt eilífðar smáblóm með titrandi tár, 
sem tilbiður guð sinn og deyr. 
Íslands þúsund ár,  
Íslands þúsund ár, 
eitt eilífðar smáblóm með titrandi tár, 
sem tilbiður guð sinn og deyr. 
 
Ó, guð, ó, guð! Vér föllum fram 
og fórnum þér brennandi, brennandi sál, 
guð faðir, vor drottinn frá kyni til kyns, 
og vér kvökum vort helgasta mál. 
Vér kvökum og þökkum í þúsund ár, 
því þú ert vort einasta skjól. 
Vér kvökum og þökkum með titrandi tár, 
því þú tilbjóst vort forlagahjól. 
Íslands þúsund ár  
Íslands þúsund ár  
voru morgunsins húmköldu, hrynjandi tár, 
sem hitna við skínandi sól. 

IN ENGLISH: ISLAND
 
Our country's God! Our country's God! 
We worship Thy name in its wonder sublime. 
The suns of the heavens are set in thy crown 
By thy legions, the ages of time! 
With Thee is each day as a thousand years, 
Each thousand of years, but a day. 
Eternity's flow'r, with its homage of tears, 
That reverently passes away. 
Iceland's thousand years! 
Eternity's flow'r, with its homage of tears, 
That reverently passes away. 
 
Our God, our God, we bow to Thee, 
Our spirits most fervent we place in thy care. 
Lord, God of our fathers from age unto age, 
We are breathing our holiest prayer. 
We pray and we thank Thee a thousand years 
For safely protected we stand; 
We pray and we bring Thee our homage of tears 
Our destiny rest in Thy hand. 
Iceland's thousand years 
The hoarfrost of morning which tinted those years, 
Thy sun rising high, shall command! 

 LUXEMBURG

Notre Patrie 
 
Où l'Alzette arrose champs et prés  
La Sûre baigne les rochers;  
Où la Moselle, riante et belle  
Nous fait cadeau du vin  
C'est notre pays pour lequel  
Nous risquons tout sur terre,  
Notr'chère et adorable patrie  
Dont notr'âme est remplie. 
 
(repeat previous two lines)  
 
O Toi aux cieux qui nuit et jour  
Diriges les nations du monde;  
Ecarte du pays de Luxembourg  
L'oppression étrangère  
Enfants nous avons reçu de Toi  
L'esprit de la liberté  
Permets au soleil de liberté  
De luire à tout jamais. 
 

Re: Luxembourg National Anthem
Reply #3 - 26.07.2004 at 12:18:35 

PAKISTAN 

JAPAN

JAPANESE LYRICS

Kimiga yo wa Chiyoni
Yachiyoni Sazaréishi no,
Iwao to narité,
Koké no musumadé.

---

JAPANESE LYRICS (Japanese script)

 
---

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

May thy peaceful reign last long!
May it last for thousands of years,
Until this tiny stone will grow into a massive rock
And the moss will cover it all deep and thick.

FIJI

ENGLISH LYRICS

Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together God bless Fiji 

CHORUS:
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride.
For Fiji ever Fiji her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom , hope and glory to endure what ever befall.
May God bless Fiji
Forever more!

Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
Stand united , we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
Onward march together God bless Fiji.

---
FIJIAN LYRICS

Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Biu na i tovo tawa savasava

CHORUS:
Me bula ga ko Viti
Ka me toro ga ki liu
Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu
Me ra liutaki na tamata
E na veika vinaka
Me oti kina na i tovo ca

Me da dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga

Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti
Ni yavala me savasava na vanua
Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali
Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua 

GAMBIA

For The Gambia, our homeland
We strive and work and pray,
That all may live in unity,
Freedom and peace each day.
Let justice guide our actions
Towards the common good,
And join our diverse peoples
To prove man's brotherhood.

We pledge our firm allegiance,
Our promise we renew;
Keep us, great God of nations,
To The Gambia ever true.

HAITI

FRENCH LYRICS

Pour le Pays,
Pour la Patrie,
Marchons unis,
Marchons unis.
Dans nos rangs point de traîtres!
Du sol soyons seuls maîtres.
Marchons unis,
Marchons unis
Pour le Pays,
Pour la patrie,
Marchons, marchons, marchons unis,
Pour le Pays,
Pour la Patrie.

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Béchons joyeux, béchons joyeux
Quand le champ fructifie
L'âme se fortifie
Béchons joyeux, béchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Béchons, béchons, béchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie

Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Libres, forts et prospères
Toujours nous serons frères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons, formons, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux!
Sous ta garde infinie
Prends nos droits, notre vie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux!
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu, O Dieu, O Dieu des Preux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie

Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau!
Notre passé nous crie:
Ayez l'âme aguerrie!
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir, mourir, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie 

---
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
 
For our country,
For our forefathers,
United let us march.
Let there be no traitors in our ranks!
Let us be masters of our soil.
United let us march
For our country,
For our forefathers.

For our forebears, 
For our country 
Let us toil joyfully. 
May the fields be fertile 
And our souls take courage. 
Let us toil joyfully 
For our forebears, 
For our country. 

For our country 
And for our forefathers, 
Let us train our sons. 
Free, strong, and prosperous, 
We shall always be as brothers. 
Let us train our sons 
For our country 
And for our forefathers. 

For our forebears, 
For our country, 
Oh God of the valiant! 
Take our rights and our life 
Under your infinite protection, 
Oh God of the valiant! 
For our forebears, 
For our country. 

For the flag, 
For our country 
To die is a fine thing! 
Our past cries out to us: 
Have a disciplined soul! 
To die is a fine thing, 
For the flag, 
For our country. 

ESTONIA

ESTONIAN LYRICS

Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm,
Kui kaunis oled sa!
Ei leia mina iial teal
See suure laia ilma peal,
Mis mull' nii armas oleks ka
Kui sa mu isamaa!

Sa oled mind ju sünnitand
Ja üles kasvatand;
Sind tänan mina alati
Ja jään sul truuks surmani!
Mul kõige armsam oled sa,
Mu kallis isamaa!

Su üle Jumal valvaku,
Mu armas isamaa!
Ta olgu sinu kaitseja
Ja võtku rohkest' õnnista'
Mis iial ette võtad sa,
Mu kallis isamaa!

---
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
 
My native land, my joy, delight,
How fair thou art and bright!
And nowhere in the world all round
Can ever such a place be found
So well beloved as i love thee,
My native country dear!

My little cradle stood on thy soil,
Whose blessings ease my toil.
With my last breath my thanks to thee,
For true to death I'll ever be,
O worthy, most beloved and fine,
Thou, dearest country mine!
 
May God in Heaven thee defend,
My best, my dearest land!
May He be guard, may He be shield,
For ever may He bless and wield
O graciously all deeds of thine,
Thou dearest country mine!

ZIMBABWE

NDEBELE LYRICS
 
Phakamisan iflegi yethu yeZimbabwe
Eyazalwa yimpi yenkululeko;
Legaz' elinengi lamaqhawe ethu
Silivikele ezithan izonke; 
Kalibusisiwe ilizwe leZimbabwe. 

Khangelan' iZimbabwe yon' ihlotshiwe
Ngezintaba lang' miful' ebukekayo,
Izulu kaline, izilimo zande; 
Iz' sebenzi zenam', abantu basuthe;
Kalibusisiwe ilizwe leZimbabwe. 

Nkosi busis' ilizwe lethu leZimbabwe
Ilizwe labokhokho bethu thina sonke; 
Kusuk' eZambezi kusiy' eLimpopo 
Abakhokheli babe lobuqotho; 
Kalibusisiwe ilizwe leZimbabwe. 

---
SHONA LYRICS

Simudzai mureza wedu weZimbabwe
Yakazvarwa nomoto wechimurenga;
Neropa zhinji ramagamba
Tiidzivirire kumhandu dzose;
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe. 

Tarisai Zimbabwe nyika yakashongedzwa
Namakomo, nehova, zvinoyevedza 
Mvura ngainaye, minda ipe mbesa 
Vashandi vatuswe, ruzhinji rugutswe;
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe. 

Mwari ropafadzai nyika yeZimbabwe
Nyika yamadzitateguru edu tose; 
Kubva Zambezi kusvika Limpopo, 
Navatungamiri vave nenduramo; 
Ngaikomborerwe nyika yeZimbabwe. 

---
ENGLISH LYRICS
  
Lift high the banner, the flag of Zimbabwe
The symbol of freedom proclaiming victory;
We praise our heroes' sacrifice,
And vow to keep our land from foes;
And may the Almighty protect and bless our land. 

Oh lovely Zimbabwe, so wondrously adorned
With mountains, and rivers cascading, flowing free;
May rain abound, and fertile fields;
May we be fed, our labour blessed;
And may the Almighty protect and bless our land. 

Oh God, we beseech Thee to bless our native land;
The land of our fathers bestowed upon us all;
From Zambezi to Limpopo
May leaders be exemplary; 
And may the Almighty protect and bless our land.

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF CHINA

LYRICS OF HUNGARIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

Hungary Lyrics of National Anthem: 

Iceland
"Lofsöngur" (Song of Praise)
"Ó, Guð vors Lands" (O, God of Our Land)

Words by: Matthías Jochumsson
Music by: Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson
Adopted: 1944

The Icelandic national anthem is originally written for a particular occasion and it probably did not occur to either the poet or the composer that the song was destined to become a national anthem.

In Iceland, nation-wide celebrations were held throughout 1874 to mark the 1000th anniversary of the first Norse settlement of the island. (This is the "Iceland's thousand years" that are referenced in the anthem.) To mark the occassion, the Bishop of Iceland decreed that church services on August 2 of that year were to be held based on the anniversary, and the text to be presented was Psalm 90. The Rev. Matthías Jochumsson then decided to write a poem based on the Biblical text and the millennial anniversary. While abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland, he met up with Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson, who Jochumsson asked to compose music for his poem.

While popular, it was not considered a national anthem. Icelandic independence was still over 40 years away. At the time that "Ó, Guð vors lands" (O, God of Our Land) was written, Icelanders usually sung "Eldgamla Ísafold" by Bjarni Thorarensen as a national anthem. However, that song had anti-Danish (the colonial power) lyrics and was set to the tune of the British national anthem. Therefore "Ó, Guð vors lands" (O, God of Our Land) was played as the national anthem when soverignity was proclaimed. The anthem has three verses, but the first is usually the one sung.

LYRICS

Ukraine
"Ще не вмерла України" "Sche ne vmerla Ukrainy" (Ukraine's Glory Hasn't Perished)

Words by: Paul Chubynskyi
Music by: Mikhail Verbytskyi 
Adopted: 1991 (music), 2003 (lyrics)

In 1862, Ukrainian poet and ethnographer Paul Chubynskyi wrote a poem "Ще не вмерла Україн" "Shche ne vmerla Ukrayina" (Ukraine Is Not Dead Yet) in 1862 and gained a wide popularity among the Ukrainian intelligentsia of the time. It also caught the attention of Mikhail Verbytskyi, a priest, and was moved to compose music for the poem; it was first performed as a choral work in 1864 in the Ukraine Theatre in Lvov.

Upon the declaration of Ukrainian independence in 1917, a number of patriotic works were used in the capacity of a national anthem, including Chubynskyi's work, but none of them were officially declared as the national anthem. In 1920, Ukraine was made part of the Soviet Union, and "Shche ne vmerla Ukrayina" and other patriotic works were officially discouraged. Upon the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine regained its independence and its anthem; when independence was declared no lyrics were officially mandated, the lyrics that were in common use at the time differed somewhat from Chubynskyi's original poem.

The lyrics were changed slightly in 2003; the most important change was made to the first line (and title), which were interestingly borrowed from the Polish anthem. In the new version, the case ending of the word "Ukraine" was changed, so that rather than saying "Ukraine hasn't yet died, nor has her glory or freedom," it now says that it's Ukraine's glory and freedom which haven't perished. Also, the current version of the anthem is limited to the first verse of Chubynskyi's poem (with the modification to the first line mentioned above) plus the chorus, which was the first half of Chubynskyi's original chorus; previously, three verses and a chorus were commonly used.

Vatican City
"Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March)

Words by: Raffaello Lavagna
Music by: Charles-François Gounod
Adopted: 1950

The "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" is in two parts, as the name suggests, and is performed in the presence of: the Pope; one of his special legates; or on occassion of presentation of Credential Letters by a papal nuncio. The music by noted composer Charles-François Gounod was written in 1857 for the jubille anniversary of Pius IX. Originally, the anthem had Italian lyrics in addition to the Latin ones, but nowadays only the Latin words (slightly modified in 1993) are sung. According to the Vatican, the "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" is not to be understood as a national anthem, but rather as a hymn that speaks to Roman Catholics worldwide; in practice, however, it serves as the anthem for the Vatican State.

LYRICS

Mexico
"Himno Nacional Mexicano" (National Anthem of Mexico)

Words by: Francisco González Bocanegra
Music by: Jaime Nunó Roca
In use since: 1854, officially adopted 1943.

After independence from Spain in the early nineteenth century, there were many songs popular with the public that were an attempt to be a national anthem, but none succeeded. Finally, in 1853, President Santa Ana announced a nation-wide contest for the lyrics for a new national anthem. One of the entrants, an accomplished poet named Francicso González Bocanegra, was originally not interested in running. However, his fiancée was confident in his skills and, under false pretenses, lured him into a room of her parent's house and locked him inside, refusing to let him out until he wrote an entry for the contest. After four hours, using the pictures in the room of the epics of Mexican history as his inspiration, Bocanegra finally won his freedom by slipping a ten verse poem under the door. His fiancée and her father approved of the submission, and so did the judging committee, his entry won unanimously.

After the contest for the lyrics came the contest for the melody. This contest was won by Jaime Nunó Roca, a Spaniard from the small Catalan Pyrennes town of Sant Joan de les Abadesses, who was conductor of the National Band. The anthem was first presented in September 1854 for the nation. Shortly after his work was adopted as the national anthem, he left Mexico to spend the rest of his life in Buffalo, New York, United States, and sold the anthem to a music house in that country. When he visited Mexico in 1901, he was given a state reception, a medal, and money. He passed away in 1908, but in 1942, shortly before the national anthem was officially adopted, his remains were flown to Mexico and given a state funeral in the Hall of Heroes, where Bocanegra was also buried.

In 1943, the anthem was officially adopted, and at that time it was decreed that the first, fifth, sixth, and tenth verses would comprise the anthem. When a shorter version of the anthem is required, it is somtimes performed with the chorus, then the first verse, followed by the chorus, followed by the tenth verse, followed by the chorus; a shorter version still just has the chorus, first verse, and the chorus. Frequently, the anthem is known as "Mexicanos, al grito de guerra" (Mexicans, to the War Cry) (from the first line of the chorus), but officially it is just known as "Himno Nacional Mexicano".

LYRICS

Spanish lyrics

TURKEY

The İstiklâl Marşı (Independence March) is the Turkish National Anthem, officially adopted on 12 March 1921 - two and a half years before the 29 October 1923 establishment of theRepublic of Turkey, both as a motivational musical saga for the troops fighting in theTurkish War of Independence, and as an anthem for a Republic that was yet to be established.

Penned by Mehmet Âkif Ersoy and ultimately composed by Osman Zeki Üngör, the theme is one of affection for the Turkish homeland, freedom, and faith, of sacrifice for liberty, and of hope and devotion, explored through visual, tactile and kinesthetic imagery as they relate to the flag, the human spirit and the soil of the homeland.

The manuscript by Ersoy, between the title line İstiklâl Marşı and the first text line, carries the dedication Kahraman Ordumuza – "To our Heroic Army", the army that won the Independence War. The lyrics reflect on the sacrifice of the soldiers during the War.

The Anthem is regularly heard during state and military events, as well as during national festivals, bayrams, sporting events, and school ceremonies.

Of the ten-stanza anthem, only the first two quatrains are typically sung. A framed version of the national anthem typically occupies the wall above the blackboard in the classrooms of every public – as well as almost every private – school in Turkey (accompanied by a Turkish flag, a photograph of the country's founding father Atatürk, and a copy of Atatürk's famous inspirational speech to the nation's youth).

The composition has also been adopted as the National Anthem of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

A scroll displaying the first two quatrains of the anthem was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 100 lira banknotes of 1983-1989

SAN MARINO