October 2020 - AnthemsNational

Symbols of a Nation: the Most Unusual National Anthems and Their Hidden Meanings

Judith Stanberry10/17/202003/31/2025

National anthems are not just musical pieces, they carry the spirit of the country, its history, values and ideals. Many…

The first national anthem

National anthems have been around for over 200 years. The very first anthem that became official was approved in Denmark in 1844. It was “Der er et yndigt land” (There is such a beautiful country), which is still the official anthem of Denmark.

The anthem with the longest history

Japan's anthem, “Kimi ga Yo”, is one of the oldest anthems in the world. It was adopted officially in 1869, but its origins date back to a Japanese poetic work that dates back to the 9th century.

Anthem without text

Many countries have a text for their anthem, but there are some that do not have a text. For example, Bosnia and Herzegovina's anthem is called “Jedna si jedina” (One you), and although there is music, the text was rejected during discussions.

Famous composers of hymns

Some hymns were written by famous composers. For example, the German anthem was written by Franz Joseph Haydn, and the Austrian anthem was written by the same composer who wrote the “European Union Anthem”!

The anthem with the longest title

The official anthem of Lebanon is called “Koli mayat mina alayi, sharifi” (Our eyes are on your path). It is considered the longest anthem by name, as it can be translated in Arabic as “Let us go up, dear earth!”