March 3: National Anthem Day No matter where you are in the world, anthems are a way to show pride in your history and heritage. They provide the soundtrack to national identity. In honor of this, we decided to celebrate some of our favorite anthems. Let’s all sing along!
United Kingdom God Save the Queen (Or King): Most national anthems are pretty fixed, but the national anthem of the United Kingdom(England, Great Britain) is an exception to this rule: the lyrics are altered depending on the gender of the sovereign.
Whether you are in a double-decker bus touring London or kicking back and drinking some tea, this classic is sung around the world in almost all former British colonies.
Jamaica Jamaica, Land We Love: Jamaica is a former British colony and gained independence in 1962 and the new flag combined black, green, and gold representing joy, sorrow, and the land altogether.
The Jamaican national anthem was written and adopted in the year of independence and is a hymn that calls for wisdom, truth, and strength. We can all love Jamaica with this song.
The national anthems of India and Bangladesh were written by the same man, the Nobel Prize winning poet and songwriter Rabindranath Tagore.
Bangladesh Amar Shonar Bangla: Bangladesh became an independent country in 1974 and Bengalis are renowned for their patriotism. “Amar Shonar Bangla” translates as “My Golden Bengal” and describes the beauty of the changing landscape throughout the seasons.
India Jana Gana Mana: India became independent from the British Empire in 1947 and the anthem celebrates the beauty of India’s many rivers, mountains, and cultures brought together as one nation. The song ends with the chant “Jaya He, Jaya He, Jaya He!” Victory to Thee!
Canada Oh,Canada: Hockey matches are incomplete without a stirring rendition of “Oh,Canada.” The anthem has a very interesting history; the original lyrics in French were written in 1880 and translated into English in 1906.
It was adopted as the national anthem of Canada in 1980, yet Canada was granted independence in 1982. Good job Canada, you were singing your national anthem long before you were a nation! U.S.A The Star Spangled Banner: Americans are very patriotic when it comes to our anthem and we sing it every chance we get. Written in 1814, the song tells the story of a battle during the War of 1812 and we have been singing it ever since. Oh, say can you see?
