NATIONAL ANTHEMS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 233, 4 November 1940, Page 8

NATIONAL ANTHEMS

We laughed—while listening to a radio reporter several weeks ago— when "the man on the street" 1 was asked the name of the national hymn of Italy and naively guessed (of all things) "Rigoletto." But in honesty we had to admit that We could name but few of the patriotic songs of countries other than our own. How many would you have known? Great Britain: "God Save the King" dating back to 1739. Canada: The Maple Leaf Forever. France: The Marseillaise. This most stirring of all national songs was written by Claude Josept.Rouget de Lisle in 1792 while the, city of Strasburg was being attacked bj Austria. Its stirring measures inflamed the masses in the French Revolution a year or two later. United States: The Star Spangled Banner, written in 1814. Belgium: La Brabaconne (Tho years of salvery are passed). Written in 1830 upon gaining its independence from Holland. Holland: Flanders. (Come Sing of Inlander's glory), 1869. Germany: Die Wacht am Rhein, written in 1840. (Unless it has been changed under the Third Reich). Denmark: King Christian Stood Before the Ma:>t. Finland: Our Land. Norway: Yes, We Love This Land of Ours. Soviet Russia: The Internationale. Italy Garibaldi's Hvmn. The favourite song of Garibaldi's troops. Rumania: National Air. Adopted in 1862 as the result of a competition Spain: Hymne de Riego, a battle song. Brazil: Hymn of the Republic, dating from the • establishment of the Republic in 1889. Chile: Dulce Patria. Equador: Salve, O Patria. (Continued at foot of next column)

Mexico: Mexicans at the Cry of War! Japan: Kim-Ga-Yo (Reign of My Sovereign). It Avas written by an Empress and the tune was composed by an Emperor in the 17th-century. New Zealand: God' Defend New Zealand (God of Nations at Ihy Feet). Australia: (A land that has not known war within its borders, sings of peace and sunny skies)— Liind where' summer skies , Arc gleaming with a thousand dyes.