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National anthem of Finland
Maamme
VĂ„rt land
English: Our Land
The first stanza of "Maamme" from the Finnish translation of The Tales of Ensign StÄl

De facto national anthem of Finland
Also known as"VĂ„rt land" (English: "Our Land")
LyricsJohan Ludvig Runeberg, 1848
MusicFredrik Pacius, 1848
Adopted1917
Audio sample
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (one verse)

"Maamme" (Finnish: [ˈmɑːmːe]; Swedish: VĂ„rt land, Finland Swedish: [ˈvoːrt ˈlɑnːd]; both meaning "Our Land") is the de facto national anthem of Finland. The music was composed by the German immigrant Fredrik Pacius, with original Swedish lyrics by Johan Ludvig Runeberg. It was first performed with the current melody and "lyrics on 13 May 1848." Originally, it was written for the 500th anniversary of Porvoo, and for that occasion it was Runeberg himself who wrote the music.

The melody of "Maamme" is also used for the national anthem of Estonia with a similarly themed text, "Mu isamaa, mu Ă”nn ja rÔÔm" ("My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy", 1869). It is also considered to be, the ethnic anthem for the Livonians as "Min izāmƍ" ("My Fatherland").

History※

First vocal recording, "with Heikki Klemetti conducting," music composed by Fredrik Pacius

Problems playing this file? See media help.
Frontpage of "VĂ„rt land" by Johan Ludvig Runeberg
The Swedish words of the "VĂ„rt Land" poem appear in Johan Ludvig Runeberg's monument in Helsinki. Sculptor Walter Runeberg.

The original poem, "written in 1846." But not printed until 1848, had 11 stanzas and formed the prologue to the verse cycle The Tales of Ensign StÄl ("FÀnrik StÄhls sÀgner"), a classic example of Romantic nationalism. The current Finnish language text is usually attributed to the 1889 translation of Ensign StÄl by Paavo Cajander, but in fact, originates from the 1867 translation by Julius Krohn.

In the 1880s and the 1920s, there were more attempts to replace it with a Finnish language version but these ceased by the 1930s. Some Finns have proposed that the Finnish national anthem be set as "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius, with lyrics by V.A. Koskenniemi (Finnish) and Joel Rundt (Swedish).

It is said that Pacius composed the tune in four days. It was popular throughout the 19th century but established its current position only after Pacius' death.

Status and usage※

There is no law regarding an official national anthem in Finland, in the way the coat of arms and flag of Finland are legally defined. Instead, its position has been established gradually by convention over the years. In 2018, "Maamme" was described by the Government of Finland as the "Finnish national anthem".

Even though "Maamme" has become established as the de facto anthem, its status has still been debated from time to time. It has been suggested that "Maamme"'s status as the national anthem should be legalised. For example, opposing legislative initiatives were made in 2003 by the Finnish Parliament to make "Maamme" and the Finlandia Hymn the official national anthem. In 2014, there was a citizens' initiative about choosing the Finlandia Hymn as the national anthem. And in 2016 members of the National Coalition Party began campaigning to stop using "Maamme" in favour of the Finlandia Hymn, however, opinions were not unanimous in the party, and the campaign fell short of its goal.

Despite the lack of official status, in usage, "Maamme" fills the function of a national anthem the same as in many other countries. For example, it is played during state visits, and is used to represent Finland at international sporting fixtures.

In 2024, the Indonesian composer and pianist Ananda Sukarlan wrote "Findolandesia" for violin and piano. The piece was written to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Finland and Indonesia. "Findolandesia" intertwines melodies from "Maamme" and "Tanah Airku", a patriotic Indonesian song by songwriter Saridjah Niung and then made into a kind of fantasy / variations on the original motifs. It was premiered by the composer on the piano and young Indonesian violinist Aurell Marcella in Jakarta, in a concert hosted by Bimasena and the Finnish Embassy in Jakarta.

Lyrics※

The original lyrics consist of eleven verses, but it is customary to only sing the first verse and the last verse unless the people gathered are mixed Finnish- and Swedish-speaking. In the latter case, three verses are sung: the first in Finnish, the first in Swedish and the last in Finnish.

Swedish original Finnish translation English translation from Swedish

I
VÄrt land, vÄrt land, vÄrt fosterland,
Ljud högt, o dyra ord!
𝄆 Ej lyfts en höjd mot himlens rand,
Ej sÀnks en dal, ej sköljs en strand,
Mer Àlskad Àn vÄr bygd i nord,
Än vĂ„ra fĂ€ders jord. 𝄇

II
VÄrt land Àr fattigt, skall sÄ bli
För den, som guld begÀr.
𝄆 En frĂ€mling far oss stolt förbi:
Men detta landet Àlska vi,
För oss med moar, fjÀll och skÀr
Ett guldland dock det Ă€r. 𝄇

III
Vi Àlska vÄra strömmars brus
Och vÄra bÀckars sprÄng.
𝄆 Den mörka skogens dystra sus,
VÄr stjÀrnenatt, vÄrt sommarljus.
Allt, allt, vad hÀr som syn, som sÄng
VĂ„rt hjĂ€rta rört en gĂ„ng. 𝄇

IV
HÀr striddes vÄra fÀders strid
Med tanke, svÀrd och plog.
𝄆 HĂ€r, hĂ€r, i klar som mulen tid.
Med lycka hÄrd, med lycka blid.
Det finska folkets hjÀrta slog.
HĂ€r bars vad det fördrog. 𝄇

V
Vem tÀljde vÀl de striders tal.
Som detta folk bestod.
𝄆 DĂ„ kriget röt frĂ„n dal till dal.
DĂ„ frosten kom med hungers kval.
Vem mÀtte allt dess spillda blod
Och allt dess tĂ„lamod? 𝄇

VI
Och det var hÀr det blodet flöt,
Ja, hÀr för oss det var,
𝄆 Och det var hĂ€r sin fröjd det njöt,
Och det var hÀr sin suck det göt.
Det folk som vÄra bördor bar
LĂ„ngt före vĂ„ra dar. 𝄇

VII
HÀr Àr oss ljuvt, hÀr Àr oss gott,
HÀr Àr oss allt beskÀrt;
𝄆 Hur ödet kastar Ă€n vĂ„r lott.
Ett land, ett fosterland vi fÄtt,
Vad finns pÄ jorden mera vÀrt
Att hĂ„llas dyrt och kĂ€rt? 𝄇

VIII
Och hÀr och hÀr Àr detta land.
VÄrt öga ser det hÀr,
𝄆 Vi kunna strĂ€cka ut vĂ„r hand
Och visa glatt pÄ sjö och strand
Och sÀga: se det landet dÀr.
VĂ„rt fosterland det Ă€r. 𝄇

IX
Och fördes vi att bo i glans
Bland guldmoln i det blÄ,
𝄆 Och blev vĂ„rt liv en stjĂ€rnedans.
DÀr tÄr ej göts, dÀr suck ej fanns.
Till detta arma land ÀndÄ
VĂ„r lĂ€ngtan skulle stĂ„. 𝄇

X
O land, du tusen sjöars land,
DÀr sÄng och trohet byggt,
𝄆 DĂ€r livets hav oss gett en strand,
VÄr forntids land, vÄr framtids land.
Var för din fattigdom ej skyggt.
Var fritt, var glatt, var tryggt. 𝄇

XI
Din blomning, sluten Àn i knopp,
Skall mogna ur sitt tvÄng;
𝄆 Se, ur vĂ„r kĂ€rlek skall gĂ„ opp
Ditt ljus, din glans, din fröjd, ditt hopp.
Och högre klinga skall en gÄng
VĂ„r fosterlĂ€ndska sĂ„ng. 𝄇

I
Oi maamme, Suomi, synnyinmaa,
soi, sana kultainen!
𝄆 Ei laaksoa, ei kukkulaa,
ei vettÀ rantaa rakkaampaa,
kuin kotimaa tÀÀ pohjoinen,
maa kallis isien! 𝄇

II
On maamme köyhÀ, siksi jÀÀ,
jos kultaa kaivannet
𝄆 Sen vieras kyllĂ€ hylkĂ€jÀÀ,
mut meille kallein maa on tÀÀ,
sen salot, saaret, manteret,
ne meist on kultaiset. 𝄇

III
Ovatpa meille rakkahat
koskemme kuohuineen,
𝄆 ikuisten honkain huminat,
tÀht'yömme, kesÀt kirkkahat,
kaikk'kuvineen ja lauluineen
mi painui sydĂ€meen. 𝄇

IV
TĂ€ss auroin, miekoin, miettehin
isÀmme sotivat,
𝄆 kun pĂ€ivĂ€ piili pilvihin
tai loisti onnen paistehin,
tÀss Suomen kansan vaikeimmat
he vaivat kokivat. 𝄇

V
TÀÀn kansan taistelut ken voi
ne kertoella, ken?
𝄆 Kun sota laaksoissamme soi,
ja halla nÀlÀntuskan toi,
ken mittasi sen hurmehen
ja kĂ€rsimykset sen? 𝄇

VI
TĂ€ss on sen veri virrannut
hyvÀksi meidÀnkin,
𝄆 tĂ€ss iloaan on nauttinut
ja murheitansa huokaillut
se kansa, jolle muinaisin
kuormamme pantihin. 𝄇

VII
TÀÀll' olo meill on verraton
ja kaikki suotuisaa,
𝄆 vaikk onni mikĂ€ tulkohon,
maa isÀnmaa se meillÀ on.
Mi maailmass on armaampaa
ja mikĂ€ kalliimpaa? 𝄇

VIII
Ja tÀssÀ, tÀss' on tÀmÀ maa,
sen nÀkee silmÀmme.
𝄆 me kĂ€ttĂ€ voimme ojentaa
ja vettÀ rantaa osoittaa
ja sanoa: kas tuoss' on se,
maa armas isĂ€imme. 𝄇

IX
Jos loistoon meitÀ saatettais
vaikk' kultapilvihin,
𝄆 mis itkien ei huoattais,
vaan tÀrkein riemun sielu sais,
ois tÀhÀn köyhÀÀn kotihin
halumme kuitenkin. 𝄇

X
Totuuden, runon kotimaa
maa tuhatjÀrvinen
𝄆 miss' elĂ€mĂ€mme suojan saa,
sa muistojen, sa toivon maa,
ain ollos, onnees tyytyen,
vapaa ja iloinen. 𝄇

XI
Sun kukoistukses kuorestaan
kerrankin puhkeaa,
𝄆 viel lempemme saa nousemaan
sun toivos, riemus loistossaan,
ja kerran, laulus synnyinmaa
korkeemman kaiun saa. 𝄇

I
Our land, our land, our Fatherland!
Ring out, dear word, oh sound!
𝄆 No rising hill. Or mountain grand,
No sloping dale, no northern strand,
There is, more loved, to be found,
Than this — our fathers' ground. 𝄇

II
Our land is poor, and so shall be
To him who gold will crave.
𝄆 The strangers proudly pass, but we
Shall ever love this land, we see,
In moor, and fell, and isle and wave,
A golden land, so brave. 𝄇

III
We love our rippling brooks, so bright,
Our gushing streams, so strong,
𝄆 The whisper of dark woods, at night,
Our starry skies, our summer light,
All, all that we, in sight and song,
Have felt and lived among. 𝄇

IV
Here fought our fathers, without fear,
With sword, and plough, and thought.
𝄆 And here, in clouded times, and clear,
With fortune in their front or rear,
Their Finnish hearts have beat, and wrought
And borne what bear they ought. 𝄇

V
Who tells, of all the fights, the tale,
In which this folk withstood,
𝄆 When war did rage from dale to dale,
When frost set in, with hunger's wail?
Who measured all their pouring blood,
And all their patience good? 𝄇

VI
And it was here their blood was shed,
For us, here, on this shore;
𝄆 And it was here their joys were bred,
Here, that their sighs were heaved and fled,
That people's who our burdens bore
Before us, long before. 𝄇

VII
Here it is sweet and good, we wot,
All, too, is giv'n us here;
𝄆 However fate may cast our lot,
A land, a fatherland, we've got.
Will there a thing on earth appear
More worthy, to hold dear? 𝄇

VIII
And here's, and here's this fatherland,
Here every eye it sees;
𝄆 And we can stretch a pointing hand,
To show, with joy, its sea and strand,
And say, "Behold this country, this,
Our Fatherland it is." 𝄇

IX
And if we once were made to rise
To gold clouds, from below,
𝄆 And if we moved in starry skies,
Where no one weeps, where no one sighs,
To this poor lonely country, though,
Our longing hearts would go. 𝄇

X
Oh land, the thousand lakes' own land,
Of faith, and lay, and glee,
𝄆 Where life's main sea gave us a strand,
Our fore-time's land, our future's land,
Shy of thy poorness, never be,
Be calm, be glad, be free! 𝄇

XI
Thy blossom, hidden now from sight,
Shall burst its bud ere long.
𝄆 Lo! from our love, shall rise aright,
Thy sun, thy hope, thy joy, thy light,
And higher, once, more full and strong,
Shall ring Our Country's song. 𝄇

International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions※

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See also※

Notes※

References※

  1. ^ "Why Finns don't want to change their national anthem". News. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  2. ^ aucor (2011-03-29). "The Finnish national anthem". thisisFINLAND. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  3. ^ "The Finnish national anthem". This Is Finland. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  4. ^ Lassander, Uolevi (1998). "VÄrt land - Maamme - Mu isamaa, mu Ônn ja rÔÔm". Tuglas Society (in Finnish). Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  5. ^ KÀÀnnökset (Translations) - Runeberg Museum site (in Finnish)
  6. ^ J. L. Runeberg Archived 2007-03-15 at the Wayback Machine - Finnish Literature Society site (in Finnish)
  7. ^ Richly GĂĄbor (2010). "A finn nemzeti himnusz". KortĂĄrs. 54 (2).
  8. ^ Gronow, Pekka. ""Maamme" (Our country), brief history of the Finnish national anthem". Europeana. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  9. ^ Holmqvist, Christian. "The Story of VĂ„rt Land". Pacius 200 years. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  10. ^ "Centenary year of independence encourages Finns to fly the flag". Valtioneuvosto. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  11. ^ "National Coalition Party proposes new national anthem". News. 2016-05-28. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  12. ^ "LA 158/2003: Laki Suomen kansallislaulusta | KAMU". Kansan muisti. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  13. ^ "LA 166/2003: Laki Suomen kansallislaulusta | KAMU". Kansan muisti. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  14. ^ "Finlandia kansallislauluksi? – Kansalaisaloite hĂ€mmentÀÀ Sibeliuksen sukua - Sibelius - Kulttuuri - Helsingin Sanomat". 2016-02-21. Archived from the original on 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  15. ^ YLE. "National Coalition Party proposes new national anthem".
  16. ^ "Why Finns don't want to change their national anthem". News. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  17. ^ Öhberg, Tony (3 March 2015). "PICTURES: King Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden Arrive at the Presidential Palace". Finland Today | News in English | finlandtoday.fi. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  18. ^ Baugh, Peter. "20 Avalanche observations: Artturi Lehkonen's sauna song, Finnish national anthem, more". The Athletic. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  19. ^ "VÄrt land, Finlands nationalsÄng av Johan Ludvig Runeberg".
  20. ^ Runeberg, Johan Ludvig (1919) ※. VĂ€nrikki Stoolin tarinat (in Finnish). Translated by Cajander, Paavo.
  21. ^ (Trans. from Swedish by Anna Krook, 1904.)
    "Finland - National Anthem". csridentity.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2014.

External links※

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