NATIONAL ANTHEM OF HUNGARY
HUNGARY:
The country is located in the Central Europe. Hungary was declared as the independent state in 1848, during the Hungarian revolution. Budapest is the capital city of the country. Its official language is Hungarian. The country joined the European Union.
NATIONAL ANTHEM OF HUNGARY:
The national anthem of Hungary is called as “Himnusz”. It is the official national anthem of state. It was adopted as the official national anthem in the 19th century. The first stanza is recited on the official ceremonies. The writer of the national anthem of Hungary was Ferenc Kolcsey. He was very famous poet among the nation in 1823. The current music of the national anthem was composed by a famous composer namely Ferenc Erkel in 1844. He was a romantic composer and he composed many romantic music compositions. The lyrics of the national anthem of Hungary (Himnusz) are starting with a prayer. The prayer is starting as “God, bless the Hungarians”.
The title of the national anthem in official script of the anthem is “Hymnus”. It is a Latin word meaning “hymn”. With the passage of time this title in Latin language was replaced by the “Himunusz”. A time came when the poem was accepted as the national anthem of Hungary so the word “Humnusz” changed its meaning to “National Anthem”. In the late 1940’s the Hungary went under the regime of communists. They had hired Zoltan Kodaly and a poet namely Laureate Gyula Illyes for composing another national anthem. Perhaps this mission was not acceptable for Socialist Regime. Further on both the hired persons had refused the job. Finally in 1989 the Himnusz has got the official status and it was mentioned in the constitution of Hungary.
There are some alternative national anthems used in Hungary but they are not the official national anthem of the country. Szozat which means appeal is used widely in the country. Although it is not mentioned in the Hungarian constitution but it has almost an equal status as the Himnusz. Usually according to a tradition in the Hungary, Himnusz is sung in the start of official ceremonies while Szozat is sung in the last. On the occasion of the special military days Rakoczi March, which has no lyrics but a piece of music is used. Székely Himnusz which means Szekler Anthem is a famous anthem which has got popularity in the areas of Transylvania and Szekely Land.
A sculpture of Himnusz on the 7th of May, 2006 was inaugurated at the Szarvas Square which is a small town near to Budapest. Maria V. Majzik was the artist who created the sculpture. The amazing thing about the building of the sculpture was that the total cost on the building was around 200,000 USD and the amount was collected from public subscription.
Hungary National Anthem Lyrics
sten, áldd meg a magyart
Jó kedvvel, bőséggel,
Nyújts feléje védő kart,
Ha küzd ellenséggel;
Bal sors akit régen tép,
Hozz rá víg esztendőt,
Megbűnhődte már e nép
A múltat s jövendőt!
Őseinket felhozád
Kárpát szent bércére,
Általad nyert szép hazát
Bendegúznak vére.
S merre zúgnak habjai
Tiszának, Dunának,
Árpád hős magzatjai
Felvirágozának.
Értünk Kunság mezein
Ért kalászt lengettél,
Tokaj szőlővesszein
Nektárt csepegtettél.
Zászlónk gyakran plántálád
Vad török sáncára,
S nyögte Mátyás bús hadát
Bécsnek büszke vára.
Hajh, de bűneink miatt
Gyúlt harag kebledben,
S elsújtád villámidat
Dörgő fellegedben,
Most rabló mongol nyilát
Zúgattad felettünk,
Majd töröktől rabigát
Vállainkra vettünk.
Hányszor zengett ajkain
Ozmán vad népének
Vert hadunk csonthalmain
Győzedelmi ének!
Hányszor támadt tenfiad
Szép hazám, kebledre,
S lettél magzatod miatt
Magzatod hamvvedre!
Bújt az üldözött, s felé
Kard nyúlt barlangjában,
Szerte nézett s nem lelé
Honját a hazában,
Bércre hág és völgybe száll,
Bú s kétség mellette,
Vérözön lábainál,
S lángtenger fölette.
Vár állott, most kőhalom,
Kedv s öröm röpkedtek,
Halálhörgés, siralom
Zajlik már helyettek.
S ah, szabadság nem virúl
A holtnak véréből,
Kínzó rabság könnye hull
Árvák hő szeméből!
Szánd meg Isten a magyart
Kit vészek hányának,
Nyújts feléje védő kart
Tengerén kínjának.
Bal sors akit régen tép,
Hozz rá víg esztendőt,
Megbűnhődte már e nép
A múltat s jövendőt!
Hungary National Anthem English Translation – Meaning
O, my God, the Magyar bless
With Thy plenty and good cheer!
With Thine aid his just cause press,
Where his foes to fight appear.
Fate, who for so long did’st frown,
Bring him happy times and ways;
Atoning sorrow hath weighed down
Sins of past and future days.
By Thy help our fathers gained
Kárpát’s proud and sacred height;
Here by Thee a home obtained
Heirs of Bendegúz, the knight.
Where’er Danube’s waters flow
And the streams of Tisza swell
Árpád’s children, Thou dost know,
Flourished and did prosper well.
For us let the golden grain
Grow upon the fields of Kún,
And let nectar’s silver rain
Ripen grapes of Tokay soon.
Thou our flags hast planted o’er
Forts where once wild Turks held sway;
Proud Vienna suffered sore
From King Mátyás’ dark array.
But, alas! for our misdeed,
Anger rose within Thy breast,
And Thy lightnings Thou did’st speed
From Thy thundering sky with zest.
Now the Mongol arrow flew
Over our devoted heads;
Or the Turkish yoke we knew,
Which a free-born nation dreads.
O, how often has the voice
Sounded of wild Osman’s hordes,
When in songs they did rejoice
O’er our heroes’ captured swords!
Yea, how often rose Thy sons,
My fair land, upon Thy sod,
And Thou gavest to these sons,
Tombs within the breast they trod!
Though in caves pursued he lie,
Even then he fears attacks.
Coming forth the land to spy,
Even a home he finds he lacks.
Mountain, vale – go where he would,
Grief and sorrow all the same –
Underneath a sea of blood,
While above a sea of flame.
‘Neath the fort, a ruin now,
Joy and pleasure erst were found,
Only groans and sighs, I trow,
In its limits now abound.
But no freedom’s flowers return
From the spilt blood of the dead,
And the tears of slavery burn,
Which the eyes of orphans shed.
Pity, God, the Magyar, then,
Long by waves of danger tossed;
Help him by Thy strong hand when
He on grief’s sea may be lost.
Fate, who for so long did’st frown,
Bring him happy times and ways;
Atoning sorrow hath weighed down
All the sins of all his days.
