A national anthem
is an audible symbol of a nation and
like the national flag, which is a visible symbol, it is designated by law as
such to be used on official occasions.
National anthems,
however, have not been used by nations as long as national flags have.
The oldest known national anthems are that of the Netherlands (1626), Britain’s God Save the King (or Queen) (1745) and Denmark’s national anthem (1768)
La Marsellaise, the
national anthem of France, was the first people’s legitimate anthem, extolling
the people and the nation and not the rulers thereof. This was followed by America’s Star-Spangled Banner,
and with the exception of the remaining monarchies, national anthems of most
modern republics express love for liberty, for country and for the land.
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