Lithuania National Anthem
Tautiška giesmė
Tautiska giesme
The National Song
1898
1918
Vincas Kudirka
Vincas Kudirka
🤝 Unity 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage ❤ Love of homeland 🌅 Hope |
Key Facts
- 1. The words and music were first printed in 1898, in issue No. 6 of the newspaper 'Varpas' (The Bell), which Kudirka had helped to found. 'Varpas' was printed in East Prussia and smuggled into Lithuania, where the Russian authorities had banned Lithuanian publications in the Latin alphabet.
- 2. After the Baltic Way on 23 August 1989, when about two million people joined hands across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, some 5,000 people gathered with candles in Vilnius's Cathedral Square and sang national songs, including this anthem.
- 3. On 6 July 2009, marking the millennium of the name of Lithuania, Lithuanians around the world sang the anthem at the same moment for the first time. The tradition continues every 6 July at 21:00 Lithuanian time, and since 2019 the day has officially been called Statehood (Coronation of King Mindaugas) and National Anthem Day.
Lithuania National Anthem Lyrics
Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų,
Tu didvyrių žeme,
Iš praeities Tavo sūnūs
Te stiprybę semia.
Tegul Tavo vaikai eina
Vien takais dorybės,
Tegul dirba Tavo naudai
Ir žmonių gėrybei.
Tegul saulė Lietuvoj
Tamsumas prašalina,
Ir šviesa, ir tiesa
Mūs žingsnius telydi.
Tegul meilė Lietuvos
Dega mūsų širdyse,
Vardan tos Lietuvos
Vienybė težydi!
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten and composed by Vincas Kudirka in 1898, during the period of Russian Imperial rule when Lithuanian language and culture were suppressed. The song was already recognised as the national anthem before Lithuania declared independence in 1918, and it became the anthem of the new state. After the Soviet occupation of 1940 it remained in official use until an anthem of the Lithuanian SSR was approved in 1950, and was then banned. It was officially restored in 1988, before Lithuania restored its independence in 1990.
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Sources & References
- Lietuvos valstybės himnas . Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas
Source & Review
- Source status
- Official source verified
- Translation
- AI-assisted working translation
- Rights status
- Government text
- Last reviewed
- Editorial review
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Editorial owner
- Nationalia
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- rights@nationalia.org