National Anthem Comparison
Estonia vs Lithuania
1
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
29
29 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Estonia and Lithuania, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Estonia's "My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy" was written in 1869, while Lithuania's "The National Song" dates to 1898.
Both anthems share themes of love of homeland. Estonia additionally explores nature and god / faith, while Lithuania also touches on unity, ancestors / heritage and hope.
The emotional tones differ: Estonia's anthem is solemn, while Lithuania's is proud.
Shared themes
Estonia
❤ Love of homeland 🌿 Nature ✝ God / Faith
Lithuania
🤝 Unity 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage ❤ Love of homeland 🌅 Hope
Shared themes:
❤ Love of homeland
Metadata
| Estonia | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1869 | 1898 |
| Adopted | 1918 | 1918 |
| Lyricist | Johann Voldemar Jannsen | Vincas Kudirka |
| Composer | Fredrik Pacius | Vincas Kudirka |
| Language | et | lt |
| Region | Northern Europe | Northern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Estonia
Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm
Original
Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm,
kui kaunis oled sa!
Ei leia mina iial teal
see suure, laia ilma peal,
mis mul nii armas oleks ka
kui sa, mu isamaa!
Sa oled mind ju sünnitand
ja üles kasvatand;
sind tänan mina alati
ja jään sull' truuiks surmani,
mul kõige armsam oled sa,
mu kallis isamaa!
Su üle Jumal valvaku,
mu armas isamaa!
Ta olgu sinu kaitseja
ja võtku rohkest õnnista,
mis iial ette võtad sa,
mu kallis isamaa!
Translation
My fatherland, my joy and happiness,
how beautiful you are!
I shall never find anywhere
in this great, wide world
anything as dear to me
as you, my fatherland!
You have given me birth
and raised me up;
I thank you always
and stay true to you until death,
you are dearest of all to me,
my precious fatherland!
May God watch over you,
my dear fatherland!
May He be your protector
and bless you abundantly,
whatever you undertake,
my precious fatherland!
Lithuania
Tautiška giesmė
Original
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!
Translation
Lithuania, our homeland,
You are a land of great men!
From the past may your sons
Draw their strength.
Let your children walk
Only on the paths of virtue,
Let them work for your benefit
And for the good of the people.
Let the sun of Lithuania
Banish all darkness,
And let light and truth
Accompany our steps.
Let the love of Lithuania
Burn in our hearts,
In the name of Lithuania
Let unity flourish!
Interesting facts
Estonia
- 1. During the Soviet occupation the anthem was strictly forbidden and people were sent to Siberia for singing it, yet Estonians could still hear the melody every day: Finnish radio played Finland's anthem, set to the same tune, at the start and end of its broadcasts.
- 2. The Song Festival where the anthem was first sung, on 19 June 1869, is still held, usually every five years; the 1990 festival opened with about 30,000 singers on stage and some 100,000 people in the audience. In 2003 UNESCO proclaimed the Baltic song and dance celebrations a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
- 3. The only legal act in which the anthem's text appears, and only in part, is Estonia's Independence Manifesto, published on 24 February 1918.
Lithuania
- 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.
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Estonia
Lithuania
