National Anthem Comparison
Croatia vs Serbia
1
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
37
37 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Croatia and Serbia, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Croatia's "Our Beautiful Homeland" was written in 1835, while Serbia's "God of Justice" dates to 1872.
Both anthems share themes of Identity. Croatia additionally explores Nature, Love of homeland and Ancestors / Heritage, while Serbia also touches on God / Faith, Freedom, Unity and Resilience.
The emotional tones differ: Croatia's anthem is Proud, while Serbia's is Prayerful.
Croatia's anthem predates Serbia's by 37 years, having been written in 1835 compared to 1872.
Serbia changed its national anthem in 2006, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Croatia
🌿 Nature ❤ Love of homeland 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🏛 Identity
Serbia
✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience 🏛 Identity
Shared themes:
🏛 Identity
Metadata
| Croatia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1835 | 1872 |
| Adopted | 1972 | 2006 |
| Lyricist | Antun Mihanovic | Jovan Djordjevic |
| Composer | Josip Runjanin | Davorin Jenko |
| Language | hr | sr |
| Region | Southern Europe | Southern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Croatia
Lijepa naša domovino
Original
Lijepa naša domovino,
Oj junačka zemljo mila,
Stare slave djedovino,
Da bi vazda sretna bila!
Mila, kano si nam slavna,
Mila si nam ti jedina,
Mila, kuda si nam ravna,
Mila, kuda si planina!
Teci Dravo, Savo teci,
Nit' ti Dunav silu gubi,
Sinje more svijetu reci,
Da svoj narod Hrvat ljubi.
Dok mu njive sunce grije,
Dok mu hrašće bura vije,
Dok mu mrtve grob sakrije,
Dok mu živo srce bije!
Translation
Our beautiful homeland,
Oh dear heroic land,
Ancient glory of our forefathers,
May you be blessed forever!
Dear, as you are glorious to us,
Dear you are to us, our only one,
Dear, where your fields are flat,
Dear, where you are mountainous!
Flow on, Drava, Sava flow,
Nor you, Danube, lose your strength,
Azure sea, tell the world
That a Croat loves his people.
While the sun warms his fields,
While the storm wind shakes his oaks,
While the grave hides his dead,
While his living heart still beats!
Serbia
Боже правде
Original
Боже правде, ти што спасо
од пропасти досад нас,
чуј и одсад наше гласе
и од сад нам буди спас.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Сложи српску браћу драгу
на свак дичан славан рад,
слога биће пораз врагу
а најјачи штит и град.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Нек на српско бојно коло
тврда вера стоји стражу,
на наш штит удари само
и на наше злато свражу.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Из мрачнога сину гроба
српска круна засија,
обновљено царство ново
ново коло народа вија.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Боже спаси, Боже храни
моли ти се српски род!
Translation
God of Justice, You who saved us
from destruction until now,
hear our voices from now on
and be our salvation still.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
Unite the dear Serbian brothers
in every glorious and noble work,
Unity shall be the defeat of the enemy
and the mightiest shield and fortress.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
Let firm faith stand guard
over the Serbian battle circle,
Let it strike upon our shield alone
and upon our golden banner.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
From the dark grave shines forth
the Serbian crown,
a renewed kingdom anew,
a new circle of people weaves.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
God save, God protect,
the Serbian people pray to You!
Interesting facts
Croatia
- 1. One of the oldest national anthems in Europe, written during the Croatian National Revival of the 1830s
- 2. The melody bears resemblance to a Donizetti opera passage, suggesting the composer was inspired by Italian opera
- 3. Only the first and last stanzas of the original poem are used in the official anthem
Serbia
- 1. The anthem is one of the few in Europe written as a prayer; its structure closely mirrors an Orthodox Christian hymn, reflecting Serbia's deep ties to the Serbian Orthodox Church.
- 2. During the Yugoslav era, the song survived as an unofficial patriotic tune performed at church gatherings and private celebrations, keeping it alive for over 80 years before its official restoration.
- 3. Davorin Jenko, the Slovenian who composed the melody, also wrote the music for what would become the Slovenian national anthem, making him the composer behind two different countries' anthems.
Listen
Croatia
Serbia
