Maamme
"Maamme" (say: MAHM-meh, meaning "Our Land") is the national anthem of Finland. The words of the song are based on the first chapter of the Swedish epic poem called The Tales of Ensign Stål, which was written by a priest named Johan Ludvig Runeberg, who was the national poet of Finland at the time. These words were later translated into the Finnish language.[1] The melody of this song was composed by German-born musician Fredrich Pacius around the same time.[2]
English: Our Land | |
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![]() Frontpage of Vårt land by Johan Ludvig Runeberg | |
National anthem of ![]() | |
Also known as | Vårt land |
Lyrics | Johan Ludvig Runeberg, 1848 |
Music | Fredrik Pacius, 1848 |
Audio sample | |
U.S. Navy Band rendition
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The national anthem of Finland is de facto; in other words, the Finnish national anthem is not official, because the Constitution has yet to mention a national anthem.
This melody of the song is also the same one used in the national anthem of neighbouring Estonia.
Lyrics
The original text to the song has eleven verses, but nowadays, only the first and last verses (highlighted in bold) are part of the national anthem. However, three verses – the first in Finnish and in Swedish, and the last in Finnish – can be sung if among the singers are Swedes and Finns together.
Words of the song in Finnish | Words of the song in Swedish | Words of the song in English |
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Oi maamme, Suomi, synnyinmaa, |
Vårt land, vårt land, vårt fosterland, |
Our land, our land, our Fatherland! |
References
- Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat (1919). Runeberg, Johan Ludvig. Translated by Paavo Cajander (1889).
- The Finnish national anthem. This Is Finland.
- Vårt land — Finlands nationalsång. Nykarlebyvyer.nu.
- Finland - National Anthem. Csridentity.com.