What Is The Belarus National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History.
What Is The Belarus National Anthem: English Translation, Original Lyrics And History.

The "State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus", better known as "My Belarusy" ("We Belarusians") is the national anthem of Belarus. It was originally written in the 1940s and adopted in 1955 for use in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The melody of the Byelorussian SSR's regional anthem was composed by Niescier Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Michas Klimkovič. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the music composed by Sakalowski was saved and the texts were discarded. The lyrics, which were composed by Klimkovič and Uladzimir Karyzna, were adopted by a presidential decree issued on 2 July 2002. The lyrics now talk of a friendly Belarus, honoring past military battles and looking forward to the future.

Here are the history, original lyrics and English translation of the national anthem.

Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR

From February 24, 1955 onward, "My Belarusy" served as the official anthem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Sakaoski composed the music for the national anthem, and Maxim Klimkovich wrote the lyrics. It was first brought before a jury in 1944, but it required an additional 11 years of revisions before it was finally enacted.

Upon gaining its independence, Belarus revised its national song to remove Communist-era lyrics. O God Almighty," written by Natallia Arsiennieva, was proposed as the national anthem in 1995 and supported by a parliamentary committee. Nevertheless, the proposal was never implemented.

Anthem of the Republic of Belarus

Before 2002, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus was the sole source of law that acknowledged the existence of a national anthem in Belarus. "The symbols of the Republic of Belarus as a sovereign state must be its national flag, national emblem, and national song," reads Section 1 of Article 19 of the constitution. Only the flag, the national song, and the coat of arms were specifically mentioned in the Constitution, but each of these symbols had to be specified by statute. On the day before Belarus's independence day, 18 July 2002, Presidential Decree 350 went into effect, establishing a national anthem and other related matters. The major purpose of the edict was to set new lyrics for the national anthem and to introduce musical notation to go along with them. The directive also detailed where, when, and how often people should sing the anthem.

Soviet Byelorussia reports that President Lukashenko chose the hymn on 12 June 2002 and scheduled its maiden performance for 3 July, Belarusian independence day and the anniversary of the day the Wehrmacht was routed from Minsk by the Red Army in 1944. The first performance, however, occurred on July 2 during a concert hosted by the Belarusian government in honor of the country's independence.

There were only minor adjustments made to the Soviet-era hymn when Lukashenko issued his proclamation adopting a new national anthem. The original music produced by Sakaoski and the overarching concept of "friendliness of peoples" were both kept although references to Russia, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and Vladimir Lenin were changed. Because of its historical significance and widespread acclaim, the government has opted to preserve Sakaoski's music. It wasn't until the national anthem was approved that the process of establishing national emblems was truly finished.

Reaction

In a 2003 assessment on the country, Freedom House included commentary on the anthem's adoption. Start reading at 125 in "Country Report of Belarus", Freedom House writes that President Lukashenko has "reintroduced the state insignia used by the old Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 2002, a condensed version of the Soviet-era song "My Belarusy" ("We Belarusians") was accepted by the president as the new national anthem of the country."

The Pahonia arms and the white, red, and white flag have been used since Belarus' independence in 1991, but President Lukashenko has banned them because he claims they are associated with fascism (because the pro-Nazi Belarusian Central Rada in World War II used these symbols). Radio Free Europe host and author Dr. Taras Kuzio declared in 2003 that President Lukashenko "is the classic Soviet Belarusian patriot who presides over a state steeped in Soviet nostalgia." According to Kuzio, recovering that nostalgia is part of the reason why Russia and Belarus are reviving symbols from the Soviet era.

Usage and regulations

There are official lyrics and music for the anthem that must be used during performances. Every day at 06:00 and 00:00, all national free-to-air radio stations and television networks across the country are obligated to play it. The national anthem may also be played during official events and ceremonies, before athletic events, and before the inauguration of a new president. Citizens must stand at attention throughout the anthem's performance, and those in uniform must render a Full Russian salute.

Belarusian Original (Cyrillic script)

Мы, беларусы – мірныя людзі,

Сэрцам адданыя роднай зямлі,

Шчыра сябруем, сілы гартуем

Мы ў працавітай, вольнай сям’і.

Прыпеў:

Слаўся, зямлі нашай светлае імя,

Слаўся, народаў братэрскі саюз!

Belarusian National Anthem - Мы, беларусы (My Bielarusy)

Мы, беларусы – мірныя людзі,

Сэрцам адданыя роднай зямлі,

Шчыра сябруем, сілы гартуем

Мы ў працавітай, вольнай сям'і.

Прыпеў:

Слаўся, зямлі нашай светлае імя,

Слаўся, народаў братэрскі саюз!

Наша любімая маці-Радзіма,

Вечна жыві і квітней, Беларусь!

(Repeat last two lines)'

Разам з братамі мужна вякамі

Мы баранілі родны парог,

У бітвах за волю, бітвах за долю

Свой здабывалі сцяг перамог!

Прыпеў

Дружба народаў – сіла народаў —

Наш запаветны, сонечны шлях.

Горда ж узвіся ў ясныя высі,

Сцяг пераможны – радасці сцяг!

Прыпеў

Belarusian National Anthem in English Translation

We, Belarusians, together with fraternal Rus',

Looked for roads to fortune.

In struggles for freedom, in struggles for fate,

We have gained our banner of victories.

The name of Lenin united us,

The Party leads us in the quest to happiness.

Glory to the Party! Glory to the Motherland!

Glory to you, Belarusian people! (Last 2 lines 2x)

Gathering strength, people of Belarus,

In a fraternal union, in a powerful family.

Forever we shall, free men,

Live in a happy and free land!

The name of Lenin united us,

The Party leads us in the quest to happiness.

Glory to the Party! Glory to the Motherland!

Glory to you, our free people! (Last 2 lines 2x)

The friendship of peoples - the strength of peoples,

To happiness it's the sunny path.

Proudly we raise to sky heights,

The banner of Communism - joy's flag!

The name of Lenin united us,

The Party leads us in the quest to happiness.

Glory to the Party! Glory to the Motherland!

Glory to you, our Soviet people! (Last 2 lines 2x)

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