National anthem of Guatemala

Himno Nacional de Guatemala
English: National anthem of Guatemala

National anthem of  Guatemala
LyricsJosé Joaquín Palma, February 1896 (modified in July 1934)
MusicRafael Álvarez Ovalle, February 1896
Adopted19 February 1896 (1896-02-19)
Audio sample
"Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (instrumental)
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The national anthem of Guatemala was written by José Joaquín Palma (1844–1911) and composed by Rafael Álvarez Ovalle.

Etymology

It is often erroneously titled "Guatemala Feliz!" from its opening lyrics, but it has no official name and is only referred to in the country as "Himno Nacional".

History

It was adopted in 1896 as the winning entry in a competition held by the government. The lyrics were modified slightly in 1934 by Professor Jose Maria Bonilla Ruano, a Spanish grammar scholar. Some verses were softened in their bloody context while others were enhanced in their poetic beauty.[1]

The identity of the author of the song's original lyrics was not known until 1911, when on his deathbed, José Joaquín Palma revealed that he had authored the lyrics.

The author of the music was Rafaél Álvarez Ovalle, originary form Comalapa, Chimaltenango.

Lyrics

Modern transcription
Spanish lyricsEnglish lyrics
First stanza

¡Guatemala feliz...! que tus aras
no profane jamás el verdugo;
ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo
ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.

Glad (Joyous) Guatemala! may your altar
Never be trampled by the tormentor
Nor may slaves lick the yoke
Nor may tyrants spit upon your face

Second stanza

Si mañana tu suelo sagrado
lo amenaza invasión extranjera,
libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará.

If tomorrow your sacred soil
By foreign invasion is threatened
Free into the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it shall call

Chorus

Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará;
que tu pueblo con ánima fiera
antes muerto que esclavo será.

Free into the wind, your beautiful flag
To victory or death it shall call
Your people will, with fiery soul,
die before being enslaved.

Third stanza

De tus viejas y duras cadenas
tu forjaste con mano iracunda
el arado que el suelo fecunda
y la espada que salva el honor.

From your old and hard chains
You forged, with an ire-driven hand,
The plow that fertilizes the soil
And the honor-saving sword.

Fourth stanza

Nuestros padres lucharon un día
encendidos en patrio ardimiento
y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor.

Our fathers fought one day,
Lit up in patriotic burning
And they managed, without bloody clash,
To place you on a throne of love.

Chorus

Y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor,
que de Patria, en enérgico acento,
dieron vida al ideal redentor.

And they managed, without bloody clash,
To place you on a throne of love,
And our Nation, in energetic assent,
Gave life to the redeeming ideal.

Fifth stanza

Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo
en que prende una nube su albura,
y ¡ay de aquel que con ciega locura,
sus colores pretenda manchar!

Your emblem is a piece of the sky
From which a cloud gets its whiteness
And woe onto him who dares in blind madness
your colours to stain!

Sixth stanza

Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos,
que veneran la paz cual presea,
nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar.

For your sons, brave and zealous,
who adore peace as a great treasure
will never avoid the rough battle
to defend their land and their home.

Chorus

Nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar,
que es tan solo el honor su alma idea
y el altar de la Patria su altar.

They will never avoid the rough battle
to defend their land and their home
as well as the altar of the mother country,
their altar.

Seventh stanza

Recostada en el Ande soberbio,
de dos mares al ruido sonoro,
bajo el ala de grana y de oro
te adormeces del bello quetzal.

Lying upon the proud Ande,
of the two oceans, hearing its noise,
under the gold and crimson red wing of the beautiful quetzal
you will become entranced.

Eighth stanza

Ave Indiana que vive en tu escudo,
paladión que protege tu suelo;
¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real!

Native bird that lives in your seal
the protector of your soil
May it fly high
more than the condor and the royal eagle!

Chorus

¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real,
y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo,
Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal!

May it fly high
more than the condor and the royal eagle
And in its wings, may it raise up to the sky
Guatemala, your name, immortal!

References

  1. "Guatemala". nationalanthems.info. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
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