Ja, vi elsker dette landet facts for kids
"Ja, vi elsker dette landet" means "Yes, we love this country" in English. It is the official national anthem of Norway. People often call it simply "Ja, vi elsker", which means "Yes, we love".
The words for this important song were written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. The music was created by his cousin, Rikard Nordraak.
Norway's National Anthem
A national anthem is a special song that represents a country. It often talks about the country's history, its people, and its beauty. "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" is a very important symbol for Norway. It helps Norwegians feel proud of their country and remember their shared past.
Who Wrote the Anthem?
The lyrics, or words, of "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" were written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. He was a famous Norwegian writer and poet. He also won the Nobel Prize in Literature. His cousin, Rikard Nordraak, composed the melody, which is the tune of the song. They created this anthem together.
What Do the Words Mean?
The first verse of "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" talks about Norway's beautiful landscape and its people. It mentions the country rising from the water, looking "wrinkled" and "weather-beaten," which describes Norway's rugged coastlines and mountains. It also speaks of "a thousand homes," showing the many families living there. The song expresses deep love for the country and memories of ancestors.
Here is the first verse in Norwegian:
"Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem,
elsker, elsker det og tenker,
på vår far og mor,
på den saganatt som senker,
drømmer på vår jord,
på den saganatt som senker,
senker drømmer på vår jord."
And here is a translation into English:
"Yes, we love this country,
as it rises forth,
wrinkled, weather-beaten over the water,
with the thousand homes,
loving it, loving it and thinking,
of our father and mother,
of the saga night that lowers,
dreams upon our earth,
of the saga night that lowers,
lowers dreams upon our earth."
