Maamme facts for kids
| English: Our Land | |
|---|---|
Frontpage of Vårt land by Johan Ludvig Runeberg
|
|
| National anthem of |  Finland |
| Also known as | Vårt land English: Our Land |
| Lyrics | Johan Ludvig Runeberg, 1848 |
| Music | Fredrik Pacius, 1848 |
Maamme (in Finnish) and Vårt Land (in Swedish) are the names for the national anthem of Finland. Both names mean Our Land in English. Finland has two official languages, so the anthem has names in both.
The words, called lyrics, were written by Johan Ludvig Runeberg in 1848. At that time, Finland was known as the Grand Duchy of Finland and was under the control of Russia. Runeberg wrote the original lyrics in Swedish.
The music for the anthem was created by German-born musician Fredrik Pacius around the same time. Interestingly, this same music is also used for Estonia's national anthem, Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm. Later, in 1889, a poet named Paavo Cajander translated the anthem into Finnish.
Lyrics of the Finnish National Anthem
The original poem for Finland's national anthem has eleven verses. However, when people sing the anthem today, they usually only sing the first and the last verses.
Sometimes, if both Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking people are singing together, they might sing three verses. These would be the first verse in Finnish, the first verse in Swedish, and the last verse in Finnish.
The first verse talks about how much people love their home country. It describes Finland as a land of hills, valleys, and shores that is deeply cherished.
The last verse speaks about Finland's future. It says that the country's beauty, which is like a flower bud, will fully bloom. It also expresses hope that the love of its people will bring light, joy, and hope to Finland, and that the country's song will one day ring out even louder and stronger.
Fun Facts About the Anthem
- The tune of Maamme is also used for the national anthem of Estonia, called Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm.
- The Livonians, an ethnic group, also use this melody for their own anthem, Min izāmō.
Images for kids
-
Frontpage of "Vårt land" by Johan Ludvig Runeberg
-
The Swedish words of the "Vårt Land" poem appear in Johan Ludvig Runeberg's monument in Helsinki. Sculptor Walter Runeberg.
See also
In Spanish: Maamme para niños
