My Belarusy
"My Bjelarusy" is the unofficial title of the national anthem of Belarus and the first line of its lyrics. It is officially titled as the "State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus". It was originally written in the 1940s and adopted in 1955 for use in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The music of the Byelorussian SSR's regional anthem was composed by Niescier Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Michas Klimkovič. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the music composed by Sakalowski was kept and the lyrics were discarded. New lyrics, which were written by Klimkovič and Uladzimir Karyzny, were adopted by a presidential decree issued on 2 July 2002. The lyrics now speak of a friendly Belarus, honoring past military battles and looking forward to the future. The music was kept due to the historical connections it has to Belarus.
Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR
"My Biełarusy" was originally used as the anthem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic starting from 24 February 1955. The original anthem was composed by Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Maxim Klimkovich. It was presented in front of a jury in 1944, but it took 11 years of modifications before it was officially adopted. Soon after Belarus became an independent country, the national anthem was modified to drop the Communist-era lyrics. An attempt was made in 1995 to adopt Natallia Arsiennieva's poem "O God Almighty" as the national anthem, but the suggestion was not acted on even though it was supported by a parliamentary committee.Anthem of the Republic of Belarus
The only legal mention of a national anthem in Belarusian law before 2002 was in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. Section One, Article 19 of the constitution states that "The symbols of the Republic of Belarus as a sovereign state shall be its national flag, national emblem and national anthem." While the constitution only mentioned the use of the flag, national anthem, and arms as state symbols, each symbol had to be defined by law. A law specifying a national anthem was not enacted until Presidential Decree 350 took effect on 18 July 2002, the day before Belarus's independence day. The decree's main objective was to establish lyrics for the anthem and introduce musical notation along with the new lyrics. Moreover, the decree designated when, where, and how the anthem was to be performed.According to the newspaper Soviet Byelorussia, President Lukashenko decided on the anthem on 12 June 2002 and chose to have its first performance on 3 July—Belarusian independence day, the anniversary of the date in 1944 when the Wehrmacht was driven away from Minsk by the Red Army. However, the first performance actually took place on 2 July at a concert organized by the government as part of the Belarusian independence festivities.
When Lukashenko issued his decree selecting a new national anthem, only slight changes were made to the Soviet-era hymn. While the references to Russia, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Vladimir Lenin were replaced; the overall theme of "friendship of peoples" and the original music composed by Sakałoŭski were preserved. The government decided to keep Sakałoŭski's music in order to maintain historical continuity, and also on account of its popularity and musical quality. After the national anthem was adopted, the process of adopting national symbols was completed.
Reaction
The organization Freedom House commented on the adoption of the anthem in a report about the country, published in 2003. On page 125 of the "Country Report of Belarus", Freedom House says that President Lukashenko has "reintroduced the state symbols used by the old Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 2002, the president approved a streamlined version of the Soviet-era anthem "My Belarusy", as the country's new national anthem." The report also mentioned President Lukashenko's ban of the symbols that were used since Belarus's independence in 1991, such as the Pahonia arms and the white, red, white flag, which Lukashenko claims are associated with fascism. In 2003, Dr. Taras Kuzio wrote in Radio Free Europe that President Lukashenko "is the quintessential Soviet Belarusian patriot who presides over a regime steeped in Soviet nostalgia." Kuzio said that the motives of Russia and Belarus in re-adopting Soviet-era symbols are part of restoring that nostalgia.Regulations
The anthem must be performed in accordance with the lyrics and sheet music established by law. Every day, all radio and television stations across the country are required to play the national anthem upon signing on at 6 a.m. and again upon signing off. The anthem can also be performed on certain occasions, such as at government meetings, before sporting events and presidential inaugurations. While the anthem is being performed, citizens are required to stand at attention and those in military or police uniform must salute.Vajacki marš
"Vajacki Marš" was the official anthem of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, a Belarusian state that was created in 1918 but lasted only 10 months, during the German occupation of Belarus in World War I.Since 1919, the song has been used as an anthem of Belarus by Belarusian emigrant communities in Western Europe and North America. It is still considered the official anthem used by the government-in-exile of the Belarusian Democratic Republic.
Other songs
Mahutny Boža, a religious hymn, is also actively used by those who oppose the Lukashenko Government.A favourite in the anthem competition was the poem called Young Belarus by Janka Kupala. However, the poem was never set to a musical composition so Young Belarus could not be selected as the anthem.
The governments of Belarus and Russia have been working towards a closer relationship with each other, resulting in the proposed Union of Russia and Belarus. While Belarus and Russia will be able to keep their own symbols, a song called Sovereign Union of Nations has been proposed as the Union's unofficial anthem. The song, which was modified from the National Anthem of the Soviet Union, refers to a wider union of the two nations.
Lyrics
| Belarusian | Belarusian – IPA transcription | Russian | English |
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! ? 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 | ' ? ? | Сердцем преданные родной земле. Искренне дружим, силы закаляем, Мы в трудолюбивой, свободной семье. Припев: Славься, земли нашей светлое имя, Славься, народов братский союз! ? Наша любимая мать-Отчизна, Вечно живи и цвети, Беларусь! ? Вместе с братьями храбро веками Мы защищали родной порог, В битвах за волю, битвах за долю Свое добывали знамя побед! Припев Дружба народов – сила народов – Наш заветный, солнечный путь. Гордо ж возвейся в ясные выси, Знамя победное – радости флаг! Припев | Wholeheartedly devoted to our Motherland. We are faithful friends, growing up Living in a hardworking and independent family. Chorus: Glory to the blessed name of our land, Glory to the brotherly union of peoples! ? Our dearly beloved Motherland, May you live long and prosper, Belarus! ? Together with our brothers, we for centuries Courageously defended our home's threshold. :Category:Wars involving Belarus|In battles for freedom, and battles for our lot We have won our banners of victory! Chorus Friendship of peoples is the strength of peoples And it is our sacred sunlit path. Proudly we fly in the clear blue skies, The banner of victory, the sunshine's flag! Chorus' |