national anthem essay in english

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The Star-Spangled Banner

By: History.com Editors

Updated: April 27, 2021 | Original: September 28, 2017

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States. By the time the song officially became the country’s anthem in 1931, it had been one of America’s most popular patriotic tunes for more than a century. The anthem’s history began the morning of September 14, 1814, when an attorney and amateur poet named Francis Scott Key watched U.S. soldiers—who were under bombardment from British naval forces during the War of 1812—raise a large American flag over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland.

Background: War of 1812

Simmering anger at Britain for interfering in American trade, impressing U.S. sailors into the Royal Navy and standing in the way of westward expansion led the United States to declare war in June 1812.

With British forces distracted by the country’s ongoing war with France, the United States scored some encouraging early victories in the War of 1812 . But in August 1815, British troops invaded Washington, D.C. and set fire to the White House , the Capitol and other government buildings. The Royal Navy then trained its sights on the key seaport of Baltimore, Maryland .

On September 13, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry withstood some 25 hours of British bombardment. Early the next morning, they hoisted a gigantic U.S. flag over the fort, marking a crucial victory and a turning point in what would be considered a second war of American independence.

Francis Scott Key

A Maryland-born attorney with a thriving practice in Washington, D.C., Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry from a ship anchored in Baltimore’s harbor.

Key had been helping to negotiate the release of an American civilian, Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured in an earlier battle. As a condition of the release, the British ordered the Americans not to return to shore during the attack on Baltimore.

Who Wrote 'The Star-Spangled Banner'?

Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” and its initial verse on the back side of a letter while watching the large American flag waving over the fort that morning. Back in Baltimore, he continued working until he had completed four verses (only one of which is commonly known today).

After a local printer issued the song, originally called “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” two Baltimore newspapers printed it, and it spread quickly to various cities along the East Coast.

By November 1814, Key’s composition had appeared in print for the first time under the name “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

From Drinking Song to American Anthem

Ironically, the melody Key assigned to accompany the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was a popular English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.”

Written around 1775 by John Stafford Smith, the song honored the ancient Greek poet Anacreon, a lover of wine. It was originally performed at a London gentleman’s music club called the Anacreontic Society.

The Anacreontic Song, as it was known, had a track record of popularity in the United States by 1814. In one famous case, defenders of the embattled second president, John Adams , used the tune for a song called “Adams and Liberty.”

Key himself had even used the tune before, as accompaniment for verses he wrote in 1805 commemorating American naval victories in the Barbary War .

Key’s Complicated Legacy

After the war of 1812, Key continued his thriving law career. He served as a member of the “Kitchen Cabinet” of President Andrew Jackson and in 1833 was appointed as a U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

He composed other verses over the course of his life, but none received anywhere close to the recognition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” After contracting pleurisy, Key died in 1843 at the age of 63.

Though his celebrated anthem proclaimed the United States “the land of the free,” Key was in fact a slaveholder from an old Maryland plantation family, and as a U.S. attorney argued several prominent cases against the abolitionist movement. He did speak out against the cruelties of the institution of slavery, but did not see abolition as the solution.

Instead, Key became a leader of the colonization movement, which advocated the relocation of black slaves to Africa and eventually resulted in the modern nation of Liberia .

Growing Popularity of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

At first, “The Star-Spangled Banner” trailed “Yankee Doodle” and “Hail Columbia” in popularity among patriotic 19th-century tunes. But during and immediately after the Civil War , Key’s song gained a deeper meaning, as the American flag became an increasingly powerful symbol of national unity.

By the 1890s, the U.S military had adopted the song for ceremonial purposes, playing it to accompany the raising and lowering of the colors. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order designating it “the national anthem of the United States.”

In 1931—more than 100 years after it was composed—Congress passed a measure declaring “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the official national anthem.

History of the National Anthem at Sporting Events

“The Star-Spangled Banner” made its sporting-event debut in September 1918, during that year’s first World Series game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox.

In addition to the ongoing toll of World War I , a cloud of violence hung over Chicago’s Comiskey Park, as a bomb had torn apart the Chicago Federal Building just the day before. During the seventh-inning stretch, the military band on hand struck up “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and in a moving spectacle, players and fans alike fell silent and saluted the flag.

The practice soon spread across major league baseball, and into other sports, and eventually became a widely accepted pregame tradition.

While many view the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before sporting events as an important patriotic ritual, over the years some athletes have chosen to protest enduring racial injustices in American society by turning their backs on the flag, refusing to stand or taking a knee while the national anthem is performed.

The Star-Spangled Banner, Smithsonian . “Star-Spangled Banner” writer had complex history on race, The Baltimore Sun . “How the national anthem—and subverting it—became a national tradition,” The Washington Post . “How the National Anthem Has Unfurled,” The New York Times . “The Song Remains the Same,” ESPN the Magazine .

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The Story Behind the Star Spangled Banner

How the flag that flew proudly over Fort McHenry inspired an anthem and made its way to the Smithsonian

Cate Lineberry

On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore, came only weeks after the British had attacked Washington, D.C., burning the Capitol, the Treasury and the President's house. It was another chapter in the ongoing War of 1812.

A week earlier, Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old American lawyer, had boarded the flagship of the British fleet on the Chesapeake Bay in hopes of persuading the British to release a friend who had recently been arrested. Key's tactics were successful, but because he and his companions had gained knowledge of the impending attack on Baltimore, the British did not let them go. They allowed the Americans to return to their own vessel but continued guarding them. Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away.

"It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone," Key wrote later. But when darkness arrived, Key saw only red erupting in the night sky. Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. The hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of "the dawn's early light" on September 14, he saw the American flag —not the British Union Jack—flying over the fort, announcing an American victory.

Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. His brother-in-law, commander of a militia at Fort McHenry, read Key's work and had it distributed under the name "Defence of Fort M'Henry." The Baltimore Patriot newspaper soon printed it, and within weeks, Key's poem, now called "The Star-Spangled Banner," appeared in print across the country, immortalizing his words—and forever naming the flag it celebrated.

Nearly two centuries later, the flag that inspired Key still survives, though fragile and worn by the years. To preserve this American icon, experts at the National Museum of American History recently completed an eight-year conservation treatment with funds from Polo Ralph Lauren, The Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Congress. And when the museum reopens in summer 2008, the Star-Spangled Banner will be its centerpiece, displayed in its own state-of-the-art gallery.

"The Star-Spangled Banner is a symbol of American history that ranks with the Statue of Liberty and the Charters of Freedom," says Brent D. Glass, the museum's director. "The fact that it has been entrusted to the National Museum of American History is an honor."

Started in 1996, the Star-Spangled Banner preservation project—which includes the flag's conservation and the creation of its new display in the renovated museum—was planned with the help of historians, conservators, curators, engineers and organic scientists. With the construction of the conservation lab completed in 1999, conservators began their work. Over the next several years, they clipped 1.7 million stitches from the flag to remove a linen backing that had been added in 1914, lifted debris from the flag using dry cosmetic sponges and brushed it with an acetone-water mixture to remove soils embedded in fibers. Finally, they added a sheer polyester backing to help support the flag.

"Our goal was to extend [the flag's] usable lifetime," says Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss, the conservator for the project. The intent was never to make the flag look as it did when it first flew over Fort McHenry, she says. "We didn't want to change any of the history written on the artifact by stains and soil. Those marks tell the flag's story."

While the conservators worked, the public looked on. Over the years, more than 12 million people peered into the museum's glass conservation lab, watching the progress.

"The Star-Spangled Banner resonates with people in different ways, for different reasons," says Kathleen Kendrick, curator for the Star-Spangled Banner preservation project. "It's exciting to realize that you're looking at the very same flag that Francis Scott Key saw on that September morning in 1814. But the Star-Spangled Banner is more than an artifact—it's also a national symbol. It evokes powerful emotions and ideas about what it means to be an American."

The Flag's Beginnings

The Star-Spangled Banner's history starts not with Francis Scott Key, but a year earlier with Maj. George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry. Knowing that his fort was a likely British target, Armistead told the commander of Baltimore defenses in July 1813 that he needed a flag—a big one. "We, sir, are ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore against invading by the enemy…except that we have no suitable ensign to display over the Star Fort, and it is my desire to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance."

Armistead soon hired a 29-year-old widow and professional flagmaker, Mary Young Pickersgill of Baltimore, Maryland, to make a garrison flag measuring 30 by 42 feet with 15 stars and 15 stripes (each star and stripe representing a state). A large flag, but one not unusual for the time. Over the next six weeks, Mary, her daughter, three of Mary's nieces, a 13-year-old indentured servant and possibly Mary's mother Rebecca Young worked 10-hour days sewing the flag, using 300 yards of English wool bunting. They made the stars, each measuring two feet in diameter, from cotton—a luxury item at the time. Initially they worked from Mary's home (now a private museum known as the Flag House), but as their work progressed they needed more room and had to move to Claggett's brewery across the street. On August 19, 1813, the flag was delivered to Fort McHenry.

For making the Star-Spangled Banner, Mary was paid $405.90. She received another $168.54 for sewing a smaller (17 by 25 feet) storm flag, likely using the same design. It was this storm flag—not the garrison flag now known as the Star-Spangled Banner—which actually flew during the battle. The garrison flag, according to eyewitness accounts, wasn't raised until the morning. After the Battle of Baltimore

Armistead remained in command of Fort McHenry for the rest of his life. Historians are not sure how the Armistead family came into possession of the flag, but upon Armistead's death in 1818, his wife Louisa inherited it. It is she who is thought to have sewed the red upside-down "V" on the flag, beginning the stitches for the letter "A." She is also thought to have begun the tradition of giving pieces of the flag away to honor her husband's memory, as well as the memories of the soldiers who defended the fort under his command.

When Louisa died in 1861, she passed the flag down to their daughter Georgiana Armistead Appleton over the legal objections of their son. "Georgiana was the only child born at the fort, and she was named for her father," says Thomassen-Krauss. "Louisa wanted Georgiana to have it."

The Missing Pieces

In 1873, Georgiana loaned the flag to George Preble, a flag historian who until that time had thought the flag was lost. That same year, Preble had the first known photograph of it taken at the Boston Navy Yard and exhibited it at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where he stored it until 1876.

While the Star-Spangled Banner was in Preble's care, Georgiana allowed him to give away pieces of the flag as he saw fit. Georgiana, herself, had given away cuttings of the flag to other Armistead descendants, as well as family friends. She once noted, "[H]ad we given all that we have been importuned for little would be left to show." This family tradition continued through 1880 with Armistead's grandson giving away the last documented piece, says Thomassen-Krauss.

Several of these cuttings from the Star-Spangled Banner have been located over the years, including about a dozen that are owned by the American History Museum. "We're aware of at least a dozen more that exist in other museums and private collections," says Kendrick.

But a missing 15th star has never been found. "There's a legend that the star was buried with one of the soldiers from Fort McHenry; another says that it was given to Abraham Lincoln," says Kendrick. "But no real evidence has surfaced to support these stories, and the true fate of the star remains one of the Smithsonian's great unsolved mysteries." 100 Years at the Smithsonian

After Georgiana's death, the flag passed to Eben Appleton, Armistead's grandson, who loaned it to the city of Baltimore for the 1880 sesquicentennial celebration. It then remained in a safe-deposit vault in New York City until Appleton loaned it to the Smithsonian in 1907. Five years later, he made the gift permanent, saying he wanted it to belong "to the Institution in the country where it could be conveniently seen by the public and where it would be well cared for."

When the flag arrived at the Smithsonian it was smaller (30 by 34 feet), damaged from years of use at the fort and from pieces being removed as souvenirs. Recognizing its need for repair, the Smithsonian hired Amelia Fowler, an embroidery teacher and well-known flag preserver, in 1914 to replace the canvas backing that had been added in 1873. Having worked on historic flags for the United States Naval Academy, Fowler had patented a method of supporting fragile flags with a linen backing that required a honeycomb pattern of stitches. With the help of ten needlewomen, Fowler spent eight weeks on the flag, receiving $1,243 for the materials and work.

For the next 50 years, with the exception of a brief move during World War II, the Star-Spangled Banner was displayed in what is now the Arts and Industries Building. Because of the flag's size and the dimensions of the glass case it was displayed in, the public never saw the entire flag while it was housed in this location.

That changed after architects designed the new National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, with space to allow the flag to hang. The Star-Spangled Banner remained in Flag Hall from 1964 until 1999, when it was moved to the conservation lab.

With the recent completion of the project, the Star-Spangled Banner will remain an icon of American history that can still be seen by the public. Says Glass, "The survival of this flag for nearly 200 years is a visible testimony to the strength and perseverance of this nation, and we hope that it will inspire many more generations to come."

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Short History of The Star Spangled Banner

A s the sun broke the horizon on September 13, 1814, Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane gave the order for British naval ships to commence firing at Fort McHenry . Located in the Baltimore Harbor, Fort McHenry was one of the last lines of defense for Baltimore: if the fort was captured, then Baltimore would be as well.  With Washington, D.C., burned just a month prior , the capture of Baltimore would mean that the just formed United States would lose two major coastal cities. These cities were financial and political strongholds, and, without them, Britain could claim victory for the entire war.

On a merchant ship in the harbor was British Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner and Georgetown lawyer Francis Scott Key . On September 5, Stuart and Key had sailed into the harbor to meet with Admiral George Cockburn to discuss the release of Dr. William Beanes. Beanes was a doctor, and a colleague of Key, who had refused to give food and drink to British soldiers who had happened upon his house in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He was scheduled to be hanged. Stuart and Key successfully negotiated Beanes’s freedom. However, since they were by the British fleet in the harbor, and privy to the British’s positions and plans to attack Baltimore, the three men were unable to return to shore. 

On September 12, the British landed their forces at North Point , a peninsula at the fork of the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay to attempt a land attack on Baltimore. The British pushed on toward the city and were attacked at noon, resulting in the death of British Major General Robert Ross . Colonel Arthur Brooke took command and skirmishes continued that day. The Americans retreated to Baltimore and the British consolidated their forces.

With many American forces emerging in the night, the British decided to launch a naval attack on Fort McHenry commanded by Admiral Cochrane. Major George Armistead , a future uncle to Confederate General Lewis Armistead in the Civil War, commanded the fort. For twenty-four hours, mortar shells and Congreve rockets were hurled at the fort. Over the harbor, there was a cloud of smoke that was only illuminated by the glow of rockets.

However, the British gunners had poor aim. Because of the American cannons in the fort and previously sunken merchant ships that Armistead had commanded to ring the entrance to Baltimore harbor, the British couldn’t get close to the Fort. At nightfall, Cochrane sent 1,200 of his men to the shore in an attempt to attack the fort from the rear. American forces met the incoming soldiers and impeded them from advancing.

The next morning, Armistead raised a thirty by forty-two-foot United States Flag over the fort. Customarily, this garrison flag was raised every morning at reveille, but after a night of fighting this action took on a new meaning. The British, equally fatigued after the long fight and running low on ammunition, noted that they could not overtake the fortifications of Fort McHenry. Beanes, Key, and Stuart were sent back to the Maryland shore and the British retreated and set off for New Orleans.

Throughout this battle, Key was in the harbor hearing cannon fire and the booms of explosives. After the hours of bombardment and the fear that the British could overtake the fort and head to Baltimore, Key awoke to a proud display of American patriotism and a symbol that they were not going to stop fighting. That morning he wrote notes for a future poem about this event. Later that week, he finished the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” On September 20, the Baltimore Patriot published “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” Francis Scott Key’s brother-in-law set the poem to music, and the combined poem and music were published under the name “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

After it was published, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became one of the many patriotic songs sung throughout the country. After 1889, it accompanied the flag raisings by the Navy. President Woodrow Wilson adopted the song as a de facto “national anthem” in 1916 but did not codify this ruling. In 1929, “House Resolution 14” was presented to Congress to name “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the official national anthem to the United States. There were many objections to this resolution.

One objection was that the tune of the “Star-Spangled Banner” was taken from the song “To Anacreon to Heaven.” This song was the theme for the Society of Anacreon, which was active between 1766-1791. The Society of Anacreon was a gentleman’s club that meet monthly to listen to music of questionable tastes and to socialize. Ralph Tomlinson wrote the lyrics and John Stafford Smith composed the melody in 1788 and 1780 respectively. The song alluded to alcohol consumption and love in the last line of the first stanza, “I’ll instruct you like me to entwine the myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s wine.” Even though only the tune was used, some members still saw it risqué that the two songs could be intertwined.

Other objections include the difficulty of the song to sing and play, the inability to dance or march to the song, and it being too military-centric. The resolution did not pass until it was reintroduced to Congress in 1930. It was officially adopted by law on March 3, 1931. Other songs that were possible contenders for the position as national anthem were “Hail, Columbia,” “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and “America the Beautiful.” 

The flag itself was sewn by Mary Pickersgill. Major Armistead was assigned to command Fort McHenry in June 1813. He commissioned the Baltimore-based flag-maker to sew two flags, one that is 17 by 25 ft and one that is 30 by 42 ft. The flags were so large that she sewed them with her daughter, Caroline; two nieces, Eliza Young and Margaret Young, and an indentured African American servant, Grace Wisher, on the floor of a nearby brewery. In addition, there were potentially other workers that helped with this behemoth project that have not been recorded. The larger of the two flags dwarfs the standard size of garrison flags today that measure 20 by 38 ft. As per the Second Flag Act that was ratified on January 13, 1794, there were fifteen red and white stripes and fifteen white stars in a field of blue on the flag. The additional two stripes represent Vermont and Kentucky, who entered the Union in 1791 and 1792 respectively. It wasn’t until April 4, 1818, with the Third Flag Act that the number of stripes were reduced back to thirteen and the number of stars on the flag equate to the number of states in the Union.

After the war and before his death in 1818, Major George Armistead, who was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, acquired the large flag. The flag was passed down within the family until Eben Appleton, Armistead’s grandson donated the flag to the Smithsonian Institute in 1912. Between Armistead’s acquisition of the flag and the Appleton’s donation, pieces of the flag had been cut off and sent to veterans, government officials, and other prominent figures. In 1914, Amelia Fowler, a flag-restorer, was hired by the Smithsonian to help stabilize the fragile flag while it was on display. Preservation was initiated again in 1981 to reduce dust on the flag and reduce the amount of light shining on the fabric. Those preservation efforts weren’t enough. In 1994, the flag was removed from the wall, so conservators could remove the linen backing that Fowler sewed and further remove harmful materials from the flag’s surface. A new climate and light-controlled exhibit were created to house the flag and discuss its history.

Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner” as a joyous poem after he was relieved that the United States had preserved against British attack. Since then it has evolved into the national anthem for the United States and is played at official events, schools, and sporting events. This anthem is a means to bring Americans together to remember the United States' perseverance in the face of adversity and as a stage that Americans can use to protest unjust policies.

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Essay on National Anthem

Students are often asked to write an essay on National Anthem in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on National Anthem

Introduction.

The National Anthem is a patriotic song that represents a country’s history, traditions, and struggles. It unites people under a common identity.

Significance

National Anthems play a crucial role in fostering a sense of pride and unity among citizens. They are usually played at public gatherings and national events.

It’s important to show respect when the National Anthem is played. This can be by standing up straight and removing your hat.

The National Anthem is more than a song. It’s a symbol of our shared history and values, promoting unity and respect among citizens.

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• Speech on National Anthem

250 Words Essay on National Anthem

A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition representing a country’s identity and pride. It is a symbolic expression of national unity, history, and values, often played during public ceremonies, international events, and sports competitions.

Historical Significance

The tradition of national anthems dates back to the 19th century, with the Netherlands’ “Het Wilhelmus” considered one of the oldest. Anthems often encapsulate significant historical events or struggles, fostering a sense of collective memory and shared heritage.

Cultural Reflection

National anthems reflect the cultural diversity of nations. They vary greatly in style, melody, and lyrics, mirroring the unique traditions, languages, and rhythms of their respective countries. The anthem of Japan, “Kimigayo,” for example, carries the tranquility of Japanese culture, while India’s “Jana Gana Mana” reflects its linguistic diversity.

Symbol of Unity

Amidst diversity, national anthems act as a symbol of unity. They inspire feelings of solidarity and national pride, transcending differences of race, religion, or socio-economic status. When citizens sing their anthem, they express loyalty and commitment to their nation.

Controversies and Debates

Despite their unifying role, national anthems can also be contentious. Disputes often arise over representation, historical accuracy, and inclusivity. For instance, the debate around “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the U.S. highlights issues of racial justice and equality.

In conclusion, national anthems are significant cultural artifacts that embody a nation’s identity, history, and values. While they can be a source of unity, they also reflect societal complexities and can spark important conversations about national identity and inclusivity.

500 Words Essay on National Anthem

The National Anthem is a symbol of pride, identity, and unity for a nation, serving as a musical embodiment of national values and history. It is a unique cultural artifact that intertwines music and poetry to express a country’s collective memory and aspirations.

The Role of a National Anthem

National anthems play a pivotal role in fostering a sense of national identity and unity. They are often performed during national ceremonies, sporting events, and other public gatherings, serving as a reminder of shared history and common values. The lyrics typically reflect the country’s history, struggle for independence, or national characteristics, while the melody often draws on traditional folk music or classical themes, making it easily recognizable and emotionally resonant.

Historical Context

National anthems have a rich and varied history. Some anthems, like the Netherlands’ “Het Wilhelmus,” date back to the 16th century, while others, like South Africa’s “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika,” were only adopted in the 20th century. The circumstances of their creation also vary widely: some were composed in times of war or revolution, others in times of peace. Some were the result of national competitions, while others were adopted unofficially until they were recognized by law.

Symbolism and Interpretation

The interpretation of national anthems can be complex, as they often use symbolic and metaphorical language. This symbolism can be a source of national pride, but it can also lead to controversy. For example, some people may feel that the lyrics of their national anthem do not reflect their personal experiences or beliefs, or that they glorify war or other aspects of the past that are seen as problematic today.

Anthems in a Global Context

In an increasingly globalized world, national anthems can also serve as a tool for international diplomacy. They are often played at international events, such as the Olympics, where they can help to foster a sense of mutual respect and understanding. However, they can also be a source of tension, as when a national anthem is disrespected or misused, it can lead to diplomatic incidents.

In conclusion, national anthems are much more than simple songs. They are powerful symbols of identity and unity, reflecting a nation’s history and values. As such, they deserve to be treated with respect and understanding, both within their own country and in the international community. In this age of global interconnectivity, national anthems continue to serve as a unique tool for expressing national pride and fostering international understanding.

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Rediscovering ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’—in Its Entirety

We hear the national anthem before sporting events every day. it is central to political controversies. but it remains deeply unfamiliar..

When it is time to honor their homelands, the Hungarians sing an epic poem of ancestors crossing the Carpathian Mountains, the Mongolians of the impressive ancestry of their people, and the Japanese of best wishes for their emperor. The national anthems of most countries are drawn from broad themes with many common elements: God’s blessings, past glories and bright futures, and lots of geography lessons.

Ours could have been like theirs had our national anthem been “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” or “America the Beautiful”—two of the contenders for that honor before Congress settled the question in 1931 . Instead our anthem is a poetic front-line account of the darkest moment of one long night of war, with all the melancholy and insecurity an existential crisis could muster.

The poetic syntax of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is not how people speak and the words are put to music, an eighteenth-century English drinking song . The first sheet music combining the tune and lyrics, published in 1814, called for the song to be performed con spirito —with spirit—but over time we have slowed the tune down to, at best, a solid maestoso and at worst, a dirge. The tune is notoriously difficult, requiring a vocal range of an octave and a fifth, so singers typically begin quietly in the notes at the bottom of their vocal range then build to the high notes in the middle and finally that soaring conclusion.

The tune and the language of the anthem have the effect of obscuring for today’s listeners the powerful story Francis Scott Key was telling. The problem is compounded by the fact that most Americans only ever hear the first stanza. But a close reading of the text of all four stanzas reveals the poignance of America’s song, and can help us more deeply understand our country’s history and character.

Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light

The familiar first stanza is one long question. The sun rose behind Francis Scott Key on the morning of September 14, 1814, following a 24-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships in Baltimore Harbor. The 35-year-old Georgetown lawyer was on a merchant ship, having completed a mission to negotiate the release of William Beanes, a 65-year-old doctor from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, who had refused to give food and drink to British troops and so had been sentenced to be hanged. With Beanes’s liberty secured, Key would have returned to shore, but because the party had been privy to the locations of British warships and upcoming troop movements, the British would not permit the merchant ship to leave.

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming

The night before, amid the waning streaks of sunlight and through the thick, acrid smoke of cannon fire, Key, Beanes, and the other Americans on HMS Minden saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry. Today, we are used to seeing our great structures illuminated by electricity after sundown—the Golden Gate Bridge, the Washington Monument, the Empire State building. But there were no spotlights on the flagpole—some 90 feet tall—at Fort McHenry. As dusk fell, the Americans on the merchant ship watched, helpless to do anything but hope the garrison would hold.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

The fort actually had two flags: an enormous “garrison flag,” 30 feet tall by 42 feet wide; and a “storm flag,” smaller—17 feet tall by 25 feet wide—so that when soaked in the rain it would not be too heavy for the huge, 90-foot flagpole. It was the smaller flag that Key and the others saw as darkness enveloped the harbor.

Both flags had 15 stripes and 15 stars—one of each for each state in  May 1795 , which is when the  second Flag Resolution  went into effect following the admission to the union of Vermont and Kentucky. (An 1818 law permanently reduced the stripes to 13 for the original colonies and provided a new star would be added to the field of blue on the Fourth of July following the admission of a new state.)

Of the 56 signatories of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, only 7 were still alive in September 1814, including the second and third presidents, Adams and Jefferson. But this was still a very young nation: Only about three decades had elapsed between the end of the Revolution and the start of the present war. The federal government under the U.S. Constitution had been in effect for only 25 years, and just the previous month, the British—still the world’s great superpower—had burned down the Capitol and the White House and nearly every other government building in Washington.

O’er the ramparts we watch’d Were so gallantly streaming?

The ramparts are the top of the garrison, brick and mortar and earth that were built to withstand the withering blows of cannon fire, but every defensive position has its limits. Would the fort’s 1,000 defenders, under severe bombardment all day, survive the night? Would they surrender? Key maintained a close watch on the flag flying above the fort.

And the rocket’s red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there

The cannon fire from the British ships was destructive and murderous but also the only way Key could see what was happening ashore. The explosions sent bursts of light, violent glimpses of the fort and the flag. If Fort McHenry fell, then Baltimore—a strategic port and economically important city—would fall. If Baltimore fell, what could Britain not control? If, however, the flag flew, the battle was not lost and neither was the war.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

When sung, this final couplet is long and the operative question word (“does”), coming at the beginning, is lost. Sung in the highest pitches of the tune, a finale that may accompany cheers or a fighter jet flying overhead, the words sound declarative. To Key though, this was the point of maximum darkness. Of uncertainty. He is restating the question from the first, quiet line of the song. Can anyone see it? Does the flag fly?

It seemed as if the very future of America hinged on that question.

Key the poet—as opposed to the lawyer and diplomat—must have understood he was on to something with “land of the free” / “home of the brave,” almost like he could imagine a future of truck commercials and Fourth of July sales. This is the only line of the poem to be repeated, closing each stanza verbatim—although the punctuation at the end of the stanzas varies. The science fiction and science writer Isaac Asimov, in a lecture he frequently delivered, suggests that the first stanza represents Key and Beanes asking one another about the flag, while the second stanza is the answer to the question posed by the first. Here the unfamiliar text makes it easier to imagine the song sung not like the requiem before the Super Bowl but up-tempo, with spirit, by, perhaps, a rowdy crowd gathered for a commemoration. The guns have fallen silent—the 24-hour bombardment is over—and Key and Beanes are glimpsing the flag as the morning breeze lifts the banner and drops it again:

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?

There was nothing abstract about this flag waving in the dissipating smoke and gathering dawn. Overnight, the fort’s smaller storm flag had been replaced by the enormous garrison flag. It is this larger flag that has come to be remembered as the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Made by Mary Young Pickersgill, who ran a flag-making business out of her Baltimore home, the tattered remains of this flag can today be seen at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History . We can imagine the relief of Key and Beanes as they see it.

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream; ’Tis the star-spangled banner; O long may it wave O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

The third stanza is a flex. Key asks where the enemy is now, those who bragged (“vauntingly”!) that the American homeland would be no more:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.

At various points since the adoption of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem, Americans have sung all four verses, but the third was apparently dropped during World War II. Celebrating British blood washing away their own “foul footsteps’ pollution” would have been a needless insult to our close ally.

But the second half of the verse has proven more enduringly controversial:

No refuge could save the hireling and slave, From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave; And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

Although there are different interpretations of Key’s reference to slaves, some commentators have claimed that the poem is racist, an assertion that adds a layer of messy complication to our own era’s fights about race and kneeling rather than standing for the anthem.

A longstanding interpretation of the phrase “hireling and slave” is as a rhetorical insult—a pejorative directed at the British forces. It is possible to read the phrase more literally, however. In the War of 1812, as in the American Revolution, the British forces employed mercenaries; the word “hireling” could be understood to refer to them. And while some commentators suggest that the word “slave” may have been a reference to the British practice of impressment—taking prisoners and forcing them into service in the Royal Navy, which had been one of the causes of the war— another interpretation is that Key literally meant former black slaves who had joined the British cause and were now fighting against the American forces.

In 1814, slavery was practiced in several states, including Maryland, where Key was born and lived until his twenties. And we know that Key was a slave owner: In the 1820 census, he is listed as owning five slaves in Georgetown.

Just as the slaveholder Jefferson paradoxically wrote that “all men are created equal” in the founding document we celebrate on the Fourth of July, the slaveholder Key evokes in the fourth stanza the strength of free men who fight for their homeland. In a foreshadowing of the calamity that would befall his country half a century later, Key even refers to a just cause:

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land, Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just. And this be our motto—“In God is our trust”; And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Ours is a nation defined not by history, geography, racial or ethnic composition, or religion but by a commitment to democracy and to equality and equal justice under law. It is that shared commitment that brings us together despite our differences—that makes us, out of many, one.

The Era of Good Feelings that followed the War of 1812 was itself followed by many periods of bad feelings: the Civil War, the turbulence of Reconstruction, a century of Jim Crow, the Great Depression that brought our political and economic system to the brink of collapse, the anxiety of the Cold War, the clashes of the civil rights era, countless political scandals from Watergate on down, the post-9/11 fears of and wars against terror, and most recently, the threat to our democracy exemplified by—but not ended on—January 6th. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a reminder that through the dark night, the promise of our democracy can prevail.

The path from drinking tune to popular poem to national anthem was long and tortuous , and “The Star Spangled Banner” has always had its detractors—people complaining that the words are too martial or the melody too hard to sing, or composing alternative melodies, adding additional verses or substitute lyrics . Certainly the power of the anthem is diminished by familiarity: Hearing the first stanza before every major sporting event, often in not-so-good renditions, has the effect of turning it into a kind of aural wallpaper, and likely contributes to the occasional campaigns to replace it as the national anthem.

If we replaced “The Star Spangled Banner” perhaps we would sing of the land where our fathers died and of pilgrims’ pride, or of amber waves of grain, purple mountains, fruited plains. We would have the geography, the pride, the history. Instead we got the darkest night—and with it, the hope.

Correction (July 5, 2022, 11:00 a.m. EDT):  As originally published, this article misstated the number of states that had joined the original thirteen by September 1814. Five new states had been added by then, not two.

Correction (July 6, 2022, 11:30 p.m. EDT): As originally published, this article misquoted a line in the fourth stanza of the song as "for our cause it is just." While there is no official version of "The Star-Spangled Banner," Key's original version of the line was "when our cause it is just."

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What Does Your Country’s National Anthem Mean to You?

Does the song reflect the beliefs you have about your country? How might it be changed to include more perspectives and experiences?

By Nicole Daniels

Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.

In the United States, the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key, is often performed before sporting events, school functions and other important events. Think about the last time you attended or watched an event on TV where the anthem was played. How did you feel hearing the song? Were you moved by the performance and the lyrics? Did you stand or remove your hat? Or did you feel uncomfortable or unaffected by the song?

If you live in another country, when is your national anthem usually played? How do you feel when you hear it?

Recently, after the Dallas Mavericks had stopped playing it through their first 13 preseason and regular-season home games, the N.B.A. began requiring teams to play the national anthem before games. It was an abrupt reversal of an earlier hands-off approach. In “N.B.A. Says Teams Must Play the National Anthem ,” Marc Stein explains:

Cuban told The New York Times on Wednesday that the Mavericks would follow the policy immediately and play the anthem before that night’s nationally televised home game against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center. “We are good with it,” Cuban said. Most players and coaches regularly knelt during the national anthem to protest social injustice while the league played out the last three months of the 2019-20 season at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla., last summer. Adam Silver, the N.B.A. commissioner, said in December that the league did not intend to enforce its rule that players stand for the national anthem. The league’s 29 teams apart from Dallas had mostly played recorded versions of the anthem before games. “I recognize that this is a very emotional issue on both sides of the equation in America right now, and I think it calls for real engagement rather than rule enforcement,” Silver said in December. In a statement released through the Mavericks, Cuban said: “We respect and always have respected the passion people have for the anthem and our country. But we also loudly hear the voices of those who feel that the anthem does not represent them. We feel that their voices need to be respected and heard, because they have not been. “Going forward, our hope is that people will take the same passion they have for this issue and apply the same amount of energy to listen to those who feel differently from them.”

Why do some feel that “The Star-Spangled Banner” does not represent them? In “ African-Americans and the Strains of the National Anthem, ” an Opinion essay from 2018 written in response to the N.F.L. player Colin Kaepernick’s original anthem protest, Brent Staples writes:

African-American anthem dissidents are heirs to a venerable tradition of critical patriotism that dates to what W.E.B. Du Bois termed “double consciousness” — the feeling of being part of the American polity yet not fully of it. This insider-outsider status has driven a longstanding struggle among black Americans to find room in a civic and political system that was built to deny them full citizenship. The “Star-Spangled Banner” itself has been a subject of that struggle since shortly after Francis Scott Key, a slave-owning Washington lawyer, wrote it to commemorate an American victory over the British during the War of 1812. The song would no doubt have been lost to obscurity had the United States military not appropriated it for flag ceremonies beginning in the late 19th century. This history seems innocuous enough until one considers that the song tightened its grip on the country during the height of the lynching era in the South and became popular at baseball games at a time when African-Americans were barred from white baseball. This connection was not lost on the great newspapers of the Negro press, in whose pages the song was referred to as “the Caucasian national anthem.” Black columnists discredited the song by unearthing a long suppressed third stanza (“No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave”) that can be read as reflecting the composer’s embrace of slavery and the anger felt toward British officers who used the promise of emancipation to recruit enslaved African-Americans. By the early 20th century, African-Americans were already turning their backs on the “Star-Spangled Banner” in favor of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — known as the Negro national anthem — written by James Weldon Johnson and his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. Passages like “We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered” acknowledge the place of lynching and slavery in the national history.

Students, read both articles, and then tell us:

What do you think about Mr. Cuban’s decision to stop playing the national anthem before games? What do you think about the N.B.A.’s ruling that the song must be played before all games? Who do you think should get to decide whether the anthem is played? Why?

What are your own feelings about “The Star-Spangled Banner” or your own country’s national anthem? Does it reflect what you believe about your country? Do you feel that it represents you and is inclusive of your experiences? Have you ever decided to leave the room, remain seated or kneel during the national anthem as a form of protest? How did it feel to take that action? How did others react to your choice?

Did Mr. Staples’s essay about Black Americans’ experiences of the national anthem resonate with you or change your mind about the song? Why or why not? Whose perspectives and experiences do you believe are left out of your national anthem?

Some critics of America’s national anthem take issue with the song’s author, Francis Scott Key, who, in the 1800s, enslaved people and spoke publicly of African Americans as “ a distinct and inferior race of people .” How much does a writer’s background matter? Should Mr. Key’s actions and beliefs affect whether we use “The Star-Spangled Banner” as our national anthem?

How would you change your national anthem? In December of 2020, the Australian government changed a line in the country’s national anthem from “Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free” to “we are one and free,” acknowledging the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have lived on the continent for more than 60,000 years. Look at the full lyrics of your national anthem. Are there any words or lines that you would change to make it better reflect your beliefs about your country? If you wouldn’t change anything, tell us why.

Is there another song from the past or present that you think would be more appropriate as your country’s anthem? For example, in the United States, Black Americans have adopted “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ”; some sports teams regularly start their games with “ God Bless America ”; and Jennifer Lopez sang “ This Land Is Your Land ” at President Biden’s inauguration (a song that some Native Americans say perpetuates the erasure of Indigenous experiences ). What song do you think would be most inclusive, meaningful and reflective of your country and why?

About Student Opinion

• Find all of our Student Opinion questions in this column . • Have an idea for a Student Opinion question? Tell us about it . • Learn more about how to use our free daily writing prompts for remote learning .

Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Nicole Daniels joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2019 after working in museum education, curriculum writing and bilingual education. More about Nicole Daniels

• What Is the Purpose of a National Anthem?

What Is a National Anthem?

A national anthem is a patriotic song or musical composition that is either recognized officially by a nation’s government and constitution or is accepted as such by convention through popular use. The national anthem reflects the history, struggles, and traditions of a nation and its people and serves as an expression of national identity.

When Is a National Anthem Used?

National anthems are usually played or sung during national holidays, especially during the independence day celebrations in a country. National anthems are also performed during cultural and other festivals in the country, usually marking off the beginning or the end of such festivals. National anthems are often performed in international sporting events. For example, in the Olympic Games, the national anthem of the winning team is played during the medal ceremony. National anthems of the participating nations are also played prior to the start of a game and usually, the anthem of the host nation is played last.

The National anthem is also an integral part of a school’s daily routine in some countries. In countries like India, it is mandatory to play the national anthem at the beginning of a movie in a movie theater. In some countries like China and Colombia, the national anthem is played at specific times of the day by radio and television channels. Thus, different countries promote their national anthems in different ways.

Most countries also mention several etiquettes to be observed while performing or listening to the national anthem like standing up, removing headwear, etc. Although the national anthem of a country is recognized within the country, the use of the anthem outside the country is dependent on the country’s recognition at a global level. For example, Taiwan is not recognized as an independent country by the Olympics committee. Hence, the national anthem of Taiwan is not performed in the Olympics and instead the National Banner Song is played.

What Is the Importance of a National Anthem?

The national anthem, like other national symbols of a country, represents the tradition, history, and beliefs of a nation and its people. Hence, it helps evoke feelings of patriotism among the country’s citizens and reminds them of their nation’s glory, beauty, and rich heritage. It also helps unite the citizens of the country by one single song or music. During the performance of the national anthem, citizens of a nation, despite their ethnic differences, rise up in unison and listen attentively or sing the song with great enthusiasm. Players also feel a great moment of pride when they receive a medal at an international sporting event while their country’s national anthem is played in the background. It gives them a feeling of having made their country proud. Students who listen to the national anthem in their schools learn to respect their nation and develop a sense of unity among themselves.

How and When Did the Concept of a National Anthem Develop?

The concept of a national anthem was first popularized in 19th century Europe. After their independence from European colonial powers, many of the newly-independent nations also composed their own national anthems and today, virtually every sovereign nation in the world has its own national anthem.

The Wilhelmus, the national anthem of the Netherlands, is the world’s oldest national anthem that was written during the time of the Dutch Revolt between 1568 and 1572.

The Kimigayo, the national anthem of Japan, has the oldest lyrics of any national anthem. The lyrics of the anthem has been derived from an ancient poetry that was written during the Heian period (794 to 1185). The music of the anthem was composed only in 1880.

The Spanish national anthem, the Marcha Real, is also one of the oldest national anthems and was written in 1761. The national anthem of the UK was first performed under the title God Save the King in 1619. The Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau which is the national anthem of Wales was the first national anthem to be performed at an international sporting event.

What Languages Are Used to Write or Sing the National Anthem?

Most national anthems are in the country’s official or national language since these languages are usually the languages of the majority of the country. However, in countries having more than one official or national languages, several versions of the national anthem in different languages might exist. For example, Canada’s national anthem, Canada, O Canada, uses both French and English lyrics since both are official languages of the country. The national anthem of South Africa uses five of the eleven national languages of the country.

The Creators of the National Anthems

Although the national anthems of each country are popular throughout the country, the creators of many of these anthems are either little-known or even unknown. For example, the author of the British national anthem “God Save the Queen” is disputed and unknown. In some countries, however, the national anthem’s authors are world-renowned composers or even Nobel laureates. For example, the national anthems of India and Bangladesh were both written by the first Asian Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Rabindranath Tagore. In other countries, national anthems have been composed by locally important figures like, for example, Rafael Nuñez, the former President of Colombia penned down the national anthem of the country.

What Is an Earth Anthem?

It is not only the sovereign countries of the world that have their own anthem, but international organizations and institutions also have their own anthems which are referred to as “international anthems”. For example, the Lullaby is UNICEF’s official anthem, the ASEAN Way is ASEAN’s official anthem, and the European Union uses the Ode to Joy’s tune as its national anthem.

With large-scale globalization in recent years, various artists have also created global anthems or "Earth Anthems” with the aim of uniting the people of the world and promoting love and tolerance for each other and respect for the planet they live in. However, a true global anthem is yet to be widely accepted. Although the UNESCO praises such ideas, an official song is yet to be adopted by the UN.

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United States of America National Anthem: Star Spangled Banner Listen to the National Anthem

Oh, say can you see, By the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed At the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars, Thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets red glare, The bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there. O, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave?

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OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM: Essay Topics

OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM

Jana-Gana-Mana, an inspiring song composed by the great poet, Rabindra Nath Tagore is the national anthem of India. The complete song consists of five stanzas, but only the first stanza is our national anthem. The song in Bengali was first published under the title “Bharat Vidhata” in a magazine of which Rabindra Nath Tagore was the editor. The poet himself translated it into English under the title “The Morning Song of India”. Soon after the independence, on 15 August 1947, a need for national anthem was felt. The Indian delegation to the United Nations was asked for its national anthem, which was to be played on a particular occasion. As no official anthem was there, a record of Jana-Gana-Mana was handed over. The song was picked up and played by the UN orchestra as it was greatly acclaimed by all. It was adopted as our national anthem on 24 January 1950. The national anthem is played on Republic Day and Independence Day every year at the time of hoisting the national flag. It is also played at the national salute given to the President of India, Governors of states and visiting foreign heads. It is also played on all ceremonial occasions in fields as diverse as sports, culture and education. In schools, it is sung in morning assembly. At the end of public function also, it is sung. The national anthem should be completed within 52 seconds. While singing the anthem we should stand in attention position.

10 Lines on National Anthem

National Anthem of India is sung by the people of India to evoke the history of India’s struggle for freedom. ‘Jan Gana Mana’ is the official national anthem recognized by the government of India which is played and sung on number of occasions including cultural and national events. National Anthem helps in preserving and reinforcing the strong traditional culture by spreading the message of tolerance to pluralism across the world. It also evokes the true sense of patriotism in the heart of the people making them remember the sacrifices of our great freedom fighters and leaders.

10 Lines on National Anthem in English

We are providing 10 lines, 5 lines, 20 lines, few lines and sentences on National Anthem in English for Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. After reading these lines you will be able to know everything about National Anthem. You can add these lines in your essays and paragraph writing in your exam as well as in the school competition.

1) “Jan Gan Man” is the National Anthem of India.

2) It was written in 1911 by Rabindra Nath Tagore.

3) It has a total of five paragraphs.

4) The original song was written in the Bengali language.

5) It was translated in Hindi by Captain Abid Ali.

6) It is sung everywhere in the nation in Hindi language.

7) We sing the national anthem in schools in morning prayers.

8) We should stand when the national anthem is sung.

9) It is sung when national flag is hoisted on national festivals.

10) It brings the feeling of patriotism and unity among us.

10 Lines and Sentences on National Anthem

1) Every nation has its own national anthem in the world.

2) The national anthem of any nation depicts its culture and history.

3) The national anthem of India is ‘Jan Gan Man’.

4) Our national anthem is a pride for every Indian.

5) It was created by noble laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore in 1911.

6) It was sung for the first time in Calcutta on 27 December 1911.

7) It was officially accepted as the national anthem of India on 24 January 1950.

8) It is always sung as a token of respect on different occasions.

9) The time taken in singing the complete national anthem is 52 seconds.

10) We must maintain silence and stand when the national anthem is sung.

5 Lines on National Anthem

1) Our National Anthem is ‘Jan Gan Man’.

2) It was written by Ravindra Nath Tagore.

3) It was originally written in Bengali.

4) It consists of 5 stanzas.

5) We sing this at every national event.

20 Lines on National Anthem

1) National Anthem of India is the patriotic musical composition which is ‘’Jana Gana Mana” composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

2) The national anthem of India was originally written in ‘sanskrit tatsama’ Bengali language.

3) “Jan Gana Mana” was officially adopted by Indian constituent assembly as national anthem on 24 th January, 1950.

4) The national anthem consists of five stanzas and the duration of playing its full version is 52 seconds.

5) The national anthem of India is sung on various occasions flag hoisting, school prayers, national festivals etc.

6) The national anthem is often sung across nation in national language which is ‘Hindi’.

7) The proper guidelines have been issued from the government and the Supreme Court of India which should be followed while singing the national anthem.

8) Every citizen of India should stand respectfully while the national anthem is being played or sung on any occasion.

9) The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 is the act enacted by the parliament of India to prevent the insult of national anthem.

10) Offence to the act by preventing the singing of the Jana Gana Mana is punishable and may lead to the imprisonment for a year and fine or both.

11) National Anthem of India represents the country’s unique identity to the world.

12) National Anthem acts as a symbol of unity among its citizens as it is sung by people of different communities with the same spirit of patriotism.

13) The five stanzas of ‘Jan Gana Mana’ show the country’s rich, diversified culture and colourful history.

14) The entire lyrics and music of anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 and was first sung in Calcutta on 27 th December, 2011.

15) Citizens play or sing the national anthem on various occasions like during the prayer in schools, celebration of national events, sports meet etc.

16) ‘Jana Gana Mana’ strengthens the idea of unity in diversity as people from different communities sing the anthem together with full of passion towards nation.

17) In 2016, Supreme Court made the playing of national anthem mandatory in theatres before every movie in order to instil the patriotism among citizens.

18) On cultural occasions, national anthem is played after hoisting ceremony of national flag.

19) National anthem is played before and after the arrival of President or Governor from a formal ceremony.

20) National anthem is also played during the presentation of regimental colours of Indian army.

‘Jana Gana Mana’ appeals greatly to the people from various sections of society by evoking patriotic emotions and bringing a sense of pride and honor. Whenever the national anthem is played live we should stand attentively in honor to pay respect to the freedom fighters who have sacrificed their lives for the nation.

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