The Belarusian flag

My Belarusy (Belarusian: Мы, беларусы, "We Belarusians") is the unofficial title of the national anthem of Belarus and the first line of its lyrics. Officially, My Belarusy is titled "the National Anthem of the Republic of Belarus" (Russian: Государственный гимн Республики Беларусь, Belarusian: Дзяржаўны гімн Рэспублікі Беларусь). The anthem was originally written and adopted in 1955 for use in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The music of the Byelorussian SSR anthem was composed by Nester Sakalouski and the lyrics were written by Maxim Klimkovich. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the music composed by Sakalouski was kept and the lyrics were discarded. New lyrics, which were written by Klimkovich and Uladzimir Karyzny, were adopted by a presidential decree issued on July 2, 2002. Image File history File links Flag_of_Belarus. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belarus. ... The current national flag of Belarus was formally changed on June 7, 1995, following the result of a referendum voted on by the Belarusian people in the previous month. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognzed either by a nations government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Lyrics are the words in songs. ... State motto: Пралетарыі ўсіх краін, яднайцеся! Belarusian: Workers of the world, unite! Official language None. ... The State Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR ( ) (Belarusian: Дзяржаўны гімн Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка) was the national anthem of Belarus when it was an union republic in the USSR, used from 1955 to 1991. ... Nestar Sakalowski (be: Несьцер Сакалоўскі) was a Belarusian composer. ... Mihas Klimovich (be: Міхась Клімковіч) (November 20, 1899-November 5, 1954) was a Belarusian poet. ... The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ... Uladzimir Karyzny is a musical composer in Belarus. ... Decree is an order that has the force of law. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR

Main article: Anthem of Byelorussian SSR

My Belarusy was originally used as the anthem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Russian: гимн Белорусской Советской Социалистической Республики, Belarusian: гімн Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка) starting from February 24, 1955. The anthem was composed by Sakalouski and the lyrics were written by Maxim Klimkovich. Byelorussia was not the only Soviet Socialist Republic to adopt its own anthem; every SSR adopted their own unique anthem except for the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, which used the Hymn of the Soviet Union. The State Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR ( ) (Belarusian: Дзяржаўны гімн Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка) was the national anthem of Belarus when it was an union republic in the USSR, used from 1955 to 1991. ... language None. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mihas Klimovich (be: Міхась Клімковіч) (November 20, 1899-November 5, 1954) was a Belarusian poet. ... In its final decades of its existence, the Soviet Union consisted of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR), often called simply Soviet republics. ... State motto (Russian): Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Capital Moscow Official language None; Russian (de facto) Government Federation of Socialist republics/ Communist state Last Chairman of the Supreme Council Boris Yeltsin Area  - Total  - % water 1st in former Soviet Union 17,075,200 km² 0. ... Hymn of the Soviet Union (Гимн Советского Союза, Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza) was the national anthem of the Soviet Union. ...

Anthem of the Republic of Belarus

Alexander Lukashenko listening to the anthem contest finalists

The first performance of My Belarusy on July 2, 2002

The only legal mention of the national anthem before 2002 is 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 of the use of the flag, anthem and arms as national symbols, each symbol had to be defined by law. A law introducing an anthem was not enacted until Decree 350 issued by President took effect, on July 2, 2002, the day before the 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^[1]. Image File history File links Lukashenko_anthem_contest_2002. ... Image File history File links Lukashenko_anthem_contest_2002. ... Image File history File links My_Belarusy_first_performance. ... Image File history File links My_Belarusy_first_performance. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus (Russian: Конституции Республики Беларусь, Belarusian: Канстытуцыя Рэспублікі Беларусь) is a formal document crated by the Government of Belarus to organize their government and to set up the rights and freedoms of their citizens. ... The tricolour flag of France A flag is a piece of coloured cloth flown from a pole or mast, usually for purposes of signalling or identification. ... An emblem consists of a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept - often a concept of a moral truth or an allegory. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Before issuing the decree, President Alexander Lukashenko listened to five possible candidates for the national anthem. Three out of the five candidates, including the one ultimately chosen, used the music composed by Sakalouski and began their lyrics with the line My Belarusy. ^[2] According to the newspaper Soviet Byelorussia, President Lukashenko decided on the anthem on June 12, 2002 and chose to have its first performance on July 3, Belarusian independence day, the anniversary of the date in 1944 when the Wehrmacht was driven away from Minsk by the Red Army. ^[3] However, the first performance actually took place on July 2 at a concert organized by the government as part of the Belarusian independence festivities. ^[4] History of Belarusian states can be traced far to Duchy of Pólacak. ... Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko or Alaksandar Ryhoravič Lukashenka (Belarusian: , Russian: ) (born August 30, 1954) has been the President of Belarus since 1994. ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... German cavalry and motorized units entering Poland from East Prussia during the Polish Campaign of 1939 Wehrmacht (Defence force) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. ... The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (in Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya), the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ...

Belarus did not have an anthem before the adoption of the Soviet-era anthem. 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 and to Lenin were replaced; the overall theme of "friendship of peoples" and the original music composed by Sakalouski was preserved. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union ( Russian: Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Сове́тского Сою́за = КПСС) was the name used by the successors of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party from 1952 to 1991, but the wording Communist Party was present in the partys name since 1918 when... Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ( Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин  listen?), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) ( April 22 (April 10 ( O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a Russian revolutionary, the leader of the Bolshevik party, the first Premier of the Soviet Union, and the founder of the ideology of Leninism. ...

Reaction

The United Nations commented on the adoption of the anthem in a report called Nations in Transit 2003: Country Report of Belarus. The report, which was released in 2003 stated that: "Since coming to power, 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" ("We Belarusians"), as the country's new national anthem." The UN report also mentioned President Lukashenko's ban of the symbols that were used before Belarus's independence in 1991, such as the Pahonia arms and the white, red, white flag, in which Lukashenko claims are associated with fascism. ^[5] 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 the nostalgia. ^[6] United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Pahonia (Belarusian: , translated as Chase) is a historical symbol of Belarus. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a radio and communications organization which is funded by the United States Congress. ...

Regulations

The anthem must be performed in accordance with the lyrics and sheet music established by law. Every day, state-owned Belarusian television and radio stations are required to play the national anthem upon signing on at 6 am and again upon signing off (usually around midnight). 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. A sport consists of a normal physical activity or skill carried out under a publicly agreed set of rules, and with a recreational purpose: for competition, for self-enjoyment, to attain excellence, for the development of skill, or some combination of these. ... An inauguration is a ceremony of formal investiture whereby an individual assumes an office or position of authority or power. ... A salute is a gesture or other action used to display respect. ...

Other songs

Жыве Беларусь! (Long Live Belarus!) was a song composed in 1994 that has similar lyrics to the current anthem. While the lyrics of Long Live Belarus are set to the current anthem melody, the song never was used by the Belarusian Government officially. ^[7]

Another favorite in the competition was the poem called "Young Belarus" (Маладая Беларусь) by Janka Kupala. However, the poem was never set to a musical composition so Young Belarus could not be selected as the anthem. ^[8] Monument to Yanka Kupala, Minsk, Belarus Yanka KupaÅ‚a (Janka KupaÅ‚a, Belarusian: Я́нка Купа́ла) (July 7 (June 25, O.S.), 1882 – June 28, 1942) — penname of Ivan Łucevič (Іва́н Даміні́кавіч Луцэ́віч) was a famous Belarusian poet and writer. ...

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" (Russian: Державный союз народов, Derzhavny soyuz narodov) 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. ^[9] The Union of Russia and Belarus (Russian: Союз России и Беларуси, also called the Belarusian-Russian Union State) is a supranational entity comprising Russia and Belarus that was initiated by the latters president, Alexander Lukashenko. ... The National Anthem of the Soviet Union (or Hymn, Russian Гимн Советского Союза, Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza) replaced the Internationale as the national anthem on March 15, 1944. ...

Some Belarusian emigrants use "Vajacki Marš" and "Mahuthy Boža" as their national anthems. "Vajacki Marš" was the official anthem of BNR (Belarusian National Republic - short-lived state, existed in 1918). Nowadays in Belarus these songs are not used in official events, however they are popular among opposition movements. National motto: None Official language Belarusian Capital Minsk, Currently in Exile Chairperson of the Rada Ivonka Survilla Independence  - Declared  - Forced into Exile Treaty of Brest-Litovsk March 25, 1918 January 5, 1919 The Belarusian National Republic (Belarusian: Белару́ская Наро́дная Рэспу́бліка, also translated as Belarusian Peoples Republic, Belarusian Democratic Republic... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

Official lyrics (in Belarusian)

• Lyrics by Maxim Klimkovich and Uladzimir Karyzny
• Music by Nester Sakalouski

Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR

For comparison, below is a part of the Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR. The State Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR ( ) (Belarusian: Дзяржаўны гімн Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка) was the national anthem of Belarus when it was an union republic in the USSR, used from 1955 to 1991. ...

Media

Image File history File links My_Belarusy_vocal. ... Image File history File links BySSR_anthem_vocal. ... Image File history File links My_Belarusy. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ...

Sheet music

Vocal, page one Image File history File links My_Belarusy_1. ...

Vocal, page two Image File history File links My_Belarusy_2. ...

Instrumental, page one Image File history File links Download high resolution version (550x686, 110 KB) The musical notation for an instrumental performance of the Belarusian anthem My Belarusy. ...

Instrumental, page two Image File history File links Download high resolution version (545x707, 117 KB) The musical notation for an instrumental performance of the Belarusian anthem My Belarusy. ...

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

My Belarusy

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

My Belarusy

• President of the Republic of Belarus - Official website of the anthem.
• President of Belarus Decree 350.
• Soviet Byelorussia article.
• Recordings of the Belarusian anthem