The National Anthem of Belarus

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• For information about the other traditional symbols of Belarus, see the Pahonia and the Flags of Belarus information and links on this A Belarus Miscellany Web site.

  
  

• For information about the postage stamps of Belarus, see the Bel-Poshta and Other Postage Stamp information at this Web site.

From the entry, National Anthem, in the Historical Dictionary of Belarus (Zaprudnik, 1998; p. 161):

"There are several patriotic songs, all composed during the first two decades of the 20th century, that are considered to have been unofficial national hymns. The most widely known is a poem by Yanka Kupala, Nie pahasnuch zorki u niebie ("The stars in the sky will never darken"). The short-lived Belarusan National [Democratic] Republic had for its anthem the song, My vyjdziem shchylnymi radami ("Come, We Shall March in Joint Endeavor,"). Until 1955, the anthem of the Belarusan SSR, as of the entire Soviet Union, was the Communist Party's official song, 'The International.' "

"The first proper anthem of the republic, My--bielarusy ("We the Belarusans"), in which praise for the Communist Party was sung, was introduced in 1955."

"Since the proclamation of independence in 1991, the Republic of Belarus has kept the melody of this latter anthem, but not the lyrics. In April 1995, the parliamentary education and culture committee recommended for the anthem the lyrics of "Mahutny Bozha" ("O God Almighty") by Natalla Arsiennieva that had been put to music by composer Mikola Revienski and is widely sung in Belarusan churchs and at various ceremonies in the West. However, there was no follow-up to that proposal. As of 1997, the search for lyrics, and possibly new music, was still under way."

(Note: In the preceding excerpt, terms in bold refer to other entries in the Historical Dictionary of Belarus. The Historical Dictionary of Belarus is an important summary of the history of Belarus.)

• Refer to the following section of the Virtual Guide to Belarus Web page for a discussion of the following symbols of Belarus, as well as associated pointers to other sites: Belarusian Statehood: Belarusian State, Anthem, Symbol, and Flag.

• Refer to the material about the November, 1996, Referendum, for further background information about the current regime in Belarus.