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Himno Nacional Mexicano
English: Mexican National Anthem

National anthem of Mexico
Also known as	"Mexicanos, al grito de guerra" (English: "Mexicans, at the cry of war")
Lyrics	Francisco González Bocanegra, 1853
Music	Jaime Nunó Roca, 1854
Adopted	4 May 1943

Audio sample
Performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico file help

The "Mexican National Anthem" (Spanish: Himno Nacional Mexicano, pronounced ['imno nasjo'nal mexi'kano]; Nahuatl languages: Mexihcaletepetlacuicalt), also known by its incipit "Mexicans, at the cry of war" (Spanish: Mexicanos, al grito de guerra), is the national anthem of Mexico. The lyrics of the national anthem, which allude to historical Mexican military victories in the heat of battle and including cries of defending the homeland, were composed by poet Francisco González Bocanegra after a Federal contest in 1853. Later, in 1854, he asked Jaime Nunó to compose the music that now accompanies González's poem. The national anthem, consisting of ten stanzas and a chorus, effectively entered into use on September 16, 1854.

Composition

c.1997 U.S. performed instrumental version

U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (chorus and one verse)

c.1964 band instrumental recording (chorus and eight verses)

Performed by the Banda de Artillería de la SEDENA

Old orchestral and vocal recording (chorus and original 19th-century verses)

Problems playing these files? See media help.

Lyrics competition

On November 12, 1853, President Antonio López de Santa Anna announced a competition to write a national anthem for Mexico. The competition offered a prize for the best poetic composition representing patriotic ideals. Francisco González Bocanegra, a talented poet, was not interested in participating in the competition. He argued that writing love poems involved very different skills from the ones required to write a national anthem. His fiancée, Guadalupe González del Pino (or Pili), had undaunted faith in her fiancé's poetic skills and was displeased with his constant refusal to participate in spite of her constant prodding and requests from their friends. Under false pretenses, she lured him to a secluded bedroom in her parents' house, locked him into the room, and refused to let him out until he produced an entry for the competition. Inside the room in which he was temporarily imprisoned were pictures depicting various events in Mexican history which helped to inspire his work. After four hours of fluent (albeit forced) inspiration, Francisco regained his freedom by slipping all ten verses of his creation under the door. After Francisco received approval from his fiancée and her father, he submitted the poem and won the competition by unanimous vote. González was announced the winner in the publication Official Journal of the Federation (DOF) on February 3, 1854.

Music competition

A musical composition was chosen at the same time as the lyrics. The winner was Juan Bottesini, but his entry was disliked due to aesthetics. This rejection caused a second national contest to find music for the lyrics. At the end of the second contest, the music that was chosen for González's lyrics was composed by Jaime Nunó, the then Catalonian-born King of Spain's band leader. At the time of the second anthem competition, Nunó was the leader of several Mexican military bands. He had been invited to direct these bands by President Santa Anna, whom he had met in Cuba. About the time that Nunó first came to Mexico to start performing with the bands, Santa Anna was making his announcement about creating a national anthem for Mexico. Nunó's anthem music composition was made like masterpieces of classical music, with a high quality in composition, and was chosen. Out of the few musical compositions submitted, Nunó's music, titled "God and Freedom" ("Dios y libertad"), was chosen as the winner on August 12, 1854. The song was officially adopted as the Mexican national anthem on Independence Day, September 16 of that same year. The inaugural performance was directed by Juan Bottesini, sung by soprano Claudia Florenti and tenor Lorenzo Salvi at the Santa Anna Theatre.

Lyrics

Current lyrics

Officially since 1943, the full national anthem consists of the chorus and first, fifth, sixth, and tenth stanzas (with the chorus interspersed between each stanza and performed again at the end). The modification of the lyrics was ordered by President Manuel Ávila Camacho in a decree printed in the Diario Oficial de la Federación.

When the national anthem is played at sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, an abridged form (chorus, stanza I, chorus) is used. An unofficial semi-abridged form (chorus, stanza I, chorus, stanza X, chorus) has gained some acceptance in television and radio programming.

Spanish original	IPA transcription	English translation
Coro: Mexicanos, al grito de guerra El acero aprestad y el bridón, 𝄆 Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra Al sonoro rugir del cañón. 𝄇 I Ciña ¡Oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva de la paz el arcángel divino, que en el cielo tu eterno destino por el dedo de Dios se escribió. Mas si osare un extraño enemigo profanar con su planta tu suelo, piensa ¡oh Patria querida! que el cielo 𝄆 un soldado en cada hijo te dio. 𝄇 Coro II ¡Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente de la patria manchar los blasones! ¡Guerra, guerra! los patrios pendones en las olas de sangre empapad. ¡Guerra, guerra! en el monte, en el valle, los cañones horrísonos truenen, y los ecos sonoros resuenen 𝄆 con las voces de ¡Unión! ¡Libertad!. 𝄇 Coro III Antes, Patria, que inermes tus hijos bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen, tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen, sobre sangre se estampe su pie. Y tus templos, palacios y torres se derrumben con hórrido estruendo, y sus ruinas existan diciendo: 𝄆 de mil héroes la patria aquí fue. 𝄇 Coro IV ¡Patria! ¡Patria! tus hijos te juran exhalar en tus aras su aliento, si el clarín con su bélico acento los convoca a lidiar con valor. ¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva! ¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria! ¡Un laurel para ti de victoria! 𝄆 ¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor! 𝄇 Coro	Chorus: 𝄆 𝄇 I 𝄆 𝄇 Chorus II 𝄆 𝄇 Chorus III 𝄆 𝄇 Chorus IV 𝄆 𝄇 Chorus	Chorus: Mexicans, at the cry of war, assemble the steel and the bridle, 𝄆 and may the Earth tremble to its core to the resounding roar of the cannon. 𝄇 I Encircle Oh Fatherland!, your temples with olives peace by the divine archangel, for in heaven your eternal destiny by the finger of God it was written. If, however, a foreign enemy would dare to profane Your ground with their sole, think, Oh beloved Fatherland!, that Heaven 𝄆 has given a soldier in every son. 𝄇 Chorus II War, war! with no mercy to any who shall try to tarnish the coats of arms of the Fatherland! War, war! The national banners Shall be drenched in the waves of blood. War, war! On the mountain, in the valley, The cannons thunder in horrid unison and the sonorous echoes resound 𝄆 with bellows of Union! Liberty! 𝄇 Chorus III O, Fatherland, if however your children, defenseless With their necks bent beneath the yoke, May your fields be watered with blood, May their footsteps be printed with blood. And your temples, palaces and towers Shall collapse with horrid clamor, And your ruins continue on, whispering: 𝄆 Of one thousand heroes, the Fatherland once was. 𝄇 Chorus IV Fatherland! Fatherland! Your children assure to breathe until their last for your sake, if the bugle with its bellicose accent calls them together to battle with courage. For you, the olive wreaths! For them, a reminder of glory! For you, a laurel of victory! 𝄆 For them, a tomb of honor! 𝄇 Chorus

Original lyrics

The following is the original and complete version of the anthem as it became known in 1853.

Spanish original	English translation
Coro: Mexicanos, al grito de guerra El acero aprestad y el bridón, 𝄆 Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra Al sonoro rugir del cañón. 𝄇 I Ciña ¡Oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva de la paz el arcángel divino, que en el cielo tu eterno destino por el dedo de Dios se escribió. Mas si osare un extraño enemigo profanar con su planta tu suelo, piensa ¡oh Patria querida! que el cielo 𝄆 un soldado en cada hijo te dio. 𝄇 Coro II En sangrientos combates los viste por tu amor palpitando sus senos, arrostrar la metralla serenos, y la muerte o la gloria buscar. Si el recuerdo de antiguas hazañas de tus hijos inflama la mente, los laureles del triunfo, tu frente, 𝄆 volverán inmortales a ornar. 𝄇 Coro III Como al golpe del rayo la encina, se derrumba hasta el hondo torrente la discordia vencida, impotente, a los pies del arcángel cayó. Ya no más, de tus hijos la sangre, se derrame en contienda de hermanos; sólo encuentre el acero en sus manos 𝄆 quien tu nombre sagrado insultó. 𝄇 Coro IV Del guerrero inmortal de Zempoala te defiende la espada terrible, y sostiene su brazo invencible tu sagrado pendón tricolor. Él será del feliz mexicano en la paz y en la guerra el caudillo. porque él supo sus armas de brillo 𝄆 circundar en los campos de honor. 𝄇 Coro V ¡Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente de la patria manchar los blasones! ¡Guerra, guerra! los patrios pendones en las olas de sangre empapad. ¡Guerra, guerra! en el monte, en el valle, los cañones horrísonos truenen, y los ecos sonoros resuenen 𝄆 con las voces de ¡Unión! ¡Libertad! 𝄇 Coro VI Antes, Patria, que inermes tus hijos bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen, tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen, sobre sangre se estampe su pie. Y tus templos, palacios y torres se derrumben con hórrido estruendo, y sus ruinas existan diciendo: 𝄆 de mil héroes la patria aquí fue. 𝄇 Coro VII Si a la lid contra hueste enemiga nos convoca la trompa guerrera, de Iturbide la sacra bandera ¡Mexicanos! valientes seguid. Y a los fieros bridones les sirvan las vencidas enseñas de alfombra; los laureles del triunfo den sombra 𝄆 a la frente del bravo adalid. 𝄇 Coro VIII Vuelva altivo a los patrios hogares el guerrero a cantar su victoria, ostentando las palmas de gloria que supiera en la lid conquistar. Tornaránse sus lauros sangrientos en guirnaldas de mirtos y rosas, que el amor de las hijas y esposas 𝄆 también sabe a los bravos premiar. 𝄇 Coro IX Y el que al golpe de ardiente metralla, de la Patria en las aras sucumba, obtendrá en recompensa una tumba donde brille, de gloria, la luz. Y, de Iguala, la enseña querida a su espada sangrienta enlazada, de laurel inmortal coronada, 𝄆 formará de su fosa la cruz. 𝄇 Coro X ¡Patria! ¡Patria! tus hijos te juran Exhalar en tus aras su aliento, Si el clarín con su bélico acento los convoca a lidiar con valor. ¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva! ¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria! ¡Un laurel para ti de victoria! 𝄆 ¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor! 𝄇 Coro	Chorus: Mexicans, at the cry of war, assemble the steel and the bridle, 𝄆 and the Earth trembles to its core to the resounding roar of the cannon. 𝄇 I Encircle Oh Fatherland!, your temples with olives the divine archangel of Peace, for in heaven your eternal destiny was written by the finger of God. If, however, a foreign enemy would dare to profane Your ground with their sole, think, Oh beloved Fatherland!, that Heaven 𝄆 has given a soldier in every son. 𝄇 Chorus II In bloody battles you saw them, their chests palpitating for your love, face the shrapnel calm, and seek death or glory. If the memory of ancient deeds of your children inflames the mind, the laurels of triumph, your forehead 𝄆 they will return immortal to adorn. 𝄇 Chorus III Like the holm oak struck by lightning, to the deep torrent collapses discord, defeated, impotent, it fell to the feet of the archangel. No more, the blood of your children, spills in fight of brothers; just find the steel in his hands 𝄆 whoever insulted your sacred name. 𝄇 Chorus IV Of the immortal warrior of Zempoala the terrible sword defends you, and its invincible arm upholds your sacred tricolour banner. He will be, of the happy Mexican, the caudillo in peace and in war. because he knew how, his guns of brilliance, 𝄆 to surround in the fields of honour. 𝄇 Chorus V War, war! with no mercy to any who shall try to tarnish the coats of arms of the Fatherland! War, war! The national banners Shall be drenched in the waves of blood. War, war! On the mountain, in the valley, The cannons thunder in horrid unison and the sonorous echoes resound 𝄆 with bellows of Union! Liberty! 𝄇 Chorus VI O, Fatherland, if however your children, defenseless With their necks bent beneath the yoke, May your fields be watered with blood, May their footsteps be printed with blood. And your temples, palaces and towers Shall collapse with horrid clamor, And your ruins continue on, whispering: 𝄆 Of one thousand heroes, the Fatherland once was. 𝄇 Chorus VII If to the fight against enemy host, the war horn summons us, the sacred flag of Iturbide, Mexicans! brave, keep going. And to the fierce bridoons, let serve them the defeated ensigns as a carpet; the laurels of triumph give shade 𝄆 to the forehead of the brave commander. 𝄇 Chorus VIII To the patriotic homes returns proud the warrior to sing his victory, showing off the palms of glory that he knew how to conquer in the fight. Their bloody laurels will turn into garlands of myrtles and roses, since the love of daughters and wives 𝄆 also knows how to reward the brave. 𝄇 Chorus IX And he who, to the blow of burning shrapnel, succumbs in the altars of the fatherland, will obtain in reward a tomb where the light of glory shines. And, of Iguala, the dear ensign linked to his bloody sword, crowned with an immortal laurel, 𝄆 will form the cross from his grave. 𝄇 Chorus X Fatherland! Fatherland! Your children assure to breathe until their last for your sake, if the bugle with its bellicose accent calls them together to battle with courage. For you, the olive wreaths! For them, a reminder of glory! For you, a laurel of victory! 𝄆 For them, a tomb of honor! 𝄇 Chorus

Spanish original

English translation

Coro:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
El acero aprestad y el bridón,
𝄆 Y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
Al sonoro rugir del cañón. 𝄇

I
Ciña ¡Oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva
de la paz el arcángel divino,
que en el cielo tu eterno destino
por el dedo de Dios se escribió.
Mas si osare un extraño enemigo
profanar con su planta tu suelo,
piensa ¡oh Patria querida! que el cielo
𝄆 un soldado en cada hijo te dio. 𝄇

Coro

II
En sangrientos combates los viste
por tu amor palpitando sus senos,
arrostrar la metralla serenos,
y la muerte o la gloria buscar.
Si el recuerdo de antiguas hazañas
de tus hijos inflama la mente,
los laureles del triunfo, tu frente,
𝄆 volverán inmortales a ornar. 𝄇

Coro

III
Como al golpe del rayo la encina,
se derrumba hasta el hondo torrente
la discordia vencida, impotente,
a los pies del arcángel cayó.
Ya no más, de tus hijos la sangre,
se derrame en contienda de hermanos;
sólo encuentre el acero en sus manos
𝄆 quien tu nombre sagrado insultó. 𝄇

Coro

IV
Del guerrero inmortal de Zempoala
te defiende la espada terrible,
y sostiene su brazo invencible
tu sagrado pendón tricolor.
Él será del feliz mexicano
en la paz y en la guerra el caudillo.
porque él supo sus armas de brillo
𝄆 circundar en los campos de honor. 𝄇

Coro

V
¡Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente
de la patria manchar los blasones!
¡Guerra, guerra! los patrios pendones
en las olas de sangre empapad.
¡Guerra, guerra! en el monte, en el valle,
los cañones horrísonos truenen,
y los ecos sonoros resuenen
𝄆 con las voces de ¡Unión! ¡Libertad! 𝄇

Coro

VI
Antes, Patria, que inermes tus hijos
bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen,
tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen,
sobre sangre se estampe su pie.
Y tus templos, palacios y torres
se derrumben con hórrido estruendo,
y sus ruinas existan diciendo:
𝄆 de mil héroes la patria aquí fue. 𝄇

Coro

VII
Si a la lid contra hueste enemiga
nos convoca la trompa guerrera,
de Iturbide la sacra bandera
¡Mexicanos! valientes seguid.
Y a los fieros bridones les sirvan
las vencidas enseñas de alfombra;
los laureles del triunfo den sombra
𝄆 a la frente del bravo adalid. 𝄇

Coro

VIII
Vuelva altivo a los patrios hogares
el guerrero a cantar su victoria,
ostentando las palmas de gloria
que supiera en la lid conquistar.
Tornaránse sus lauros sangrientos
en guirnaldas de mirtos y rosas,
que el amor de las hijas y esposas
𝄆 también sabe a los bravos premiar. 𝄇

Coro

IX
Y el que al golpe de ardiente metralla,
de la Patria en las aras sucumba,
obtendrá en recompensa una tumba
donde brille, de gloria, la luz.
Y, de Iguala, la enseña querida
a su espada sangrienta enlazada,
de laurel inmortal coronada,
𝄆 formará de su fosa la cruz. 𝄇

Coro

X
¡Patria! ¡Patria! tus hijos te juran
Exhalar en tus aras su aliento,
Si el clarín con su bélico acento
los convoca a lidiar con valor.
¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva!
¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria!
¡Un laurel para ti de victoria!
𝄆 ¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor! 𝄇

Coro

Chorus:
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
assemble the steel and the bridle,
𝄆 and the Earth trembles to its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon. 𝄇

I
Encircle Oh Fatherland!, your temples with olives
the divine archangel of Peace,
for in heaven your eternal destiny
was written by the finger of God.
If, however, a foreign enemy would dare
to profane Your ground with their sole,
think, Oh beloved Fatherland!, that Heaven
𝄆 has given a soldier in every son. 𝄇

Chorus

II
In bloody battles you saw them,
their chests palpitating for your love,
face the shrapnel calm,
and seek death or glory.
If the memory of ancient deeds
of your children inflames the mind,
the laurels of triumph, your forehead
𝄆 they will return immortal to adorn. 𝄇

Chorus

III
Like the holm oak struck by lightning,
to the deep torrent collapses
discord, defeated, impotent,
it fell to the feet of the archangel.
No more, the blood of your children,
spills in fight of brothers;
just find the steel in his hands
𝄆 whoever insulted your sacred name. 𝄇

Chorus

IV
Of the immortal warrior of Zempoala
the terrible sword defends you,
and its invincible arm upholds
your sacred tricolour banner.
He will be, of the happy Mexican,
the caudillo in peace and in war.
because he knew how, his guns of brilliance,
𝄆 to surround in the fields of honour. 𝄇

Chorus

V
War, war! with no mercy to any who shall try
to tarnish the coats of arms of the Fatherland!
War, war! The national banners
Shall be drenched in the waves of blood.
War, war! On the mountain, in the valley,
The cannons thunder in horrid unison
and the sonorous echoes resound
𝄆 with bellows of Union! Liberty! 𝄇

Chorus

VI
O, Fatherland, if however your children, defenseless
With their necks bent beneath the yoke,
May your fields be watered with blood,
May their footsteps be printed with blood.
And your temples, palaces and towers
Shall collapse with horrid clamor,
And your ruins continue on, whispering:
𝄆 Of one thousand heroes, the Fatherland once was. 𝄇

Chorus

VII
If to the fight against enemy host,
the war horn summons us,
the sacred flag of Iturbide,
Mexicans! brave, keep going.
And to the fierce bridoons, let serve them
the defeated ensigns as a carpet;
the laurels of triumph give shade
𝄆 to the forehead of the brave commander. 𝄇

Chorus

VIII
To the patriotic homes returns proud
the warrior to sing his victory,
showing off the palms of glory
that he knew how to conquer in the fight.
Their bloody laurels will turn
into garlands of myrtles and roses,
since the love of daughters and wives
𝄆 also knows how to reward the brave. 𝄇

Chorus

IX
And he who, to the blow of burning shrapnel,
succumbs in the altars of the fatherland,
will obtain in reward a tomb
where the light of glory shines.
And, of Iguala, the dear ensign
linked to his bloody sword,
crowned with an immortal laurel,
𝄆 will form the cross from his grave. 𝄇

Chorus

X
Fatherland! Fatherland! Your children assure
to breathe until their last for your sake,
if the bugle with its bellicose accent
calls them together to battle with courage.
For you, the olive wreaths!
For them, a reminder of glory!
For you, a laurel of victory!
𝄆 For them, a tomb of honor! 𝄇

Chorus

Copyright status

An urban legend about the copyright status of the anthem states that years after its first performance, Nunó's family sold the musical rights to a German music publishing company named Wagner House. Originally, Nunó was supposed to have turned the music rights over to the state in exchange for a prize from the Mexican government. However, according to the myth, the copyright changed hands again, this time to Nunó himself and two Americans, Harry Henneman and Phil Hill.

In reality, this is not correct. It is true that Nunó, Henneman and Hill did register the music with the company BMI (BMI Work #568879), with the Edward B. Marks Music Company as the listed publisher of the anthem. This might be the version that some have suggested is copyrighted in the United States. However, United States copyright law declares the Mexican anthem to be in the public domain inside the United States, since both the lyrics and music were published before 1923. Furthermore, under Mexican copyright law, Article 155 states that the government holds moral rights, but not property rights, to symbols of the state, such as the national anthem, coat of arms and the national flag.

National regulations

In the second chapter of the Law on the National Arms, Flag, and Anthem (Ley sobre el Escudo, la Bandera y el Himno Nacionales), the national anthem is described in very brief terms. While Articles 2 and 3 discuss in detail the coat of arms and the flag, respectively, Article 4 mentions only that the national anthem will be designated by law. Article 4 also mentions that a copy of the lyrics and the musical notation will be kept at two locations, the General National Archive and at the National Library, located in the National Museum of History (Biblioteca Nacional en el Museo Nacional de Historia).

Chapter 5 of the Law goes into more detail about how to honor, respect and properly perform the national anthem. Article 38 states that the singing, playing, reproduction and circulation of the national anthem are regulated by law and that any interpretation of the anthem must be performed in a "respectful way and in a scope that allows to observe the due solemnity" of the anthem. Article 39 prohibits the anthem from being altered in any fashion, prohibits it from being sung for commercial or promotional purposes, and also disallows the singing or playing of national anthems from other nations, unless you have permission from the Secretary of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación) and the diplomatic official from the nation in question. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Public Education (Secretaría de Educación Pública), in Article 40, must grant permission for all reproductions of the national anthem to be produced, unless the anthem is being played during official ceremonies carried on radio or television. Article 41 states that the national anthem is required to be played at the sign-on or sign-off of radio and television programming; with the advent of 24-hour programming schedules in the 1990s and 2000s, many stations now do so at or as close to midnight and 6 a.m. local time as possible by interpretation of the former traditional times of sign-on and sign-off. The extra requirement for television programming is that photos of the Mexican flag must be displayed at the same time the anthem is playing.

Article 42 states that the anthem may only be used during the following occasions: solemn acts of official, civic, cultural, scholastic or sport character. The anthem can also be played to render honors to the Mexican flag and to the President of Mexico. If the national anthem is being used to honor the national flag or the President, the short version of the anthem is played. Article 43 says that special musical honors may be paid to the President and the flag, but no more than once during the same ceremony. Article 44 says that during solemn occasions, if a choir is singing the anthem, the military bands will keep silent. Article 45 says that those who are watching the national anthem performance must stand at attention (firmes) and remove any headgear. Article 46 states that the national anthem must be taught to children who are attending primary or secondary school; this article was amended in 2005 to add pre-school to the list. The article also states that each school in the National Education System (Sistema Educativo Nacional) will be asked to sing the national anthem each year. Article 47 states that in an official ceremony in which is need to play another anthem, the Mexican anthem will be played first, then the guest state's national anthem. Article 48 states that at embassies and consulates of Mexico, the national anthem is played at ceremonies of a solemn nature that involves the Mexican people. If the anthem is played outside of Mexico, Article 48 requires that the Secretary of External Relations (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), through proper channels, must grant permission for the national anthem to be played and will also ensure that the anthem is not sung for commercial purposes.

Cultural significance

Mexican fans sing the Mexican national anthem before a football match in March 2009.

At the time the Mexican national anthem was written, Mexico was still facing the effects of a bitter defeat in the Mexican–American War at the hands of the United States. The country felt demoralized and also divided, due to the cession of more than half of its territory due to its defeat to the United States. According to historian Javier Garciadiego, who spoke at a 2004 ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the national anthem's adoption, the song disregards divisions and strife and encourages national unity. On that same date, Mexico City and other parts of the country stopped what they were doing and performed a nationwide singing of the national anthem. Individuals from other countries also participated, mostly at diplomatic offices or at locations where a high concentration of Mexican expatriates are found. The national anthem has also been described as one of the symbols of the "Mexican identity".

On the rare occasions when someone performs the national anthem incorrectly, the federal government has been known to impose penalties to maintain the "dignity" of the national symbols. One example is when a performer forgot some of the lyrics at an association football match in Guadalajara, she was fined $400 MXN by the Interior Ministry and released an apology letter to the country through the Interior Ministry. Another infamous case is that of banda musician Julio Preciado, who performed the national anthem at the inauguration of the Caribbean Baseball Series in 2009; El Universal reported that "in a slow tone that has nothing to do with the rhythm of the National Anthem, the singer literally forgot the lyrics of the second stanza and mixed it with others", this earned the fanfare of those who were present at the stadium (and those watching it live on TV), some of the people attending the inauguration started shouting the phrases "¡sáquenlo!, ¡no se lo sabe! ¡fuera, fuera!" (Get him out! He doesn't know it! Out, out!).

In addition, the national anthem is sometimes used as a kind of shibboleth: a tool against people who might not be "true Mexicans" (as opposed to migrants from another Latin American country who pretend that they are from Mexico). The suspected are asked to sing Mexico's national anthem and it is widely expected that only "true Mexicans" will know the lyrics and tune and thus will be able to sing it. In one case, a young man of Afro-Mexican descent was stopped by police and forced to sing the national anthem to prove his nationality. In a separate incident in Japan, police officers asked four people to sing the Mexican national anthem after they were arrested in Tokyo on charges of breaking and entering. However, when they could not sing the song, it was discovered that they were Colombians holding forged Mexican passports. They were later charged with more counts on theft of merchandise and money.

The verse Mas si osare un extraño enemigo ("If, however, a foreign enemy would dare") uses mas and osare, archaic poetic forms. Modern prose speakers would use Pero si se atreviera un enemigo extranjero. Thus, the verse has sometimes been misunderstood as Masiosare, un extraño enemigo ("Masiosare, a strange enemy") with Masiosare, an otherwise unused word, as the name of the enemy. "Masiosare" has been used in Mexico as a first name for real and fictional people and as a common name (masiosare or the homophone maciosare) for the anthem itself or for a threat against the country.

Other languages

Though the de facto language of Mexico is Spanish, there are still people who only speak indigenous languages. On December 8, 2005, Article 39 of the national symbols law was adopted to allow for the translation of the lyrics into the native languages. The official translation is performed by the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (Instituto Nacional de Lenguas Indígenas).

Officially, the national anthem has been translated into the following native languages: Chinanteco, Hña Hñu, Mixtec, Maya, Nahuatl and Tenek. Other native groups have translated the anthem into their respective language, but it has not been sanctioned by the Government.

Nahuatl translation
Coro: Ihcuca yaotl tenochnotzas mexihca, Ticanacan temicti tepuztli. Ihuan huelihqui ma tlacohcomoni, Ihcuac totepuz cueponiz nohuian. I Tlazohtlalnan ximoixcuaxochtlali In pahcayotl nemiliztli cecnitlaca, Ilhuicapa monemiliz nochipa Omohcuilo ica imahpiltzin toteo. Tlaquinequizque in huehca chanehque Motlalticpac quintlalizque in icxihuan Tlazohtlalnan xicmati ca mopilhuan Quin yecanaz toteotzin ipan yaotl. Coro V Yaotl, yaotl in aquin yaotenchuaz Quin tlilehuaz in tlazohilalan, Yaotl, yaotl in tlazohtlalnan pantli Ma paltilo ihtech xalatlyezpozonal. Yaotl yaotl ipan ixtlahual in cuactla Ihcuac mocaquiz temictiani tepuztli, Inanhquilo in tlaototoponal Tlamach tzatziloz nemaquixtiliz. Coro VI Achto tiquin mopilhuan tazohtlalnan Cuatlanepantetech iquechpa motemahca Mamoyeznalocan in tlen ixtlahuahme, Ihpan eztli icxihuan quintlaliz Ihuan moteocalhuan, hueicalhuan tzilinal Mahuetzican ica tlalcocomonal Ihuan cemihcac quitozqui in tapanzol Miac mahuiztli oyeni tlazohtlalnan. Coro X Tlazontlalnan mopilhuan mitzilhuia Ca nochipa mopampa mihmiquizque Tla technotzaz in yaoltlapitzalli Ica itenyo huclihqui quemhmanian. Inic tehuatl iztaque xochime Inic yehuan ce ilhuica ilnamiquiliz Cente tlatzaca tlatlaniliz moaxca Ce mahuiztic tecochtli inic yeh. Coro

Nahuatl translation

Coro:
Ihcuca yaotl tenochnotzas mexihca,
Ticanacan temicti tepuztli.
Ihuan huelihqui ma tlacohcomoni,
Ihcuac totepuz cueponiz nohuian.

I
Tlazohtlalnan ximoixcuaxochtlali
In pahcayotl nemiliztli cecnitlaca,
Ilhuicapa monemiliz nochipa
Omohcuilo ica imahpiltzin toteo.
Tlaquinequizque in huehca chanehque
Motlalticpac quintlalizque in icxihuan
Tlazohtlalnan xicmati ca mopilhuan
Quin yecanaz toteotzin ipan yaotl.

Coro

V
Yaotl, yaotl in aquin yaotenchuaz
Quin tlilehuaz in tlazohilalan,
Yaotl, yaotl in tlazohtlalnan pantli
Ma paltilo ihtech xalatlyezpozonal.
Yaotl yaotl ipan ixtlahual in cuactla
Ihcuac mocaquiz temictiani tepuztli,
Inanhquilo in tlaototoponal
Tlamach tzatziloz nemaquixtiliz.

Coro

VI
Achto tiquin mopilhuan tazohtlalnan
Cuatlanepantetech iquechpa motemahca
Mamoyeznalocan in tlen ixtlahuahme,
Ihpan eztli icxihuan quintlaliz
Ihuan moteocalhuan, hueicalhuan tzilinal
Mahuetzican ica tlalcocomonal
Ihuan cemihcac quitozqui in tapanzol
Miac mahuiztli oyeni tlazohtlalnan.

Coro

X
Tlazontlalnan mopilhuan mitzilhuia
Ca nochipa mopampa mihmiquizque
Tla technotzaz in yaoltlapitzalli
Ica itenyo huclihqui quemhmanian.
Inic tehuatl iztaque xochime
Inic yehuan ce ilhuica ilnamiquiliz
Cente tlatzaca tlatlaniliz moaxca
Ce mahuiztic tecochtli inic yeh.

Coro

Musical score

Second page of music and lyrics

Notes

See Help:IPA/Spanish, Spanish phonology and Mexican Spanish.
Sometimes written fieles ("faithful").
Sometimes written formará de su fosa una cruz ("will form a cross from his grave").

References

"Hace 75 años se emitió el decreto por el que se establece la versión oficial de nuestro Himno Nacional" [75 years ago the decree establishing the official version of our National Anthem was issued]. Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal. 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
David Kendall National Anthems—Mexico Archived 2008-06-13 at the Wayback Machine
Galindo y Villa, Jesus (1907). Anales del Museo Nacional de Mexico, 1907. Mexico: Imprenta de Museo Nacional. pp. 456–457.
^ Embassy of Mexico in Serbia and Montenegro Mexican Symbols—Himo. Retrieved March 19, 2006. Archived February 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
"National Anthem for Kids". Archived from the original on April 29, 2006. Retrieved March 15, 2006.
Secretary of External Relations History of the Mexican Anthem. Retrieved March 15, 2006. (in Spanish)
Administration of Ernesto Zedillo National Symbols of Mexico Archived 2006-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 15, 2006.
"Gaceta del Senado". Senado de la República (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-02-07.
"Himno Nacional". Gobierno del Estado de Aguascalientes. Archived from the original on 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
Nunó, Francisco González Bocanegra y Jaime (2004-01-01). "Letra completa del Himno Nacional Mexicano". Derecho y Cultura. Vol. 1, no. 13. Archived from the original on 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
González Bocanegra, Francisco; Peñalosa, Joaquín Antonio (1998). Francisco González Bocanegra: vida y obra (in Spanish). UASLP. p. 272. ISBN 978-968-7674-29-2.
Alvear Acevedo, Carlos (1964). Historia de Mexico: épocas precortesiana, colonial e independiento (in Spanish). Editorial Jus. p. 253.
Presencia de las corresponsalías (in Spanish). Ediciones del Seminario de Cultura Mexicana. 1972. p. 105.
López Alaniz, Fernando (1986). Un poco de historia (in Spanish). SEP/Michoacán. p. 27.
LA Weekly DON'T CRY FOR ME, MEXICO; Article about the copyright situation. September 22, 1999.
BMI Repretoire Himno Nacional Mexicano (BMI Work #568879). Retrieved March 16, 2006.
^ San Diego Union Tribune Mexicans celebrate 150 years of national anthem with worldwide sing-along Archived 2007-03-13 at the Wayback Machine September 15, 2004. Retrieved March 15, 2006.
US Copyright Office Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States. Retrieved March 16, 2006. Archived July 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
Secretary of Education Mexican Copyright Law. Retrieved March 15, 2006 (in Spanish) Archived February 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Ley sobre el Escudo la Bandera y el Himno Nacionales" (PDF) (in Spanish). Government of Mexico. 2006-06-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 19, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
Associated Press "Woman fined for bungling Mexican anthem". Archived from the original on June 28, 2012.. October 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2006.
"Julio Preciado se equivoca al entonar el Himno Nacional (in Spanish)". El Universal. 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
College Street Journal FP Antonieta Gimeno Attends Conference on Black Mexicans Archived 2009-04-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 20, 2006.
ABC News Online Japanese police catch Colombian thieves out. June 15, 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2006.
Koźmiński, Michał (31 July 2022). "Masiosare: un extraño… caso de apelativización en el español mexicano" (PDF). Anuario de Letras. Lingüística y Filología (in Spanish). 10 (2): 183–210. doi:10.19130/iifl.adel.2022.10.2.x00s25877.
Diario Oficial de la Federación—Decree allowing for translation of the anthem into native languages. December 7, 2005. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas Himno Nacional Mexicano en lenguas indígenas
"National Anthems & Patriotic Songs - Mexican National Anthem - Himno Nacional Mexicano lyrics + Nahuatl translation".

External links

President of Mexico's page about the anthem, with two recordings (in Spanish)
Free sheet music of Himno Nacional Mexicano from Cantorion.org
Descargas de Videos y audios

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