Know your National Anthems Trivia Quiz

Answer: La Marseillaise

'La Marseillaise', written by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle during the French Revolution, was officially accepted as the French national anthem on July 14, 1795. Over the next century it was banned by Napoleon and by Louis XVIII, because of its revolutionary associations. In 1897 'La Marseillaise' was reinstated.

'La Brabançonne' is the Belgian national anthem, whereas 'L'Hymne à l'Amour' is a song by Edith Piaf. 'La Strasbourgeoise' was an alternative name for the French anthem in the early days of its existence.

Answer: True

The 'Hymn and Pontifical March' was composed in the 19th century by the very religious French composer Charles Gounod. In 1950 it officially replaced Vittorio Hallmayr's composition as the national anthem of Vatican City.

Answer: Spain

Although lyrics were written for Spain's 'Marcha Real' over the years, the official version remains without words. Among other countries that have textless national anthems are San Marino and Mauritania.

Answer: Austria

In the late 18th century Haydn was asked to compose a tune for a poem by Lorenz Haschka. The result was 'Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser', which was Austria's national anthem for over a century. In 1841 the German poet August Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote his own lyrics to Haydn's melody and his 'Lied der Deutschen' became the official German anthem in 1922.

The first line "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" (Germany, Germany above all), that was originally intended as an appeal for a unified Germany, was misused in Nazi Germany however, which lead the Allies to temporarily prohibit the entire anthem. Nowadays only the third verse of the 'Song of the Germans' is used.

Answer: True

The words of 'Kimigayo', the Japanese national anthem, are a tanka (a 5-line, 31-syllable poem) by an unknown poet. The poem stems from approximately the ninth century. With 158 (!) verses the Greek national anthem is the longest anthem around.

Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven

After working on it for years, Beethoven finished his Ninth Symphony in 1824. The finale of his symphony is widely known as the 'Ode to Joy', which contains the famous line "Alle Menschen werden Brüder". Because of the large number of different languages in the European Union, it was decided that the European supra-national anthem would have no lyrics.

Answer: Morocco & Egypt

Finland was the first to use Frederick Pacius' melody for their national anthem, Estonia followed several years later. Pacius was neither Finnish, nor Estonian, by the way. He was German!

Zambia and Tanzania have to share Enoch Sontonga's tune not only with each other, but also with South Africa, that used it for the first part of their national anthem.

Probably inspired by their neighbour Switzerland, Liechtenstein based their national anthem on the tune that had been in use as the British national anthem for quite some time.

Answer: False

The original lyrics to the Swiss national anthem, composed by Albert Zwyssig in the 19th century, were written in German. They were later translated into French and Italian.

Answer: Belize

Belize's national anthem is called 'Land of the Free', and was written in 1963.

Answer: United States of America

In 1814 Francis Scott Key witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry, which inspired him to write a poem, appropriately called 'The Defense of Fort McHenry'. This poem was set to the meter of 'To Anacreon in Heaven' - a popular drinking song at the time - and 'The Star Spangled Banner' was born.