Finland
"Maamme" (Our Land)

Words by: Johan Ludvig Runeberg
Music by: Fredrik Pacius
In use since: 1848

The melody of "Maamme" is identical to the Estonian anthem melody. The anthem lyrics were taken from a poem by Johan Ludvig Runeberg, a Swedish-speaking poet, called "Vårt land" (Our Land). The song was first sung in 1848 and became popular in Scandinavia and many of his patriotic poems, including Vårt land were used by promoters of Finnish nationalism. The poem was translated into Finnish by Paavo Eemil Kajander and became the anthem before 1917 independence. Interestingly, the anthem has never been officially legislated as the Finnish anthem, but rather is traditionally used as the anthem.

There is currently a debate in Finland to change the anthem to Jean Sibelius' song "Finlandia" (the melody was used in Biafra), a song recognized internationally as a symbol of Finland, but the general opinion seems to be for now to keep the current anthem.

Special thanks to: Klaus Caussmacher for the sheet music, Daniel G. Andersson for some of the information, and Matti Malinen for the English translation of the Finnish lyrics.

See also: Aland Islands.