Himno Nacional de Guatemala
Encyclopedia
The National Anthem of Guatemala was written by José Joaquín Palma
(1844–1911) and composed by Rafael Álvarez Ovalle. The anthem was adopted in 1896 as the winning entry in a competition held by the government. The lyrics were modified slightly in 1934 by Professor Jose Maria Bonilla Ruano, a Spanish grammar scholar. Some verses were softened in their bloody context while others were enhanced in their poetic beauty.
The anthem is often erroneously "titled" Guatemala Feliz! from its opening lyrics, but the anthem has no official name and is only referred to in the country as Himno Nacional.
Transcription in F, original key. Transcription in C for children and female voices, and for easy piano.
José Joaquín Palma
Jose Joaquin Palma Jose Joaquin Palma Jose Joaquin Palma (Bayamo, Cuba, September 11, 1844 - Guatemala City. August 2, 1911. Son of Pedro Palma y Aguilera and Dolores Lasso de la Vega. Went to "San José" School in Bayamo under the direction of José María Izaguirre whom he would later meet again in...
(1844–1911) and composed by Rafael Álvarez Ovalle. The anthem was adopted in 1896 as the winning entry in a competition held by the government. The lyrics were modified slightly in 1934 by Professor Jose Maria Bonilla Ruano, a Spanish grammar scholar. Some verses were softened in their bloody context while others were enhanced in their poetic beauty.
The anthem is often erroneously "titled" Guatemala Feliz! from its opening lyrics, but the anthem has no official name and is only referred to in the country as Himno Nacional.
Sheet music
Transcription in F, original key. Transcription in C for children and female voices, and for easy piano.
Lyrics
| Spanish lyrics | English lyrics |
|---|---|
| First stanza | |
¡Guatemala feliz...! que tus aras no profane jamás el verdugo; ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo ni tiranos que escupan tu faz. |
Glad (Joyous) Guatemala! may your altar Never be trampled by the tormentor Nor may slaves lick the yoke Nor may tyrants spit upon your face |
| Second stanza | |
Si mañana tu suelo sagrado lo amenaza invasión extranjera, libre al viento tu hermosa bandera a vencer o a morir llamará. |
If tomorrow your sacred soil By foreign invasion is threatened Free into the wind, your beautiful flag Flag of Guatemala The flag of Guatemala features two colors: sky blue and white. The two sky blue stripes represent the fact that Guatemala is a land located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean ; and the sky over the country . The white color signifies peace and purity.In the center of the... To victory or death it shall call |
| Chorus | |
Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera a vencer o a morir llamará; que tu pueblo con ánima fiera antes muerto que esclavo será. |
Free into the wind, your beautiful flag To victory or death it shall call Your people will, with fiery soul, die before being enslaved. |
| Third stanza | |
De tus viejas y duras cadenas tu forjaste con mano iracunda el arado que el suelo fecunda y la espada que salva el honor. |
From your old and hard chains You forged, with an ire-driven hand, The plow that fertilizes the soil And the honor-saving sword. |
| Fourth stanza | |
Nuestros padres lucharon un día encendidos en patrio ardimiento y lograron sin choque sangriento colocarte en un trono de amor. |
Our fathers fought one day, Lit up in patriotic burning And they managed, without bloody clash, To place you on a throne of love. |
| Chorus | |
Y lograron sin choque sangriento colocarte en un trono de amor, que de Patria, en enérgico acento, dieron vida al ideal redentor. |
And they achieved, without bloody clash, To place you on a throne of love, And our Nation, in energetic assent, Gave life to the redeeming ideal. |
| Fifth stanza | |
Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo en que prende una nube su albura, y ¡ay de aquel que con ciega locura, sus colores pretenda manchar! |
Your emblem is a piece of the sky From which a cloud gets its whiteness And woe onto him who dares in blind madness your colours to stain! |
| Sixth stanza | |
Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos, que veneran la paz cual presea, nunca esquivan la ruda pelea si defienden su tierra y su hogar. |
For your sons, brave and zealous, who adore peace as a great treasure will never avoid the rough battle to defend their land and their home. |
| Chorus | |
Nunca esquivan la ruda pelea si defienden su tierra y su hogar, que es tan solo el honor su alma idea y el altar de la Patria su altar. |
They will never avoid the rough battle to defend their land and their home as well as the altar of the mother country, their altar. |
| Seventh stanza | |
Recostada en el Ande soberbio, de dos mares al ruido sonoro, bajo el ala de grana y de oro te adormeces del bello quetzal. |
Lying upon the proud Ande, of the two oceans, hearing its noise, under the gold and crimson red wing of the beautiful quetzal you will become entranced. |
| Eighth stanza | |
Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo, paladión que protege tu suelo; ¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo, más que el cóndor y el águila real! |
Native bird Resplendent Quetzal The Resplendent Quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno, is a bird in the trogon family. It is found from southern Mexico to western Panama . It is well known for its colorful plumage. There are two subspecies, P. m. mocinno and P. m... that lives in your seal Coat of arms of Guatemala The coat of arms of Guatemala comprises:* A wreath of bay laurel branches, the symbol for victory;* The Resplendent Quetzal, a bird that symbolizes liberty;... the protector of your soil May it fly high more than the condor and the royal eagle! |
| Chorus | |
¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo, más que el cóndor y el águila real, y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo, Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal! |
May it fly high more than the condor and the royal eagle And in its wings, may it raise up to the sky Guatemala, your name, immortal! |