The Anthem of the European Union
It’s a little known fact that the Anthem of the European Union was first that of only a Committee of the European Union for 3 years (1972-5) before it became adopted by the European Community formally in that year of 1975. Even less well known is that this Anthem, based as it is on music from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, has had words in Latin written for it !!! (this text too never voted on). But what the heck ! (The Anthem itself wasn’t either) The text reads as follows -
Hymnus Latinus Europae
'Est Europa nunc unita
et unita maneat;
una in diversitate
pacem mundi augeat.
Semper regant in Europa
fides et iustitia
et libertas populorum
in maiore patria.
Cives, floreat Europa,
opus magnum vocat vos.
Stellae signa sunt in caelo
aureae, quae iungant nos'.
It’s not a Roman Empire folks, honest ! Gulp ! (Is it ?) and which, in translation to English gives us something like -
'Europe is united now
United may it remain;
Our unity in diversity
May contribute to world peace.
May there forever reign in Europe
Faith and justice
And freedom for its people
In a greater motherland
Citizens, Europe shall flourish,
A great task calls on you.
Golden stars in the sky are
The symbols that shall unite us'
Touching, isn't it ?
RN
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