# National anthem of Costa Rica

The National Anthem of the Republic of Costa Rica (Spanish: Himno Nacional de la República de Costa Rica), also known by its incipit as "Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera" ("Noble Fatherland, Your Beautiful Flag"), was first adopted in 1852. Its music was composed by Manuel María Gutiérrez Flores, who dedicated the score to French adventurer Gabriel-Pierre Lafond de Lurcy [fr]. The music was created to receive delegates from the United Kingdom and the United States that year for the Webster-Crampton Treaty. It was the first Central American national anthem.
The anthem has had several lyrics; the current lyrics were written for a contest held in 1903 by the government of Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra to give the anthem lyrics that reflected the idea of being Costa Rican. The contest was won by José María Zeledón Brenes.
The anthem's lyrics were made official in 1949 by the Founding Junta of the Second Republic, led by José Figueres Ferrer. The music was made official in 1979, under President Rodrigo Carazo Odio.

## History

From the period of independence within the First Mexican Empire from 1821 to the beginning of the First Costa Rican Republic in 1848, Costa Rica did not have a national anthem. After the establishment of the republic, Costa Rica began to gain more recognition from other nations. In 1852, then president, Juan Rafael Mora Porras, learnt of the arrival of diplomatic representatives from the United Kingdom and United States in order to establish embassies.
Musician and Director of the Costa Rican Military Band, Manuel María Gutiérrez [es], then 22 years old, was asked to compose an anthem. Professing a lack of experience and little time, Gutiérrez asked for help from French adventurer Gabriel-Pierre Lafond de Lurcy [fr], who instructed and encouraged him. After consulting Lafond, Gutiérrez composed the anthem in three or four days in his home in central San José. An apocryphal story circulates that Gutiérrez had to compose the music for the anthem while locked in a prison cell for refusing the order the president gave him to compose the anthem, and that he composed the anthem in 24 hours.
The anthem was played in public for the first time by the Banda de San José (San José Band) at the welcome receptions for the delegations from the United Kingdom and United States on 11 June 1852 at the Casa de Gobierno (Government House). The event was held in the Main Barracks, where the Raventós Theatre was later situated, today the Melico Salazar Theatre.
The anthem was largely forgotten after this, so much so that lyrics for it were not made official until 1949, after the civil war and the founding of the Second Republic, and the music was not made official until 1 September 1979, with decree 10471-E, during the presidency of Rodrigo Carazo Odio. The decree was intended to coincide with Gutiérrez's birthday (which is now known to be 3 September).

## Lyrics

There was no intention to add lyrics at the time of the anthem's creation, as it was urgently needed for the welcome ceremonies for the foreign delegations. Some lyrics had been written in 1856 during the Filibuster War, to encourage troops on the battlefield, but they were quickly forgotten.

### 1873 lyrics

The first lyrics of the national anthem were written by a Colombian poet living in Costa Rica, José Manuel Lleras, and premiered in 1873. In the context of looming threats by other states to overthrow then president Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez, as well as a threat of the instrumental anthem becoming forgotten by non–military band members, Lleras wrote long lyrics that included high praise of President Guardia, intended to encourage Costa Ricans in the event of war:
| Spanish original | English translation |
| Coro: ¡Ciudadanos! El sol de los libres ha subido radiante al cenit! Su esplendor nos infunda el aliento de vencer por la Patria o morir! I Costa Rica rompió las cadenas que la ataban a extraño poder; soltó al viento su propria bandera y el imperio fundó de la ley. Libertad proclamó entusiasmada, Libertad en el orden y el bien; del progreso ciñó la guirnalda ¡en su virgen y cándida sien! Coro II La ambición de un oscuro extranjero someterla al yugo intentó, indignados se alzaron los pueblos, y gritaron: «atrás invasor!» Y de Walker las huestes rabiosas escucharon templando la voz, pues sobre ellas, las lides heroicas, Costa Rica clavó su pendón. Coro III Largos años entonces el cielo quiso darnos de dicha y de paz I (sic) a su sombra benigna, el Progreso la riqueza fundó nacional. El trabajo constante i (sic) activo daba al pueblo, munifico, el pan I (sic) era Guardia, el deber circunscrito, Del derecho del pueblo, el guardián. Coro IV La codicia de hermanos celosos agitada en constante inquietud: no consciente vivamos nosotros en la paz, el progreso i la luz; I nos retan a lid fraticida preparando el traidor arcabuz; ¡vengan, pues, que jamá la injusticia vencerá nuestra noble actitud! Coro V El cañón que en San Juan i San Jorge hizo el polvo otro tiempo morder al intruso bandido del Norte, su estampido prepara otra vez; Si el clarín sanguinario resuena, Costa Rica, con noble altivez, ´guerra, guerra´ dirán sus cornetas, «¡Ciudadanos, morir o vencer!» Coro VI I del mar i del prado i del bosque, Del desierto i poblado la voz La ha escuchado el lejano horizonte Repitiendo: «¡Jamás! ¡Invasor!» »Nuestro suelo no huella la planta de una alianza cobarde feroz, Mientras brille la chispa sagrada, en el pueblo, de bélico ardor» Coro VII Mientras Guardia, el soldado aguerrido, Trace al pueblo del pueblo el deber, aunque se halle la patria en peligro, Guardar puede su honor i su fe; ¡Salve oh Guardia, valiente i patriota! ¡Salve, oh Guardia, de heroica altivez! Salve, oh Guardia, su honor i sus glorias son de un pueblo de libres, sostén. Coro | Chorus: Citizens, the sun of the free has risen radiantly to the zenith: its splendour gives us the breath to win for the Fatherland or die. I Costa Rica broke the chains that bound her to foreign power; she let loose her own flag to the wind and founded the empire of law. Liberty proclaimed enthusiastically, Liberty in order and good; she girded the garland of progress on her virgin and innocent temple! Chorus II The ambition of a suspicious foreigner tried to submit her to the yoke, outraged, the peoples rose up, and they cried: "Back off, invader!" And Walker's enraged troops listened, tempering their voices, for over them, the heroic battles, Costa Rica nailed her banner. Chorus III For long years thereupon heaven wanted to give us happiness and peace and in its benign shadow, progress founded national wealth. Constant and active work gave the people, generous, bread and Guardia was, the circumscribed duty, Of the right of the people, the guardian. Chorus IV The greed of jealous brothers agitated in constant restlessness: let us not consciously live in peace, progress and light; And they challenge us to a fratricidal fight preparing the traitorous arquebus; Come, then, so that injustice never will overcome our noble attitude! Chorus V The cannon that in San Juan and San Jorge once made the dust bite the intruder bandit from the North, its blast prepares again; If the bloodthirsty clarion resounds, Costa Rica, with noble pride, 'War, war' will say its horns, "Citizens, death or victory!" Chorus VI And from the sea and the meadow and the forest, From the desert and settlement, the voice Has been heard by the distant horizon Repeating: "Never! Invader!" "Our soil does not mark the plant of a fierce cowardly alliance, As long as the holy spark shines, in the people, of warlike ardour" Chorus VII As long as Guardia, the hardened soldier, Outlines the duty of the people to the people, even if the fatherland finds itself in danger, It can keep its honour and his faith; Hail oh Guardia, brave and patriotic! Hail, oh Guardia, of heroic pride! Hail, oh Guardia, your honour and your glories Are the sustenance of a free people. |
Lleras's lyrics were forgotten after the events regarding President Guardia.

### 1879 lyrics

In 1879, the anthem began to be sung with shorter lyrics written by seminarian Juan Garita y Guillén, which premiered on 24 June that year at the Colegio Seminario (Seminary College). Garita's lyrics were very simplistic:
| Spanish original | English translation |
| Cantaré de la patria querida el honor, libertad y esplendor Con el alma de júbilo henchida cantaré de la patria el honor. En tu faz, sin afán, tus hijos vivirán siempre unidos gozarán del honor sin triste desdén animados irán al glorioso clamor, a la voz de la libertad. Ceñiré de la Patria la sien inmortal de laurel y de mirto triunfal. Tocaré con placer el clarín del afán, honor cantaré a tu gloria y valor. | I will sing of the dear fatherland the honour, liberty and splendour with the soul filled with jubilation I will sing the honour of the fatherland. In your face, without hardship, your children will live always together, they will enjoy honour without sad disdain, animated they will go to the clamour of honour, to the voice of freedom. I will gird the immortal temple of the Fatherland of laurel and triumphal myrtle. I will play the clarion of eagerness with pleasure, honour I will sing to your glory and courage. |
Like Lleras's lyrics, Garita's lyrics also stopped being sung. The Lleras and Garita lyrics were never officially adopted.

### 1888 lyrics

In 1888, Spanish pedagogue Juan Fernández Ferraz wrote a poetic third set of lyrics for the national anthem, which were longer than the previous lyrics. After being distributed in schools and colleges, they were sung for longer and were made official:
| Spanish original | English translation |
| Coro: De la patria el amor nos inspira, elevémosle un himno triunfal De Tirteo en la bélica lira celebremos su gloria inmortal. I Nuestra voz acordada resuene viril desde el Ande gigante a la mar; y repitan los valles, cual trueno rugiente, 𝄆 las bélicas notas del patrio cantar. 𝄇 Desde el bosque sombrío al florido pensil, cunda el eco potente, sublime, ferviente y al ara bendita, holocausto de amor, las preseas llevemos de gloria y honor. Coro II Nuestro hogar defendamos sin miedo a la lid que el laurel nos espera al vencer; y si acaso tendidos a tierra caemos, 𝄆 espléndida gloria nos da el perecer. 𝄇 Sobre el campo tendido a la patria decid, que del bueno el cadáver jamás dejaremos, y al suelo confiando su cuerpo mortal, cantaremos al héroe el himno triunfal. Coro III Nuestros bosques frondosos aliento nos dan, Con su dulce fragancia sutil; Y del valle la verde llanura florida, 𝄆 Enérgico impulso de ardor juvenil. 𝄇 De la patria querida las glorias serán luz inmensa y calor que sustenta la vida, y en ella al rendir en suspiro postrer, miraremos la muerte con hondo placer. Coro IV Gloria, honor a la patria que amante nos dio Cuanto es grato a la vida mortal: gloria, honor a la tierra y bendita y hermosa, 𝄆 que a altísima gloria aspira ideal 𝄇 Si su nombre sin mancha doquiera brilló, cual estrella radiante de lumbre preciosa; por ella juremos cual bravos reñur; sí, juremos por ella vencer o morir. Coro | Chorus: The love of the fatherland inspires us. Let us raise it a triumphal hymn on the warlike lyre of Tyrtaeus. Let us celebrate its immortal glory. I Our accordant voice resounds virile from the giant Andes to the sea; and the valleys repeat, like roaring thunder, the singing of the warlike notes of the fatherland. From the shady forest to the flowery garden, spreads the powerful, sublime, fervent echo and to the blessed altar, a burnt offering of love, we carry the medals of glory and honour. Chorus II Let us defend our home without fear of battle since the laurel awaits us when we win; and if we may fall lying on the ground, death gives us splendid glory. Over the extensive countryside, say to the homeland, that we will never leave the corpse of the good, and to the ground, entrusting his mortal body, we will sing the triumphal hymn to the hero. Chorus III Our lush forests give us breath, With their sweet, subtle fragrance; And from the valley, the green flowery plain, An energetic impulse of youthful ardour. From the dear fatherland, the glories will be an immense light and warmth that sustains life, and in it, when taking our last breath, we will look at death with deep pleasure. Chorus IV Glory, honour to the fatherland that, beloved, gave us All that is gratifying to mortal life: glory, honour to the earth, blessed and beautiful, that aspires an ideal to the highest glory If its spotless name shone everywhere, like a radiant star of precious brilliance; for it we swear like brave fighters; yes, we swear to win or die for it. Chorus |

### Current lyrics

Although Fernández Ferraz's composition had literary merit, its language was somewhat too elevated to take root in the people, in addition to not adapting well to the music of the anthem, and adjustments had to be made to the original score by maestro Gutiérrez. All of this led to a decision to replace Fernández Ferraz's lyrics with new lyrics, for which a public contest was held in 1903. The contest was won by a composition by José María Zeledón Brenes, presented under the pseudonym "El Labrador". Zeledón Brenes was declared the winner on 24 August, and his lyrics were first sung publicly on 15 September.
Zeledón Brenes's lyrics, with minor changes, are the current lyrics of the national anthem of Costa Rica. They were officially adopted on 10 June 1949 by the Founding Junta of the Second Republic with decree number 551:
| Spanish original | English translation |
| ¡Noble patria!, tu hermosa bandera expresión de tu vida nos da; bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo blanca y pura descansa la paz. En la lucha tenaz, de fecunda labor, que enrojece del hombre la faz; conquistaron tus hijos, labriegos sencillos, 𝄆 eterno prestigio, estima y honor. 𝄇 ¡Salve, oh tierra gentil! ¡Salve, oh madre de amor! Cuando alguno pretenda tu gloria manchar, verás a tu pueblo, valiente y viril, la tosca herramienta en arma trocar. ¡Salve, oh patria!, tu pródigo suelo dulce abrigo y sustento nos da; bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo, ¡vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz! | Noble fatherland! Your beautiful flag shows us the expression of your life; under the limpid blue of your sky, white and pure, rests peace. In the tenacious struggle, of fecund labour, that reddens the man's face; your children, simple farmhands, conquered 𝄆 eternal prestige, esteem and honour. 𝄇 Hail, oh gentle land! Hail, oh mother of love! When someone intends to tarnish your glory, you will see your people, brave and virile, the rustic tool into a weapon transform. Hail, oh fatherland! Your prodigal soil gives us sweet warmth and sustenance; under the limpid blue of your sky, may work and peace always live! |
In Zeledón's original wording, the first stanza read:
| Spanish original | English translation |
| Costa Rica tu hermosa bandera expresión de tu vida nos da; Bajo el manto azul de tu cielo blanca y pura descansa la paz. | Costa Rica, your beautiful flag gives us expression of your life; under the blue cloak of your sky, white and pure, rests peace. |
And the last:
| Spanish original | English translation |
| ¡Salve, oh patria!, tu pródigo suelo dulce abrigo y sustento nos da; Bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo, ¡blanca y pura descansa la paz! | Hail, oh fatherland! Your prodigal soil gives us sweet shelter and sustenance; under the limpid blue of your sky, white and pure, rests peace! |