St. Martin

National Anthem

La Marsellesa, was originally a chant of revolutionary war and hymn of freedom, it was progressivly set as national hymn. It´s present, nowadays, in the most of the official manifestations. La historia In 1792, after the declaration of war made by the french King to Austria, a french officer who was in mission in Strasbourg, Rouget de l'Isle, composes, during the night from april, 25 to 26, at Dietrich´s house, mayor of the city, a ""Canto de guerra para el ejército del Rin"". This chant is adopted by the federates of Marsella who participate in the insurrection of Tullerías, on august, 10 of that year. It had such a succes, that it was declared ""national chant"" on july, 14, 1795. Banned during the Empire and the Restauration, La Marsellesa is rehabilitated by the revolution on 1830, and Berlioz elaborates an orchestation dedicated to Rouget de l'Isle. The Third Republic (1879) proclaims national hymn, and on 1887 the War ministery, after consulting a comission, adopts an ""official version"" of it. On september, 1944, a circular of the National Education ministery recomends the Marsellesa to be sung at schools ""in order to celebrate the freedom and remember the martyrs"". The constitutions of 1946 and 1958 (article 2) ratify its character as national hymn. El autorBorn on 1760 in Lons-le-Saunier, Claude-Joseph Rouget de l'Isle was captain of the Engineers Coprs, but his military career was pretty short. Modetared revolutionary, remains safe from terror thanks to his chant´s success. Author of romances and some operas, he lives in the shadows during the Empire and the Restauration, until his death in Choisy-le-Roi on 1836. La música In few weeks, the ""Himno de los Marselleses"" is spread in Alsacia as a manuscrit or printed, and it´s published by several parisians editors. The anonymous character of the first editions caused doubts about its composition by Rouget de l'Isle, a mediocre composer.There isn´t a unique version of the Marsellesa. Since the begining, the music was set in different ways, with or without the chant. That´s why, upon been declared national hymn on 1879 without having specify the version, a huge musical disorder could take place when different formations were playing it. The comission of 1887, integrated by proffessional musicians, determined an official version, after checking its melodic line and harmonization. The president Valéry Giscard d' Estaing wished to retake a performance closer to the origins of the work and set a slower time to play it. Nowadays, an adaptation of 1887´s version is played in the official ceremonies. In parallel, the Marsellesa has been adapted by different musicians. La Marsellesa¡En marcha, hijos de la Patria, ha llegado el día de gloria! Contra nosotros, la tiranía alzasu sangriento pendón. (bis) ¿Oís en los campos el bramido de aquellos feroces soldados?¡Vienen hasta vosotros a degollar a vuestros hijos y vuestras compañeras! Estribillo¡A las armas, ciudadanos!¡Formad vuestros batallones! ¡Marchemos, marchemos!¡Que una sangre impura inunde nuestros surcos! ¿Qué pretende esa horda de esclavos, de traidores, de reyes conjurados? ¿Para quién son esas innobles cadenas, esos grilletes preparados de hace tiempo? (bis)Para nosotros, franceses ... ¡Ah! ¡Qué ultraje!¡Qué transportes debe suscitar! ¡A nosotros, se atreven a intentar reducirnos a la antigua servidumbre! ¡Cómo! ... ¿Cohortes extranjeras harían la ley en nuestros hogares?¡Cómo! ... ¿Esas falanges mercenarias abatirían a nuestros fieros guerreros?(bis)¡Dios santo! ¡Encadenadas por otras manos, nuestras frentes se inclinarían bajo el yugo!¡Unos déspotas viles serían los dueños de nuestros destinos!¡Temblad, tiranos! Y vosotros, pérfidos, oprobio de todos los partidos, ¡temblad! ¡Vuestros planes parricidas recibirán por fin su merecido! (bis) Todos son soldados para combatiros.¡Si nuestros jóvenes héroes caen, la tierra produce otros, listos para luchar contra vosotros!Franceses, asestad vuestros golpes o retenedlos, magnánimos guerreros: perdonad a esas víctimas tristes, que a su pesar se arman contra nosotros. (bis)¡Pero no a esos déspotas sanguinarios,esos cómplices de Bouillé,todos esos tigres que, despiadados, desgarran el seno de su madre! ¡Amor sagrado de la Patria, conduce y sostén nuestros brazos vengadores! ¡Libertad, Libertad amada, combate con tus defensores! (bis)¡Que la victoria, a tus voces viriles, acuda bajo nuestras banderas; que tus enemigos, al expirar,vean tu triunfo y nuestra gloria!Entraremos en el camino cuando nuestros mayores ya no estén aquí; encontraremos sus cenizas y la huella de sus virtudes. (bis) Menos deseosos de sobrevivirles que de compartir su tumba, tendremos el orgullo sublime de vengarlos o de seguirlos. "


National Flora

The National Flower is the Flamboyan.


National Animal

Pelican is the National Bird of the Island.