Symbols as signs of historical and cultural identity: The living heritage of national anthems

Abstract

National anthems belong to the heritage of the different nations and peoples. Their character is institutional and popular, concrete and abstract, material and immaterial. What those anthems stand for is complex and changing. To be adopted as a sustainable common reference, thus losing their potential partisan nature, what they need is to distance themselves from the historical circumstances in which they were born and avoid being monopolized by any ideological sector. They are signs of historical and cultural identity, modes of expression and defence symbols, but also natural targets of various attacks directed against what they are and what they represent. What they express is a symbolical message through a musical theme, which can be combined or not with lyrics whose importance lies as much in the connotations as in the literal meaning. Like all symbols, national anthems are open to different interpretations, but they can only fulfill their mission, which is essentially patriotic, if, among citizens, most interpretations tend to unite rather than divide. Like other heritage elements, national anthems must be protected by law, but in a relatively flexible way adapted to what they are: living works of art representative of national permanency and popular values, under the custody of their ultimate guardian, the people.