The creation of the Mexican National Anthem:
November 12, 1853
During the presidency of General Mariano Arista, a literary contest was held to select the lyrics of the National Anthem.
February 3, 1854
The Official Journal of the Federation published the name of the winner titled, Let us fly to combat, to revenge and that one who shies away, submerges in the dust his coward head front, written by the poet Francisco González Bocanegra, from San Luis Potosí. The original winning melody was composed by Juan Bottesini, but was widely unaccepted by the Mexican people. Therefore, there was another competition staged to set music to the lyrics written by González Bocanegra. A commission was formed to select the music from a total of fifteen compositions.
August 12, 1854
The composition, God and Freedom, by Jaime Nunó, was declared the winner. Jaime Nunó, born in Spain in 1825, was a Catalan music director of military bands, who, after living in Havana, Cuba, became a resident of Mexico.
September 15, 1854
The National Anthem of the United Mexican States was heard in public for the first time the night of September 15, 1854, at the Santa Anna Theater, which soon after changed its name to the National Theatre. This first performance was given by an Italian opera company that was in Mexico, directed by Juan Bottesini. The vocal work was performed by Tenor Lorenzo Salvi and the magnificent Soprano Claudia Florenti.
The text and music of the anthem, authenticated by the three branches of government, by Constitutional mandate remain deposited in the National Archives, the National Library and the National Museum of History.
Lyrics in Spanish and English:
Himno Nacional Mexicano
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
el acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
al sonoro rugir del cañón.
Ciña ¡oh patria!, tus sienes de oliva
de la paz el arcángel divino,
que en el cielo tu eterno destino,
por el dedo de Dios se escribió.
Mas si osare un extraño enemigo,
profanar con su planta tu sulo,
piensa ¡oh patria querida! que el cielo
un soldado en cada hijo te dio.
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
el acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
al sonoro rugir del cañón.
¡Guerra, guerra sin tregua al que intente
de la patria manchar los blasones!
¡Guerra, guerra! Los patrios pendones
en las olas de sangre empapad.
¡Guerra, guerra! En el monte, en el valle
los cañones horrísonos truenen,
y los ecos sonoros resuenen
con las voces de ¡unión, libertad!
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
el acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
al sonoro rugir del cañón.
Antes, patria, que inermes tus hijos
bajo el yugo su cuello dobleguen,
tus campiñas con sangre se rieguen,
sobre sangre se estampe su pie.
Y tus templos, palacios y torres
se derrumben con hórrido estruendo,
y sus ruinas existan diciendo:
De mil héroes la patria aquí fue.
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
el acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
al sonoro rugir del cañón.
¡Patria, patria! Tus hijos te juran
exhalar en tus aras su aliento,
si el clarín con su bélico acento
los convoca a lidiar con valor.
¡Para ti las guirnaldas de oliva!
¡Un recuerdo para ellos de gloria!
¡Un laurel para ti de victoria!
¡Un sepulcro para ellos de honor!
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
el acero aprestad y el bridón,
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
al sonoro rugir del cañón.
-Francisco González Bocanegra
Mexican National Anthem in English
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.
Bound, oh fatherland, your brow with olive
the divine archangel of peace,
for your eternal destiny was written
in the heavens by the hand of God.
But if some strange enemy should dare
to profane your ground with his step,
think, oh beloved country, that heaven
has given you a soldier in every son.
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.
War, war without truce to any who dare
to tarnish the country’s coat-of-arms!
War, war! Take the national pennants
and soak them in waves of blood.
War, war! In the mountain, in the valley,
the cannons thunder in horrid unison
and the resonant echoes
cry out union, liberty!
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.
Oh fatherland, ‘ere your children
defenseless bend their neck to the yoke,
may your fields be watered with blood,
may they tread upon blood.
And may your temples, palaces and towers
collapse with horrid clamor,
and their ruins live on to say:
This land belonged to a thousand heroes.
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.
Oh, fatherland, fatherland, your children swear
to breathe their last in your honor,
if the trumpet with warlike accent
should call them to fight with courage.
For you the olive branches!
A reminder for them of glory!
A laurel of victory for you!
For them a tomb with honor!
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.
-Francisco González Bocanegra
