National Anthem

[flapslack]

Just had an odd conversation with my 12 year old DS who asked me what our National Anthem is. Didn’t even know the tune.

Obviously I could have taught him but really I am just wondering if this is something not taught at school any more?

This is all that needs saying on the national.anthem😁

@Willow2017 😂😂. Thank you.

@giveherhellfromus
GSTQ, o know the Scots and Welsh have their own for sporting events, but GSTQ is the rousing tune I belt out.

If you've been watching the Cricket, you'd know the fans start the day with a belting rendition of what ought to be the English national anthem.

Willow2017
😂😂
Learned our National Anthem when we were kids at Hogmanay, when my mum and Dad had a Party. Flower of Scotland was always the song of choice when drunk.

My DD belts out Flower of Scotland on the regular. Especially the “ ‘gainst who?” (unofficial) bit.

I briefly went to a state school where they taught it to us. I don’t remember it anymore beyond some of the main bits. I don’t think my children even know what a national anthem is. I’d like to keep it that way. Nothing more mildly irritating than patriotism.

Isn't it Swing Low Sweet Chariot?

The Welsh National anthem is taught in my children's school. I've never asked them if the U.K. one is though....

Not in UK but we were all taught ours in school. Properly taught, lyrics, meaning, history of it. I would have thought this was normal everywhere?

@Buster72 I don't know how I misread your post so badly, I thought you'd said you'd be offended if they'd said GSTQ was the national anthem

@Willow2017 LOVE that bit!

@BonnieConnie
Nothing wrong with a bit of patriotism. Surely anyone who is prepared to defend their country is a patriot. This includes the grandparents and great- grandparents of a lot of the users of Mumsnet, wherever their Home Country may be.
You only have to look at National and International sporting events to see the pride that many people take in representing their country and the joyous support they get from spectators.
Not to mention the huge support for the Armed Forces, whatever their nationality.
Your children don't know their National Anthem?(whichever nation that may be). Shame on you.

In most countries the National Anthem is taught as part of citizenship.

In this country we’re usually a bit ashamed of expressions of national pride as it was hijacked by the Far Right.

In the early 2000s it was unusual to see Union Jacks on public buildings as there was a perception that it was a Fascist symbol.

Gordon Brown’s government ordered public buildings such as Council offices, Courts and Police Stations to fly the flag and this helped reclaim it from the Far Right.

BBC Radio 4 still plays the National Anthem at 1am daily when it closes down for the night.

I have seen it a hundred times but it still makes me laugh like a drain.😂

The only reason I know it or recognise it is from hearing it at the end of the day when the BBC would close down for the night. Never learnt it in school but I was in avians at the time it was probably a sore point.

I'm Welsh and we were taught it at about age 5/6 and would sing it in school for Eisteddfod. My children are 1 and 3 and I already make them try to follow the tune during sporting events

Has he never watched England sports teams? The olympics? The proms? Anything to do with rememberence sunday? Royal variety? Anything the queen attends? It’s played loads. I learnt it at school (i from Northern Ireland though, now living in London) we sang it in school at certain events, in rememberence Sunday services, girls brigade events and not forgetting band parades unless you went to the paddy’s day parade (never miss it) obviously. Dd goes to school in London though only started and they teach them it.

GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS QUEEN, LONG LIVE OUR SOMETHING QUEEEEEN GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

Thats all I know, couldn't sing anymore if you had a gun to my head.

I've no idea how I learned the national anthem. It certainly wasn't at school and I don't think it was from my parents (atheist and republican, they definitely wouldn't have taught it!).

I guess I picked up from radio or tv or something.

I agree it's a dirge and that the words are grim (although I believe the verse about crushing the Scots is rarely sung these days). I think Jerusalem woudl be a much better anthem for England, although I also like Billy Connolly's idea of using the theme tune from "The Archers" and having some words written that fit.

The French national anthem is fab, although I always find myself singing the rude version. The Italian one is my fave though, lovely jolly tune, with twiddly bits.

@NamechangeoutedbyMIL 'something' is noble

I know the words of GSTQ even though my anthem is Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.

I think the English anthem should be English Country Garden.

Arf @derxa

Mind you, I'm so old that I hear Ode to Joy and think it's the Rhodesian national anthem

my kids know flower of Scotland as I sing and hum it when putting them to sleep, we never learned it in school, nor them, I don't know any of gstq

No - my kids haven't learnt the British national anthem at school either.

Though interestingly, one of them learnt the South African national anthem at primary school when they were learning about apartheid.