La Balanguera

La Balanguera (Catalan pronunciation: [ɫə βəɫəŋˈɡeɾə] or [ɫə βəɫəɲˈɟeɾə]) is the official anthem of the Majorca, Spain.

The anthem is an adaptation of Joan Alcover i Maspons (1854–1926) poem based on an ancient and popular Majorcan children's song. The music is a work by the Catalan composer Amadeu Vives and in November 1996 the Consell Insular de Mallorca made it the anthem for the Island.

Text and Translation

La Balanguera (Catalan) La Balanguera misteriosa, com una aranya d'art subtil, buida que buida sa filosa, de nostra vida treu lo fil. Com una parca bé cavil·la teixint la tela per demà. La Balanguera fila, fila, la Balanguera filarà.	La Balanguera (English) The mysterious Balanguera, as a subtle art spider, empties that it empties her distaff and takes out the thread of our lives. As a Parca well ponders weaving the cloth for tomorrow. The Balanguera spins, spins, the Balanguera will spin.
Girant l'ullada cap enrera guaita les ombres de l'avior, i de la nova primavera sap on s'amaga la llavor. Sap que la soca més s'enfila com més endins pot arrelar. La Balanguera fila, fila, la Balanguera filarà.	Turning her glance to the past she guards the shades of ancestry and of the new spring she knows where the seed is hidden. She knows that the vine-stock climbs up higher the deeper its roots can go. The Balanguera spins, spins the Balanguera will spin.
De tradicions i d'esperances tix la senyera pel jovent com qui va un vel de noviances amb cabelleres d'or i argent de la infantesa qui s'enfila de la vellura qui se'n va. La Balanguera fila, fila, la Balanguera filarà	From traditions and from hopes she weaves the flag for the youth as who prepares a wedding veil with hairs of gold and silver of the childhood that grews up of the old age who goes away. The Balanguera spins, spins, the Balanguera will spin

See also

National Anthems