Mexico National Anthem — Himno Nacional Mexicano

The anthem's famous chorus is a martial call: "Mexicanos, al grito de guerra" — Mexicans, at the cry of war — summoning the nation to ready its arms and make the earth tremble with cannon fire in defence of the homeland.

Its verses temper that fervour with a yearning for peace: the first stanza asks that the Fatherland be crowned with an olive branch, its destiny "written in heaven by the finger of God" — yet warns that if any foreign enemy dares profane Mexican soil, heaven has given "a soldier in every son". It is a hymn of both peace and fierce defence.

The lyrics came from an 1853 national competition won by Francisco González Bocanegra; a second contest chose Jaime Nunó's music. First performed in 1854, the anthem was trimmed over the years and given its definitive official form in 1943. The commonly sung version pairs the chorus with the first, fifth, sixth and tenth stanzas.

The Mexican anthem is protected by law, with official rules governing its performance. Learned by every Mexican schoolchild, its opening "Mexicanos, al grito de guerra" is among the most recognisable phrases in the country and a powerful emblem of national identity.

The "Himno Nacional Mexicano" (Mexican National Anthem) is the national anthem of Mexico. The words were written by Francisco González Bocanegra in 1853 and set to music by Jaime Nunó, joining the world's national anthems.

It was officially adopted in 1943, and both lyrics and music are in the public domain. The version sung today uses the chorus and a selection of the original stanzas.