A '''national anthem''' is a patriotic [[song]] or [[hymn]] of a [[country]] that is played for special occasions. It is often performed at [[public]] events and assemblies to express national [[ideal]]s and to stimulate [[patriotism]] and [[loyalty]] to one's country. One of the first known national anthems, titled "[[God Save the King|God Save the King (or Queen)]]" first appeared in a stage production in London in the mid-1740s."<ref>Cummings, William Hayman (1902). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=6J0yAQAAMAAJ God Save the King: The Origin, and History of the Music and Words of the National Anthem]''. GoogleBooks archive.</ref> It is regarded as the national anthem of the [[United Kingdom]] and has been used as a national anthem in [[Scotland]] and other places, but not in [[England]] which has never had an official anthem. | A '''national anthem''' is a patriotic [[song]] or [[hymn]] of a [[country]] that is played for special occasions. It is often performed at [[public]] events and assemblies to express national [[ideal]]s and to stimulate [[patriotism]] and [[loyalty]] to one's country. One of the first known national anthems, titled "[[God Save the King|God Save the King (or Queen)]]" first appeared in a stage production in London in the mid-1740s."<ref>Cummings, William Hayman (1902). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=6J0yAQAAMAAJ God Save the King: The Origin, and History of the Music and Words of the National Anthem]''. GoogleBooks archive.</ref> It is regarded as the national anthem of the [[United Kingdom]] and has been used as a national anthem in [[Scotland]] and other places, but not in [[England]] which has never had an official anthem. |