Famous Macedonia

Μακεδονία Ξακουστή

English: Famous Macedonia
Makedonía Ksakustí
Regional anthem of Macedonia (unofficial)
Lyrics	Folklore, 1910s, unknown author
Music	Traditional from Macedonia

Famous Macedonia (Greek: Μακεδονία ξακουστή - Makedonía xakoustí) is a military march, often regarded as the unofficial anthem of the Greek region of Macedonia,^[1] and used by the Hellenic Army since the Balkan Wars.

It is associated with the Makedhonomáhi (Macedonian fighters and/or fighters for Macedonia) in "Macedonian Struggle" and can be heard on parades and national anniversaries.

Until the recent introduction of 24-hour programming, it also marked the end of radio programs on the local Macedonian channel ("Radio-Makedonia 102FM"), played before the Greek national anthem.

According to Greek Army's website it is a military march (εμβατήριο) based on the traditional "Macedonian Dance" (Μακεδονικός Χορός) which is related with Akrites of Byzantium.

It is written in Dorian scale, in iambic 15-syllable (ιαμβικός δεκαπεντασύλλαβος). The beat is 2/4 and it can be danced as a chassapiko (χασάπικο). It can be performed in conjunction with the Makedonia dance. In addition, the text refers to Alexander the Great, who is the progenitor of the Greek Macedonians.

Lyrics of the Macedonian Anthem

Original Greek version : ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ ΞΑΚΟΥΣΤΗ	Greek version : ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ ΞΑΚΟΥΣΤΗ	Latin transliteration: MAKEDONIA KSAKOUSTI	English translation: FAMOUS MACEDONIA
Μακεδονία ξακουστή, του Αλεξάνδρου η χώρα, που έδιωξες τους Βάρβαρους κι ελεύθερη είσαι τώρα! Είσαι και θα ΄σαι ελληνική, Ελλήνων το καμάρι, κι εμείς τα Ελληνόπουλα, σου πλέκουμε στεφάνι! Οι Μακεδόνες δε μπορούν να ζούνε σκλαβωμένοι, όλα και αν τα χάσουνε η λευτεριά τους μένει! Μακεδονόπουλα μικρά χορέψτε και χαρείτε, πρωτού κι εσείς στα βάσανα του κόσμου τούτου μπείτε.	Μακεδονία ξακουστή, του Αλεξάνδρου η χώρα, που έδιωξες τους βάρβαρους κι ελεύθερη είσαι τώρα! Είσαι και θα ΄σαι ελληνική, Ελλήνων το καμάρι, κι εμείς θα σ'αντικρύζουμε, περήφανα και πάλι! Οι Μακεδόνες δε μπορούν να ζούνε σκλαβωμένοι, όλα και αν τα χάσουνε η λευτεριά τους μένει!	Makedonía xakoustî́, tou Alexándrou î hốra, pou édiôxes tous várvarous, ki eleftherî eísai tốra! Eísai kai tha `sai ellînikî́, Ellî́nôn to kamári, ki emeís tha s'antikrýzoume, perî́fana kai páli! Oi Makedónes de boroún na zoúne sklavôménoi, óla kai an ta hásoune î lefteriá tous ménei!	Famous Macedonia the land of Alexander, you drove away the barbarians, and now you are free! You are and you'll be Greek, the very pride of every Greek, and we will be looking at you with pride again! Macedonians cannot live enslaved, even if they lose everything, they still have their Freedom!

The original version of the song contained an additional fourth stanza. There were two minor differences in the preserved lyrics as well - instead of "barbarians", it had been sung that "Bulgarians" are driven away, in some version it's "tyranny" are driven away, and the verse "κι εμείς θα σ'αντικρύζουμε, ελεύθερη και πάλι!" ("and we will be looking at you with pride again!") had been originally "κι εμείς τα Ελληνόπουλα, σου πλέκουμε στεφάνι!" ("and we, the Sons of Greece, plait you a crown").

Audio Samples

Makedonia ksakusti

Makedonia ksakusti by Military Band

External links

• Wikiquote Macedonia

References

1. Roudometof, V. (2002). Collective Memory, National Identity and Ethnic Conflict: Greece, Bulgaria and the Macedonian Question. Greenwood Press. p. 81. ISBN 0-275-97648-3.