Famous Macedonia

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Categories: National anthems | Patriotic songs | Greek culture

Famous Macedonia (Greek: Μακεδονία ξακουστή - Makedonía ksakustí) is a song, often regarded as the unofficial anthem of the Greek region of Macedonia.^[1]

It is associated with the Makedonomáhi (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.

Macedonian Anthem

Original 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! Ήσουν και θα ΄σαι ελληνική, ελλήνων το καμάρι, κι έμεις τα Ελληνόπουλα, σου πλέκουμε στεφάνι. Οι Μακεδόνες δεν μπορούν να ζούνε σκλαβομένοι, όλα και αν τα έχασαν η λεφτεριά τους μένει!	Makedonia ksakusti, tu Alexandru i hora, pu ediokses tus varvarus, ki eleftheri ise tora! Isun ke tha se elliniki, ellinon to kamari, ki emis ta Ellinopula, su plekume stefani! I Makedones den borun na zune sklavomeni, ola ke an ta ehasan i lefteria tus menei!	Famous Macedonia the land of Alexander, you drove away the barbarians, and now you are free! You were and you'll be Greek, the very Pride of Greeks, and we, the Sons of Greece plait you a crown!! Macedonians cannot live enslaved, even if they lose everything else, they always have their Freedom!

Audio Samples

Makedonia ksakusti

Makedonia ksakusti by a Military Band

References

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