New Issue: The Faroese National Anthem (Faroe Islands)

This absolutely remarkable miniature sheet from the Faroe Islands was issued two weeks ago. In my view it is absolutely stunning. It is not just about the Faroese National Anthem, but it tells the story of how it was written and put to music. I will let Postverk Føroya tell you this amazing story themselves and I will give my thoughts on the stamp afterwards. In the winter of 1906, Símun av Skarði sat in ”Føgrulíð”, home to the Faroese Folk High School on the island of Borðoy. He was one of the two founders of the school.

A few years earlier, he and Rasmus Rasmussen had helped to establish the school, which was initially housed in a building in Klaksvík. However, the two men had other plans and built a new school on a mountainside on the western side of Borðoy. From there, they enjoyed a fine view of Eysturoy and across Leirvíksfjørður, and the school remained there for several years.

Símun himself came from Skarð, a small village on the neighbouring island of Kunoy. He would therefore undoubtedly have known the surrounding landscape extremely well. It is easy to imagine him gazing across Leirvíksfjørður towards the mountains of Eysturoy and Kalsoy as he sat in “Føgrulíð” writing a poem about his homeland. Perhaps, in his mind’s eye, he also saw his home village of Skarð and the surrounding landscape, picturing the surf raging against the shore in winter and the sea lying silver and calm in summer, like a polished mirror beside the rocks.

From Poem to National Anthem

The poem he was writing was an ode to his homeland, and he gave it the title “Mítt alfagra land” (“My Fairest Land”). A document held by the National Library of the Faroe Islands contains the poem in Símun’s own handwriting. The document is dated 1 February 1906. The poem was first published in the newspaper “Tingakrossur” on 8 January 1908. The newspaper also reported that Petur Alberg had composed a melody for the poem, which had been sung in Tórshavn on Boxing Day. The poem had now become a song, and it soon grew very popular among the Faroese people. Many felt that it was well suited to community singing at special occasions and ceremonies, and before long it came to be regarded as the national anthem of the Faroe Islands.

These verses, which Símun av Skarði wrote down just before Candlemas in 1906, marked the birth of the Faroese national anthem. In three verses, he describes the Faroese landscape and his love for his homeland, as well as his faith in God.

In the first verse, he speaks directly to his homeland: “You, my fairest land, my most precious possession, white around the edges in winter and in summer, when the wind is still…”

Here, he evokes the natural landscape, alluding to the sea roaring in winter, turning the coastal rocks white with spray, while in summer there may be stillness and calm.

He then says: “You take me so tenderly into your embrace...” In these lines, the Faroe Islands are presented as a country, but at the same time as an island community in which each island has its own place. This is why he immediately addresses them in the plural:

“Islands mighty, God bless the name given to you by the men who discovered you. Yes, God bless the Faroe Islands, my land.”

The second verse uses images from nature to describe how light and darkness affect his state of mind. The rays of the sun may shine beautifully on the mountainside on a summer’s day, while winter storms can destroy many a life. Darkness may obscure even the clearest purpose, while light, by contrast, can bring a sense of victory to his soul. He then brings these threads together, describing it as a harmonious interplay that gives him hope and the courage to safeguard the Faroe Islands, his homeland.

In the third verse, he bows his head in prayer to God. He asks to share in the sacred peace and for his soul to bathe in God’s glory. Thus, he can carry with courage the symbol that represents the work that preserves the Faroe Islands, his homeland.

As mentioned above, it was Petur Alberg who composed the melody for the national anthem. He was also known as Petur í Geil and was born in Tórshavn in 1885. He was therefore around 20 years old when Símun wrote the poem. Petur was a violinist and had learned to play under “Baker Hansen”. Baker Hansen was highly musical, and many people learned to play instruments from him. Petur was one of his talented pupils, and in 1907, the year after Símun had written the poem, he composed the melody for it. The song was performed publicly for the first time on Boxing Day 1907. The melody is regarded as Petur Alberg’s best-known composition, although he also composed melodies for other Faroese songs.

Faroese Literature in Growth

The Faroese national anthem was created at a time when Faroese poetry and literature were experiencing significant growth. Símun av Skarði himself was born in 1872, but at that time there was little written poetry in Faroese. Jens Christian Djurhuus, also known as “Sjóvarbóndin” (“the farmer at Sjógv” in Kollafjørður), had written several traditional ballads in Faroese, the best known of which is “Ormurin Langi” (“The Long Serpent”). His son, Jens Hendrik Djurhuus, had also written ballads, as had Poul from Nólsoy and others. Apart from these works, there were relatively few Faroese songs and poems. There were, however, several Faroese writers who wrote in Danish.

Between 1872 and 1906, Faroese literature and poetry developed significantly. This was also the period in which the Faroese written language took shape, while newspapers and magazines began to be published. This created a growing interest in writing poetry in Faroese. Among the poets of the period were Jóannes Patursson, born in 1866; Mikkjal á Ryggi, born in 1878; and the Áarstova brothers from Tórshavn, Janus Djurhuus, born in 1881, and Hans Andrias Djurhuus, born in 1883.

These and other poets began writing about their homeland, its natural landscape and the people who lived on the islands. Mikkjal á Ryggi, for example, is known for his songs about Faroese working life and for writing a large proportion of the hymns in the Faroese hymn book. The Áarstova brothers had very different poetic styles, but both made a major contribution to Faroese poetry and literature. Jóannes Patursson was not only a poet but also a politician who stood at the forefront of the Faroese national movement that emerged towards the end of the 19th century.

Símun av Skarði was himself influenced by these growing national currents in Faroese society. It was a time when there was a strong desire to produce literature and other material in the Faroese language that could be used both in writing and in speech. The composer Petur Alberg was also part of this movement. In addition to music, he was interested in writing and helped to establish the Thorshavn Association for Young Men in 1906. The association published a members’ magazine called “Baldursbrá”. Petur wrote extensively for the magazine and earned recognition among its members for his work. He was therefore accustomed to writing and had grown up in an environment in which the written word played an important role.

His brother, Kristin í Geil, had begun publishing the newspaper “Tingakrossur” several years earlier. The first issue was published on New Year’s Day, 1 January 1901. Kristin í Geil was known for his social criticism and his sharp pen.

It is now 120 years since the Faroese national anthem was written. It is sung at ceremonial gatherings among the Faroese and at international sporting events. The melody by Petur Alberg and the words by Símun av Skarði combine to form a powerful and enduring whole. And when Ólavsøka, the Faroese national festival, is celebrated, the national anthem is sung with great feeling on Vaglið in the heart of Tórshavn.

Over the years, it has become an unmistakable part of Faroese identity and culture. More than a century after they were first written at Føgrulíð on Borðoy on a winter’s day in 1906, these words continue to resonate deeply in the hearts of the Faroese people. Here are the words to Mítt alfagra land (with English translation underneath) I

Tú alfagra land mítt, mín dýrasta ogn!

á vetri so randhvítt, á sumri við logn,

tú tekur meg at tær so tætt í tín favn.

Tit oyggjar so mætar, Guð signi tað navn,

sum menn tykkum góvu, tá teir tykkum sóu.

Ja, Guð signi Føroyar, mítt land!

II

Hin roðin, sum skínur á sumri í líð,

hin ódnin, sum týnir mangt lív vetrartíð,

og myrkrið, sum fjalir mær bjartasta mál,

og ljósið, sum spælir mær sigur í sál:

alt streingir, ið tóna, sum vága og vóna,

at eg verji Føroyar, mítt land.

III

Eg nígi tí niður í bøn til tín, Guð:

Hin heilagi friður mær falli í lut!

Lat sál mína tváa sær í tíni dýrd!

So torir hon vága - av Gudi væl skírd -

at bera tað merkið, sum eyðkennir verkið,

ið varðveitir Føroyar, mítt land!

English translation: I

You fairest land of mine, my most precious possession!

in winter so edge-white, in summer with calm,

you take me so tenderly in your embrace.

Islands mighty, God bless the name

that men gave to you when they saw you.

Yes, God bless the Faroes, my land!

II

The red that you shine in summer on hillside,

the tempest that destroys many lives wintertime,

and the darkness that hides from me the brightest goal,

and the light that plays me victory in the soul:

all strings that sound, that dare and hope

that I defend the Faroes, my land!

III

I bow therefore down in prayer to you, God:

The holy peace, that I fall to fate!

Let my soul be washed itself in your glory!

So may it be dared – well cleansed by God –

to bear the flag that distinguishes the work

that preserves the Faroes, my land!

And that is the story of the Faroese anthem, but what about the stamp? The song is in three verses - the first describes the "fair land", the second talks about light and darkness and the third is a prayer. I think we see all of this in the miniature sheet.

This makes me feel proud of a place I’ve never visited. The tall, dark cliffs look strong, while the swirling sea makes nature seem powerful and a bit frightening. The drawing reminds me of an old storybook, with simple red and blue colours and lots of curly lines. The little sailing ship looks brave beside the huge waves and rocks, as if it’s telling a story about island life and facing challenges. I especially like how the music stretches across, connecting the anthem to the islands, the sea and the sky. It almost makes you imagine hearing the tune above the sea.

Design Quality: I think this is a really good design because it is very artistic and simple, but still powerful. The red stands out against the dark blue, and the swirling lines make the sea and sky seem alive. It feels like something from a different time, which suits an anthem written so long ago. The sailing ship, rough sea and tall cliffs immediately tell you this is about an island community where nature plays a big part in people’s lives. 9/10

Theme and Subject Choice: The national anthem is a very good subject for a miniature sheet, especially to celebrate its 120th anniversary An anthem is an important part of a country’s identity because it brings people together and expresses how they feel about their home. The Faroese anthem also has an interesting story behind it. 9/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance: I think this sheet is very relevant, both historically and culturally. It celebrates a song that has been important to Faroese people for generations, while also showing the landscape that helps make their islands special. The design creates a feeling of pride and belonging, but also respect for how powerful nature can be. 10/10

Innovation and Creativity: I would not say the sheet is especially innovative, but I do think the artistic style is very creative. The artist uses a lot of swirls and flowing lines to turn the waves and sky into patterns, while the cliffs look dark and solid. This makes the whole picture feel full of movement. I especially like how the music stretches across the scene instead of being put in a separate box. It connects the song to the islands. 8/10

Collectability: I do not think this would appeal to as many thematic collectors as subjects like animals or sport, although it would fit well in a music collection. It should also interest people who enjoy history, artistic stamps or collect Scandinavian stamps generally. Having the musical notes included gives collectors something extra to look at. 7/10

Personal Appeal: I like this sheet because I feel it tells a story and teaches us something about the Faroe Islands. The small ship looks brave next to the enormous rocks and swirling waves. There is something serious and slightly mysterious about the picture, but it also feels proud. I like that it gives me more to think about each time I look at it. It is an amazing stamp with a very creative and interesting design, making it one of my favourite stamps. 10/10 Overall Score: 53/60