Editing Country (section)

=== National anthems ===
{{main| National anthem }}
{{seealso|List of national anthems}}
[[File:Handschrift Brussel p-37-38.jpg|thumb|Early version of the "Wilhelmus" as preserved in a manuscript of 1617 (Brussels, [[Royal Library of Belgium|Royal Library]], MS 15662, fol. 37v-38r)<ref>M. de Bruin, "Het Wilhelmus tijdens de Republiek", in: L.P. Grijp (ed.), ''Nationale hymnen. Het Wilhelmus en zijn buren. Volkskundig bulletin 24'' (1998), p. 16-42, 199–200; esp. p. 28 n. 65.</ref>]]
A national anthem is a [[Patriotism|patriotic]] [[musical composition]] symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National anthem – The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/national-anthem/ |access-date=2021-05-27 |website=Central Intelligence Agency |archive-date=5 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805175145/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/national-anthem/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Though the custom of an officially adopted national anthem became popular only in the 19th century, some national anthems predate this period, often existing as patriotic songs long before designation as national anthem.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} Several countries remain without an official national anthem. In these cases, there are established ''[[de facto]]'' anthems played at sporting events or diplomatic receptions. These include the United Kingdom ("[[God Save the King]]") and Sweden ({{lang|sv|[[Du gamla, Du fria]]}}). Some sovereign states that are made up of multiple countries or constituencies have associated musical compositions for each of them (such as with the [[United Kingdom]], [[Russia]], and the [[Soviet Union]]). These are sometimes referred to as national anthems even though they are not sovereign states (for example, "[[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]]" is used for Wales, part of the United Kingdom).<ref name="Harrison 2022 x303">{{cite web | last=Harrison | first=Ellie | title=The history of the Welsh national anthem that's gripped the world | website=The Independent | date=29 November 2022 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/wales-world-cup-anthem-lyrics-translation-b2235003.html | access-date=29 January 2024 | archive-date=29 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129160133/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/wales-world-cup-anthem-lyrics-translation-b2235003.html | url-status=live }}</ref>