There is no exact date for the origin of the tradition of national anthems, but this practice gained significant momentum during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This occurred against the backdrop of the emergence and strengthening of identities of new states, for which it was important to define an official musical composition representing the country.
Prior to this time, some European monarchies had songs intended to represent their royal families. An example is the famous song 'God Save the King' (or 'God Save the Queen') from England, which appeared as early as the mid-18th century. Over time, this melody became associated not only with rulers but also with the country itself, and today it is used as the national anthem of Great Britain. Nevertheless, England does not officially have an anthem.
The Spanish March originated in 1761 but was officially approved as the country's anthem only in 1939. The first country to issue an official national anthem was France in 1795 with the song 'La Marseillaise', during its First Republic. After this, it became common practice that after the birth of a new country, its gaining of independence, or a change of regime, an anthem would be created in the following years. Music served as a symbol of national unity and patriotism, contributing to the formation of national identity.
In the 20th century, the popularization of international sports competitions added another stimulus for countries to determine anthems—for example, at the Olympic Games, the winner's music played during the award ceremony. Some states, such as Finland and England mentioned earlier, still do not have an official anthem or have several song options.