History of the National Anthem

The lyrics of the Mexican National Anthem were written by the poet Francisco González Bocanegra of San Luis Potosí, who won a contest held in 1853; the music was composed by Jaime Nunó, a Spanish-born bandmaster. The anthem was first sung on September 15, 1854. A common trap is to swap their roles: Bocanegra wrote the words and Nunó the music.

Although it was sung from the nineteenth century on, the anthem only became official in 1943, when President Manuel Ávila Camacho decreed it the national anthem. Its verses, which open with “Mexicanos, al grito de guerra”, call on Mexicans to defend the homeland against a foreign invader: its dominant theme is defensive war.