Happy National Day!

December 16th is National Day in Bahrain.  Around Bahrain, trees and buildings are decorated with red and white lights.  On December 13th, we celebrated national day at school with a festival that celebrated Bahrain's culture, heritage, and history.  Little kids played traditional games, painted pottery, ate traditional food and came dressed in traditional clothes.  They even had a play that showcased a traditional wedding!  The older kids went on field trips around Bahrain to places that showcased Bahrain's culture and contribution to the world.  All in all, it was a wonderful day.

Bahrain was a British protectorate from 1820 till 1971, when the British pulled out of the Middle East in general.  On August 15th, 1971, Bahrain gained independence from the British, and on December 16th, 1971, Bahrain formalized its structure as the State of Bahrain, with the formal ascension of Sheikh Isa (the current King's father) as the Emir of Bahrain.

So for your listening and viewing pleasure, I present to you the national anthem of Bahrain.

Arabic	Transliteration	Translation
بحريننا	Baḥraynunā	Our Bahrain
مليكنا	Malīkunā	Our King
رمز الوئام	Ramzu l-wi’ām	A symbol of harmony
دستورها عالي المكانة والمقام	Dustūruhā ‘ālī 'l-makānati wa-l-maqām	Its constitution is high in the place and the position
ميثاقها نهج الشريعة والعروبة والقيم	Mītāquhā nahgu s-sarī‘ati wa-l-‘urūbati wa-l-qiyam	Its charter is the way of (method of) Shari'a, Arabism, and the values
عاشت مملكة البحرين	‘Āshat mamlakatu al-Baḥrayn	Long live the Kingdom of Bahrain!
بلد الكرام	Baladu 'l-kirām	Country of nobles,
مهد السلام	Mahdu 's-salām	Cradle of peace,
دستورها عالي المكانة والمقام	Dustūruhā ‘ālī 'l-makānati wa-l-maqām	Its constitution is high in the place and the position
ميثاقها نهج الشريعة والعروبة والقيم	Mītāquhā nahgu s-sarī‘ati wa-l-‘urūbati wa-l-qiyam	Its charter is the way of (method of) Shari'a, Arabism, and the values
عاشت مملكة البحرين	‘Āshat mamlakatu al-Baḥrayn	Long live the Kingdom of Bahrain!