Hymn

Originating as songs in honour of a god, hymns and anthems came to honour 'divine' kings, victors, and eventually, state sovereignty. Classic hymns include the Homeric and Orphic, as well as Davidic or Hebraic psalmody. Early Christian hymnody became included in liturgy (e.g. Te Deum landamus). Later hymns found expression in Gregorian chants. After the Reformation the Lutherans popularized the chorale, and at the time of the French revolution the secular hymn or anthem was the 'Marseillaise'. All nation states and many regions within them, especially those of distinct legal linguistic or ethnic status, have their hymns. Such hymns or anthems are usually inseparably connected with ceremony such as requiring people to uncover their leads, stand, salute a flag, appear solemn, etc. They have a strong emotional appeal and are often exploited for chauvinistic purposes.