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"Mer Hayrenik" (Armenian: Մեր Հայրենիք, 'Our Fatherland') is the national anthem of Armenia. Barsegh Kanachyan composed the music, while the lyrics were authored by Mikayel Nalbandian. First adopted in 1918 as the anthem of the short-lived First Republic of Armenia, it was subsequently banned after the country was invaded and incorporated into the Soviet Union. Following the dissolution of the USSR and the restoration of sovereignty in 1991, the song was re-adopted as the national anthem of the newly-independent state, albeit with slightly modified lyrics.
The lyrics of "Mer Hayrenik" were derived from a poem written by Mikael Nalbandian in 1861. Although its title can be translated as "The Italian Girl's Song" or "Song of an Italian girl" (Armenian: Իտալացի աղջկա երգը, translit. Italats’i aghjka yergy), it is more well-known by its incipit, "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland). In the early 20th century, the music was composed by Barsegh Kanachyan. Subsequently, both the lyrics and music were adopted as the national anthem of the First Republic of Armenia, which briefly existed from 1918 to 1920.
As an unmistakable symbol of Armenian nationalism, "Mer Hayrenik" was outlawed by the Bolshevik authorities. In its place, the Anthem of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic was utilized from 1944 onwards. Because of this, "Mer Hayrenik" took on a new status as a protest song against Soviet rule in Armenia.
"Mer Hayrenik" was reinstated as Armenia's national anthem on 1 July 1991, by the constituent republic's Supreme Soviet. The lyrics are not identical to the 1918 version, however, because several of the words have been modified. As an intrinsic element of civic education in Armenia, the anthem is one of several national symbols which feature prominently in the classrooms of the country's schools. By dignifying the song in this manner, teachers reckon that this "encourage students to sing the national anthem every day".