it became a tradition to stand at attention for the national anthem on december 23, 1942.
when did it become a tradition to stand at attention for the national anthem?
december 23, 1942
when the u.s. national anthem was first recognized by law in 1931, there was no prescription as to behavior during its playing. on june 22, 1942, the law was revised indicating that those in uniform should salute during its playing, while others should simply stand at attention, men removing their hats. the same code also required that women should place their hands over their hearts when the flag is displayed during the playing of the national anthem, but not if the flag was not present. on december 23, 1942, the law was again revised instructing men and women to stand at attention and face in the direction of the music when it was played. that revision also directed men and women to place their hands over their hearts only if the flag was displayed. those in uniform were required to salute. on july 7, 1976, the law was simplified. men and women were instructed to stand with their hands over their hearts, men removing their hats, irrespective of whether or not the flag was displayed and those in uniform saluting. on august 12, 1998, the law was rewritten keeping the same instructions, but differentiating between "those in uniform" and "members of the armed forces and veterans" who were both instructed to salute during the playing whether or not the flag was displayed. because of the changes in law over the years and confusion between instructions for the pledge of allegiance versus the national anthem, throughout most of the 20th century many people simply stood at attention or with their hands folded in front of them during the playing of the anthem, and when reciting the pledge they would hold their hand (or hat) over their heart. after 9/11, the custom of placing the hand over the heart during the playing of the national anthem became nearly universal.
the star-spangled banner
article 42 states that the anthem may only be used during the following occasions: solemn acts of official, civic, cultural, scholastic or sport character. the anthem can also be played to render honors to the mexican flag and to the president of mexico. if the national anthem is being used to honor the national flag or the president, the short version of the anthem is played. article 43 says that special musical honors may be paid to the president and the flag, but no more than once during the same ceremony. article 44 says that during solemn occasions, if a choir is singing the anthem, the military bands will keep silent. article 45 says that those who are watching the national anthem performance must stand at attention ("firmes") and remove any headgear. article 46 states that the national anthem must be taught to children who are attending primary or secondary school; this article was amended in 2005 to add pre-school to the list. the article also states that each school in the national education system () will be asked to sing the national anthem each year. article 47 states that in an official ceremony in which is need to play another anthem, the mexican anthem will be played first, then the guest state's national anthem. article 48 states that at embassies and consulates of mexico, the national anthem is played at ceremonies of a solemn nature that involves the mexican people. if the anthem is played outside of mexico, article 48 requires that the secretary of external relations (), through proper channels, must grant permission for the national anthem to be played and will also ensure that the anthem is not sung for commercial purposes.
himno nacional mexicano