Abstract: The Legitimizing Toolkit of the Romanian Communist Anthems. Ideology and Linguistic Imaginary. Anthems are associated with nationhood and are part of its legitimizing toolkit. Their complete interpretation usually goes through the analysis of the linguistic imaginary, namely of the mythemes of the age, of the unconscious representations of the community, identifiable in rhythmical patriotic verses. National myths, recycled in patriotic songs Romanians have created since the 19th century, have been coloured differently, according to the ideology of the era. However, during 1948-1989 a double orientation could be “read” in the three national anthems: the natural insinuation of the community’s unconscious projections on the one hand, and the evidence of ideological charge meant to change Romanians’ representations of national reality on the other. Thus, the anthems Broken Shackles (Zdrobite cătușe), We Glorify Thee, Romania (Te slăvim, Românie), and Three colours (Trei culori) mark different stages in the communist discourse, even if they seemingly reuse the same motifs specific to the imaginary of the time: the country, the flag, the proletariat, the victorious past, the bright future and the “crushed” enemies.

Keywords: national imaginary, identity legitimation, mythemes, anthems, homeland, ritual, communism, wooden language