View source for Zulia State Anthem

{{One source|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox anthem
| english_title     = Riding the Waves
| prefix            = State
| country           = [[Zulia State|Zulia]], [[Venezuela]]
| author            = [[Udón Perez]]
| lyrics_date       = 
| composer          = [[José Antonio Cháves]]
| music_date        = 
| adopted           = August 15, 1909
| sound             = Himno Del Zulia-Orquesta Sinfónica Infantil de Maracaibo.ogg
| sound_title       = 
}}
The anthem of [[Zulia State]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The Marabinian |url=https://themarabinian.com |website=themarabinian.com |access-date=25 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref> "Over Palm Trees", became official by Executive Order of August 15, 1909. It was the result of a public competition sponsored by the then Governor of the State, Jose Ignacio Lares Baralt, who on April 29 of that year, held a lyric and musical contest to select the words and melody of such treasured lyrical piece. The winner of the lyrical category was the famed poet laureate, Udón Perez; in the musical category, the winner was the equally renowned author, Jose Antonio Cháves. The winning entries were officially recognized on the above date, during a ceremony headed by the illustrious governor, but it was not until February 18, 1910 that the anthem was finally distributed throughout the various departments and offices of the State. With its beautiful melody, and a theme built around the ideas of freedom, peace, and hope, the anthem has remained a favorite of the people. It still speaks a revolutionary language - highly critical of dictatorship - and continues to communicate the State’s age-old abhorrence of centralist powers.

==Lyrics in Spanish==
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''Chorus'' <br>
Sobre palmas y lauros de oro <br>
yergue el Zulia su limpio blasón; <br>
y flamea en su plaustro sonoros <br>
del progreso el radiante pendón.

I <br>
La luz con el [[Catatumbo lightning|relámpago <br>tenaz del Catatumbo]], <br>
del nauta fija el rumbo, <br>
cual límpido farol; <br>
el alba de los trópicos, <br>
la hoguera que deslumbra <br>
cuando al zénit se encumbra <br>
la cuadriga del sol <br>
no emulan de tus glorias <br> 
el fúlgido arrebol 

II <br>
En la defensa olímpica <br>
de los nativos fueros <br>
tus hijos, sus aceros <br>
llevaron al confín; <br>
ciñendo lauros múltiples <br>
los viste, con arrobo, <br>
del Lago a Carabobo, <br>
del Ávila a Junín; <br>
y en Tarqui y Ayacucho <br>
vibraron su clarín. 

III <br>
Erguido como Júpiter, <br>
la diestra en alto armada, <br>
fulgurante la mirada <br>
de rabia y de rencor; <br>
las veces que los sátrapas <br>
quisieron tu mancilla: <br>
mirarte de rodilla <br>
sin prez y sin honor <br> 
cayó sobre sus frentes <br>
tu rayo vengador. 

IV <br>
Y luego que la cólera <br>
de tu justicia calmas, <br>
va en pos de nuevas palmas <br>
tu espíritu vivaz; <br>
en aulas de areópagos, <br>
cabildos y liceos; <br>
te brindan sus trofeos <br>
el numen de la paz; <br>
y vese en blanca aureola <br> 
resplandecer tu faz. 

V <br>
En tu carroza alígera <br>
que tiran diez corceles, <br>
de cantos y laureles <br>
guirnaldas mil se ven. <br>
Allí del arte el símbolo <br>
del sabio la corona, <br>
de Temis y Pomona <br>
la espada y el lairén. <br>
La enseña del trabajo <br>
y el lábaro del bien. 

VI <br>
Jamás, jamás, los déspotas <br>
o la invasión taimada, <br>
la oliva por la espada <br>
te obliguen a trocar; <br>
y sigas a la cúspide; <br>
triunfante como eres, <br>
rumores de talleres <br>
oyendo sin cesar <br>
en vez de los clarines <br>
y el parche militar.

==See also==
* [[List of anthems of Venezuela]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Venezuela-stub}}
{{National anthems of South America}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Anthems of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Songs in Spanish]]
[[Category:Zulia]]
[[Category:1909 songs]]