It was written to coincide with the 1874 festivities in honor of one millennium since the Norse first arrived on the island.[1][8] It is for this reason that the full translation of the anthem's title is "The Millennial Hymn of Iceland".[8][9] The song was first played on August 2 of that year,[9] at a service celebrated at Reykjavík Cathedral to commemorate the milestone, with the King of Denmark (and hence, the King of Iceland) – Christian IX – in attendance.[6][10] However, the song was not officially adopted as the country's national anthem until 70 years later in 1944,[11] when Icelanders voted in a referendum to end their state's personal union with Denmark and become a republic.[12]