Bad etiquette to clap after the national anthem?

Question

When I was in the fourth grade (1994-1995), our elementary school music teacher made us learn the national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) because we were going on a field-trip to watch an orchestra perform and they began the concert with the national anthem. When practicing, she taught us something that I have remembered to this day: it is rude to clap at the end of the national anthem. "Even if everyone around you is clapping, you shouldn't clap." It always stuck with me because ever since then I find myself adhering to her rule, but of course, EVERYONE always claps at the end of the national anthem. I don't want to seem rude by not clapping, but I want to follow the proper etiquette. I tried looking online for national anthem etiquette and all I can find is that we should stand and take off hats/caps during the song. Has anyone ever heard of the etiquette about not clapping? Is it an old rule that no one follows anymore so it's okay to break it? Comments?

I did some more research and it does seem like there are others who have also been taught the same:
http://www.okctalk.com/okc-underground/6181-true-american.html
"If you do NOT applaud after the national antham is played at an event, you might be a TRUE AMERICAN... I was always taught it was disrespectful to applaud the national antham. That lesson came from a man who won ten medals including the Congressional Medal of Honor for Normandy (D-Day)... He said it shows disrespect for the country and the flag."
Some might argue that this is outdated, but you know how some traditions are hard to let go for some. For people like my teacher, clapping at the end of a song that represents our country, our flag, and our heroes who died for our country is akin to not standing during the song or not taking off your hat if wearing one. Just wanted to add that little detail so you can decide what you guys think.

Answer 1

The only thing I ever heard about not clapping was if the flag comes in with a color guard, don't clap while they're carrying the flag onto or off of the court/field/ice. If the color guard waits for applause after the anthem is complete, go ahead and clap until the guard goes into motion, then go silent until the flag has left. The idea is to acknowledge the performer(s) as well as show respect for the flag.

If the flag is just hanging on the wall and there isn't a color guard, go ahead and clap away.

Answer 2

Yes. it is poor etiquette to applaud at the end of the National Anthem, whether played, sung, flag or none, in a concert hall or church or outdoors, with or without an honor guard. I played with an orchestra for many years, including youth concerts every year for the school children. Concert manners were explained to the children, at the start of every concert, every year, which included DO NOT applaud at the end of the National Anther. Ever. of course a couple kids always slipped and started applauding, only to be quickly cur off. Of course stadiums full of Nascar and baseball fans get it wrong at every sporting event. But, the correct answer is, NEVER applaud at the end of the National Anthem.

Answer 3

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

If everyone is clapping at the end of the national anthem then it is obviously not rude in that place.

There may be other places where it would be considered rude though.

I seriously doubt that the anthem police will haul you off for this one. Every now and then you may stumble across a person who believes this is rude and make a scene. However, which would be the greater faux pas?

Answer 4

Star Spangled Banner Etiquette

Answer 5

I don't think it's bad etiquette.

Generally you're not clapping at the end of the anthemn, but at the beginning of something else - like a ball game.

I've found it's bad etiquette not to clap at a good performance in a public setting - the only exception being church services and/or graduation ceremonies.

Answer 6

I have heard people at the ball park applaud after the National Anthem but they are praising the one delivering the music. That is not wrong.

I have also been in many military events and it is not done in that venue. The uniforms salute and the civilians place their right hand over their hearts. It is almost a prayer.

I would applaud at the one but not at the other.

Answer 7

I am of the "consider your surroundings" camp.
In my church, we clap. A lot. And it is rude to consider our church rude for clapping.
But when I attend church with a friend, and they do not clap at all during the service for any reason, I do not clap, and I do not consider them rude for remaining silent.
The breach of etiquette is if you do not consider the surroundings and you clap when you should remain silent.
Most of the time, when people clap at the end of the national anthem, they are celebrating the beginning of an event, as someone mentioned, but they are also showing pride in their country.
I do not judge people that do not clap, I don't consider them rude for a second.

Answer 8

Yes, it's poor etiquette to clap after the national anthem --- and in church. I was at a wedding where people clapped after the special song or when the husband and wife were pronounced and I felt really stupid not clapping because everyone else was, but I was taught very strictly that you do not do that because these are dignified occasions and should be treated as such.

The one that made my skin crawl was way back when Princess Di's funeral included a speech from her brother and at the end thousands of people clapped --- but not the royal family, not even her sons or the Queen --- And it's not because they didn't like her ---- it's because you don't applaud when you are in church attending someone's frigging funeral!!! ;-p How tacky.

Answer 9

I taught elementary school music for 34 years and taught all my students to respect the singing of the National Anthem at all times. It is disrespectful to applaud, cheer, yell, whoop and holler "play ball" after singing it. Period. It is not rude to be the only one who does not clap. You are the only one with correct etiquette.

Answer 10

I'll be 70 in January and have been proud to sing the National Anthem since I started singing. I have never heard it was poor etiquette to applaud after the national anthem.
Perhaps your teacher meant if you were the one doing the singing, it certainly wouldnt be proper for you to applaud yourself. I dont think the etiquette police are going to clamp down on anyone who claps after our country's anthem is sung.
Sing proud and sing long.