Eala Freya Fresena

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Eala Freya Fresena is a Frisian proverb, roughly translated as "Hail, free Frisians!"^{[citation needed]}

It was spoken at the Upstalsboom in Aurich where Frisian representatives met in spring and it is answered with Leaver dea as slaaf (better dead than a slave).

The proverb refers to the "Frisian freedom"—Election of local representatives was common in Frisia for a long time, and at one point even the king was elected. In the late Middle Ages, Frisia had no central government. Small farmer republics formed the official government. Powerstruggles were resolved in feuds with specific rules.

Today it is often used in the German east-frisian tribe that includes also a language minority that still speaks the old Frisian language.

For the interjection eala compare Old English éala in Crist (104),

éala éarendel engla beorhtast "hail Earendel, brightest of angels!"

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