Gernikako Arbola

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The trunk of the "old tree".
The trunk of the "old tree".

Gernikako Arbola ("the tree of Gernika" in Basque) is an oak tree that symbolizes traditional freedoms for the Biscayan people, and by extension for the Basque people as a whole. The Lords of Biscay (including kings of Castile and Carlist pretenders to the throne) swore to respect the Biscayan liberties under it, and the modern Lehendakari of the Basque Country swears his charge there.

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[edit] The tree

In the middle ages, the representatives of the villages of Biscay would hold assemblies under local big trees. As time passed, the role of separate assemblies was superseded by the Guernica one in 1512, and its oak would acquire a symbolic meaning, with actual assemblies being held in a purpose-built hermitage-house (the current building is from 1833).

The known specimens[1] form a dynasty:

  • "the father", planted in the 14th century, lasted 450 years
  • the "old tree" (1742-1892), re-planted in 1811. The trunk now is held in a templet in the surrounding garden.
  • the third (1858-2004), re-planted in 1860, survived the bombing of Guernica in 1937 but had to be replaced because of a fungus. The gardeners of the Biscayan government keep several spare trees grown from the tree acorns.
  • the current one (from 1986) was replanted on the site of its father on the 25th of February 2005.

The tree's significance is illustrated by an event which occurred shortly after the Guernica bombings. When the Francoist troops took the town, the Tercio of Begoña, formed by Carlist volunteers from Biscay, put an armed guard around the tree to protect it against the Falangists, who had wanted to fell this symbol of Basque nationalism.[2]

Arms of Biscay
Arms of Biscay

An oak tree is depicted on the heraldic arms of Biscay and subsequently on the arms of many of the towns of Biscay. An oak leaf logo is being used by the local government of Biscay.

The leaf in the logo of EA has one half red and another green, the colors of the Basque flag.
The leaf in the logo of EA has one half red and another green, the colors of the Basque flag.
The green saltire of the Basque flag is a reference to the tree and the traditional laws it represents.
The green saltire of the Basque flag is a reference to the tree and the traditional laws it represents.

The logo of the Basque nationalist party Eusko Alkartasuna and an old version of the logo of the nationalist youth organisation Jarrai also display oak leaves.

The oak leaves and acorns around the coat of arms of the Basque Country are another reference to the tree.
The oak leaves and acorns around the coat of arms of the Basque Country are another reference to the tree.

The Basque authorities present descendants of the tree as a symbol of friendship to Basque diaspora groups and related cities.

[edit] The anthem

Gernikako arbola is also the title of a song (in bertso form) presented in Madrid (1853) and by the shrine of both Saint Anthonies at Urkiola (1854) by the Basque bard José María Iparraguirre, celebrating the tree and Basque freedom. The song is an unofficial anthem of the Basques, besides the official Eusko Abendaren Ereserkia. It has been called the "Marseillaise of the Basques".

The tree has also inspired a passage of La prudencia en la mujer[3] by the Spanish playwright Tirso de Molina and a sonnet of William Wordsworth.[4]

[edit] Lyrics

There are versions with four, eight or twelve stanzas. Besides, Iparragirre as a bertsolari would introduce changes during his performances.[5]

Original Gipuzkoan text[6] Text in Standard Basque English
Guernicaco arbola
Da bedeincatuba
Euscaldunen artean
Guztiz maitatuba:
Eman ta zabaltzazu
Munduban frutuba,
Adoratzen zaitugu
Arbola santuba.
Gernikako arbola
Da bedeinkatua
Euskaldunen artean
Guztiz maitatua:
Eman ta zabal zazu
Munduan frutua,
Adoratzen zaitugu
Arbola santua.
The Tree of Guernica
is blessed
among the Basques;
absolutely loved.
Give and deliver
the fruit unto the world.
We adore you,
holy tree.
Milla urte inguruda
Esaten dutela
Jaincoac jarrizubela
Guernicaco arbola:
Saude bada zutican
Orain da dembora,
Eroritzen bacera
Arras galduguera.
Mila urte inguru da
Esaten dutela
Jainkoak jarri zuela
Gernikako arbola:
Zaude bada zutikan
Orain da denbora,
Eroritzen bazera
Erraz galdu gera.
About one thousand years,
they say,
since God planted it,
the Guernica tree:
Stand, so,
now is the time
If you fall
we will perish easily.
Etzera erorico
Arbola maitea,
Baldin portatzen bada
Vizcaico juntia:
Lauroc artuco degu
Surequin partia
Paquian bici dedin
Euscaldun gendia.
Ez zara eroriko
Arbola maitea,
Baldin portatzen bada
Bizkaiko juntua:
Laurok hartuko dugu
Zurekin partea
Bakean bizi dedin
Euskaldun jentea.
You will not fall,
dear tree,
if the Biscay assembly
behaves:
We four will take
your party
so that the Basque people
live in peace.
Betico bicidedin
Jaunari escatzeco
Jarri gaitecen danoc
Laster belaunico:
Eta biotzetican
Escatu esquero
Arbola bicico da
Orain eta guero.
Betiko bizi dedin
Jaunari eskatzeko
Jarri gaitezen denok
Laster belauniko:
Eta bihotzetikan
Eskatu ez gero
Arbola biziko da
Orain eta gero.
So that it lives forever,
to ask the Lord,
let us all
kneel down quickly:
and from the heart,
by asking,
the tree will live
now and forever.
Arbola botatzia
Dutela pentzatu
Euscal erri guztiyan
Denac badakigu:
Ea bada gendia
Dembora orain degu,
Erori gabetanic
Iruqui biagu.
Arbola botatzea
Dutela pentsatu
Euskal Herri guztian
Denak badakigu:
Ea bada jentea
Denbora orain dugu,
Erori gabedanik
Iruki biagu.
That they have thought
to fell the tree
in the Basque Country
we all know.
So, people,
now is the time!
We have to hold it up
and not let it fall.
Beti egongocera
Uda berricua,
Lore ainciñetaco
Mancha gabecoa:
Erruquisaitez bada
Biotz gurecoa,
Dembora galdu gabe
Emanic frutuba.
Beti egongo zara
Udaberrikoa,
Lore aintzinetako
Mantxa gabekoa:
Erruki zaitez bada
Bihotz gurekoa,
Denbora galdu gabe
Emanik frutua.
You will always be
of spring,
without the stain
of the flowers of old.
Have mercy,
you of our heart,
losing no time,
give fruit.
Arbolac erantzun du
Contuz bicitzeko,
Eta biotzetican
Jaunari escatzeco:
Guerraric nai ez degu
Paquea betico,
Gure legue zuzenac
Emen maitatzeco.
Arbolak erantzun du
Kontuz bizitzeko,
Eta bihotzetikan
Jaunari eskatzeko:
Gerrarik nahi ez dugu
Bakea betiko,
Gure lege zuzenak
Emen maitatzeko.
The tree answered
that we should live carefully
and in our hearts
ask the Lord:
We do not want wars
[but] peace forever,
to love here
our fair laws.
Erregutu diogun
Jaungoico jaunari
Paquea emateco
Orain eta beti:
Bay eta indarrare
Cedorren lurrari
Eta bendiciyoa
Euscal erriyari.
Erregutu diogun
Jaungoiko jaunari
Bakea emateko
Orain eta beti:
Bai eta indarra ere
Zetorren lurrari
Eta benedizioa
Euskal Herriari.
We ask
of the Lord God
that he gives us peace,
now and forever:
and strength as well
to His land
and the blessing
for the Basque land.
Orain cantaditzagun
Laubat bertzo berri
Gure provinciaren
Alabantzagarri:
Alabac esaten du
Su garrez beteric
Nere biotzecua
Eutzico diat nic.
Orain kanta ditzagun
Laubat bertso berri
Gure probintziaren
Alabantzagarri:
Arabak esaten du
Sukarriz beterik
Nere bihotzekoa
Eutsiko diat nik.
Now let us sing
four new verses
in praise
of our province:
Alava says
full of fever
the one of my heart
I will keep.
Guipúzcoa urrena
Arras sentituric
Asi da deadarrez
Ama Guernicari:
Erori etzeitzen
Arrimatu neri
Zure cendogarriya
Emen nacazu ni.
Gipuzkoa hurrena
Arras sentiturik
Hasi da deiadarrez
Ama Gernikari:
Erori etzeitzen
Arrimatu niri
Zure zendogarria
Hemen nazazu ni.
Guipuscoa next,
very moved,
has started with the call
to mother Guernica:
Do not fall:
come near me!
Your strengthener
you have in me!
Ostoa verdia eta
Zañac ere fresco,
Nere seme maiteac
Ez naiz erorico:
Beartzen banaiz ere
Egon beti pronto
Nigandican etzayac
Itzurerazoco.
Hostoa berdea eta
Zainak ere fresko,
Nere seme maiteak
Ez naiz eroriko:
Behartzen banaiz ere
Egon beti pronto
Nigandikan etsaiak
Itzularaziko.
The green leaf and
the fresh veins,
my dear sons,
I will not let fall:
If I need it too
be always ready
the enemies around me
to force into retreat.
Guztiz maitagarria
Eta oestarguiña
Beguiratu gaitzasu
Ceruco erreguiña
Guerraric gabetanic
Bici albaguiña.
Oraindaño izandegu
Guretzaco diña."
Guztiz maitagarria
Eta ostargina
Begiratu gaitzazu
Zeruko erregina
Gerrarik gabedanik
Bizi ahal bagina.
Oraindaño izan dugu
Guretzako diña."
Always lovable
and sky light,
look at us,
Queen of Heaven
without war
so that we can.
She has been until now
good to us.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] Other Fuero trees in Biscay

  • Malato in Luiando, another tree important for Basque nationalism.
  • The Abellaneda oak for the Encartaciones Juntas.
  • The Gerediaga oak for the Durango area.
  • The Aretxabalagana oak, where Biscaynes had to receive their lord when he came to put his oath on the Fuero under the Gernika oak.

[edit] References

  1. ^ El Mundo, 26 February 2005, Otro árbol de Gernika
  2. ^ An interview with Jaime del Burgo Torres, the captain that ordered the guard. Allegedly from El Mundo (31 October 2005).
  3. ^ La prudencia en la mujer, Acto 1, Tirso de Molina. Referred as the Arbol de Garnica [sic].
  4. ^ The Oak of Guernica, William Wordsworth, 1810.
  5. ^ Gernikako Arbola, véritable hymne basque, French-language paper by Jean Haritschelhar.
  6. ^ Guernicaco Arbola, by Jose Maria Iparragirre, Colección de aires vascongados, Ed. Sendoa, Donostia, 1981.

[edit] External links

  • Arbol de Gernika in the Spanish-language Auñamendi Encyclopedia.
  • Page on the tree at the site of the General Assemblies of Biscay (English, Basque, Spanish and French).

Coordinates: 43°18′53.435110830643566″N, 2°40′47.918701171875″W