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Gernikako Arbola
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gernikako Arbola ("the Gernika tree" 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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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 As time passed, the role of separate assemblies was superseded by the Guernica one in 1512, and its oak would acquire a symbolic meaning, with actual assemblies being held in a purpose-built hermitage-house (the current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]
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 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 Basque authorities present descendants of the tree as a symbol of friendship to Basque diaspora groups and related cities.
Gernikako arbola is also the title of a song (in the zortziko 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]
There are versions with four, eight or twelve stanzas. Besides, Iparragirre as a Basque improviser would introduce changes during his performances.[5]
| Original Guipuscoan Basque[6] | English |
|---|---|
| Guernicaco arbola Da bedeincatuba Euscaldunen artean Guztiz maitatuba: Eman ta zabaltzazu Munduban frutuba, Adoratzen zaitugu Arbola santuba. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
The green leaf and the fresh zañac, 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." |
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. |
- Malato in Luyando, 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.
- ^ El Mundo, 26 February 2005, Otro árbol de Gernika
- ^ An interview with Jaime del Burgo Torres, the captain that ordered the guard. Allegedly from El Mundo (31 October 2005).
- ^ La prudencia en la mujer, Acto 1, Tirso de Molina. Referred as the arbol de Garnica [sic].
- ^ The Oak of Guernica, William Wordsworth, 1810.
- ^ Gernikako Arbola, véritable hymne basque, French-language paper by Jean Haritschelhar.
- ^ Guernicaco Arbola, by Jose Maria Iparragirre, Colección de aires vascongados, Ed. Sendoa, Donostia, 1981.
- Arbol de Gernika in the Spanish-language Auñamendi Encyclopedia.
- Page on the tree at the site of the General Assemblies of Biscay.