Tuesday, June 26, 2007
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.
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 As time passed, the role of separate assemblies was superseded by the Guernica one in 1512, and its oak would acquire a symbolic meaning, with actual assemblies being held in a purpose-built hermitage-house (the current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 trunk of the "old tree".The known specimens 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 tree (1858-2004), re-planted in 1860, survived the bombing of Guernica in 1937 but died of a fungus. The gardeners of the Biscayan government keep several spare trees grown from the tree acorns. The current tree (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.
The green saltire of the Basque flag is a reference to the tree and the traditional laws it represents.
The Basque authorities present descendants of the tree as a symbol of friendship to Basque diaspora groups and related cities.
The anthem
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 by the Spanish playwright Tirso de Molina and a sonnet of William Wordsworth.
Lyrics
There are versions with four, eight or twelve stanzas. Besides, Iparragirre as a Basque improviser would introduce changes during his performances.
Gernikako arbola
Da bedeinkatua
Euskaldunen artean
Guztiz maitatua:
Eman ta zabaltzazu
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
Jainkoak jarrizubela
Gernikako arbola:
Zaude bada zutikan
Orain da denbora,
Eroritzen bazera
Arras galdugera.
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.
Etxera eroriko
Arbola maitea,
Baldin portatzen bada
Bizkaiko juntia:
Lauroc artuko degu
Surekin partia
Pakian bizi dedin
Euskaldun 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.
Betiko bizidedin
Jaunari eskatzeko
Jarri gaitezen danok
Laster belauniko:
Eta biotzetikan
Eskatu ezkero
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
Euskal Herri guztian
Denak badakigu:
Ea bada gendia
Denbora orain degu,
Erori gabetanik
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 egongozera
Uda berrikua,
Lore aintzinetako
Mantxa gabekoa:
Errukizaitez bada
Biotz gurekoa,
Denbora galdu gabe
Emanik 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.
Arbolak erantzun du
Kontuz bizitzeko,
Eta biotzetikan
Jaunari eskatzeko:
Gerrarik nai ez degu
Paquea 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;
may there be peace forever,
our fair laws
to love here.
Erregutu diogun
Jaungoiko jaunari
Pakea emateko
Orain eta beti:
Bay eta indarrare
Zedorren lurrari
Eta bendizioa
Euskal Herriari.
We ask
of the Lord God:
Give us peace,
now and forever:
and strength as well
to His land
and the blessing
for the Basque land.
Orain kantaditzagun
Laubat bertzo berri
Gure probintziaren
Alabantzagarri:
Alabak esaten du
Su garrez beterik
Nere biotzekua
Eutziko 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.
Gipuzkoa urrena
Arras sentiturik
Asi da deadarrez
Ama gernikari:
Erori etzeitzen
Arrimatu neri
Zure zendogarria
Emen nakazu ni.
Gipuzkoa next,
very moved,
has started with the call
to mother Gernika:
Do not fall:
come near me!
Your strengthener
you have in me!
Ostoa berdia eta
Zanac ere fresco,
Nere seme maiteac
Ez naiz eroriko:
Beartzen banaiz ere
Egon beti pronto
Nigandikan etzaiac
Itzurerazoko.
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 oestargina
Begiratu gaitzasu
Zeruko erreguina
Gerrarik gabetanik
Bizi albagina.
Oraindano izandegu
Guretzano dina."
Always lovable
and oestarguiña,
look at us,
Queen of Heaven
without war
so that we can.
She has been until now
good to us.
Labels: famous trees 13, gernikako arbola
