Gernikako Arbola
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The tree with the temple in the back and the hermitage to the left.
Gernikako Arbola ("the Guernica tree" in Basque) is an oak tree that symbolizes traditional freedoms for the Biscayan people, and by extensions the Basque people. Lords of Biscay swore to respect the Biscayan liberties under it, and the modern Lehendakari of the Basque Country swears his charge there.
The current tree is the descendant of an earlier one (the "old tree") whose trunk is conserved in the surrounding garden.
In 2004, it was declared dead. The gardeners of the Biscayan government keep several spare trees grown from the tree acorns.
Gernikako arbola is also the title of a song (in the zortziko form) presented in Madrid 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".
An oak tree is depicted in the heraldic arms 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 nationalist youth organisation Jarrai also present oak leaves.
lyrics
- Gernikako Arbola da bedeinkatua, :(The Tree of Gernika is sacred)
euskaldunen artean guztiz maitatua. :(absolutly loved by the Basques)
Eman ta zabal zazu munduan frutua, :(it give their fruits over the world)
adoratzen zaitugu, arbola santua. :(We love you,holy Tree)
Mila urte inguru da esaten dutela, :(The people assure since one thousand years)
Jainkoak jarri zuela Gernikako Arbola. (that God planted it)
Zaude, bada, zutikan orain ta denbora, (Let's stay there, now and forever)
eroritzen bazera, arras galdu gera. (if you felt we are totally lost)
- Ez zera eroriko, Arbola maitea, (Always you stay there, loved Tree)
baldin portatzen bada, Bizkaiko Juntea. (if the Biscayn Government want)
Laurok hartuko degu zurekin partea (The four regions will fight for you)
pakean bizi dedin euskaldun jendea. (and the Basque people will live in Peace forever)
Betiko bizi dedin Jaunari eskatzeko (To ask to God that you always survive)
jarri daitezen danok laster belauniko. (let's go to kneel down)
Eta bihotzetikan eskatu ezkero, (And if we ask to Him with our hearts)
Arbola biziko da orain eta gero. (The Tree lives now and forever)
- Arbola botatzea dutela pentsatu, (That many people want to fall down the Tree...)
Euskal Herri guztian danok badakigu. (everybody knows it in the Basque Country)
Ea, bada, jendea, denbora orain degu, (Come on! Let's go people! Now it's the moment!)
erori gabetanik eduki behar degu. (It's necessary to defend it)
- Beti egongo zera udaberrikoa, (Always you be like the Spring)
lore aintzinetako mantxa gabekoa. (without the stains of the first flowers)
Erruki zaitez, bada, bihotz gurekoa, (However, be feel sorry of our heart)
denbora galdu gabe, emanik frutua. (and give us your fruit quickly)
Arbolak erantzun du kontuz bizitzeko, (The Tree answered us that it's necessary to live carefully)
eta bihotzetikan Jaunari eskatzeko. (and we ask it with our heart to the Lord)
Gerrarik nahi ez degu, pakea betiko, (That we don't want the war, Peace forever)
gure lege zuzenak hemen maitatzeko. (to love here our Laws)
- Erregutu diogun Jaungoiko jaunari (We ask it to the Lord)
pakea emateko orain eta beti, (who give to us Peace now and forever)
bai eta indarra ere zerorren lurrari, (and Force too to our Land)
eta bendizioa Euskal Herriari. (and the bless to the Basque Country)
See also
Malato, another tree important for
Basque nationalism.
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