Gernikako Arbola

From Freepedia

Gernikako Arbola ("the Guernica tree" in Basque) is an oak tree that symbolizes traditional freedoms for the Biscayne people, and by extensions the Basque people. Lords of Biscay swore to respect the Biscayne 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 Biscayne 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 the 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.

See also

Malato, another tree important for Basque nationalism.