Ikurriña
Encyclopedia
The ikurrina flag or ikurriña (in Spanish
) is a Basque
symbol and the official flag of the Basque Country
Autonomous Community of Spain.
, the flag was designed by the founders of the Basque Nationalist Party
EAJ-PNV, Luis
and Sabino Arana
, and is commonly regarded as the national but unofficial symbol of Euskal Herria, or the wider Basque Country
. It is widely seen in the French Basque Country and forms part of the unofficial flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the French overseas community
in North America
that was settled by French Basque and also many Spanish Basque sailors. The Ikurriña is also the flag of the Basque Nationalist Party
(EAJ-PNV). A controversy exists because at first it was only the symbol of a section of the party (the section of Biscay) and many persons thought that another flag must represent the territory.
The red ground symbolizes the Biscayan people (the race); the green saltire might represent the Oak of Guernica
, a symbol of the old laws of Biscay, or Fueros; and over them, the white cross, God's symbol of Basque Catholic devotion. Thus, red, white and green have become the national Basque colors.
in a set of one flag for each of the seven Basque provinces and one for the whole country; however, since PNV activity was scarce outside of Biscay, only the Biscayne flag was publicly recognized. It was hoisted for the first time in the "Euzkeldun Batzokija", the club that preceded EAJ-PNV. The party adopted it in 1895 and, in 1933, proposed it as the flag of the whole Basque Country
.
In 1936, because the Basque people had accepted the "ikurriña" and at the suggestion of the socialist counselor Aznar, the Basque Government adopted it as the flag of the Basque Autonomous Region.
The regime of General Franco prohibited it in 1938 (it continued to be used in the Basque departements of France
). It became a symbol of defiance – the first actions of the clandestine group ETA
involved placing flags in public places.
During the Spanish transition to democracy
, it was legalized in 1977. Two years later, the Basque Government turned to adopt it as flag of the Basque A.C.
, and it has also remained as an unofficial flag for some sectors of Basque society in the rest of the provinces.
). In Basque, it has the generic meaning of "flag," but specially the one of the Basque Country, as defined by the Euskaltzaindia
(Royal Academy of the Basque Language).
The original Biscayne spelling of the Aranas was ikuŕiñ (the final -a is the Basque definite article
).
The modern standard Basque spelling is ikurrin.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) is a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
symbol and the official flag of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
Autonomous Community of Spain.
Design
Similar in pattern to the Union FlagUnion Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
, the flag was designed by the founders of the Basque Nationalist Party
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
EAJ-PNV, Luis
Luis Arana
Luis Arana Goiri , self-styled as Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Koldobika was a Basque nationalist politician and founder of the Basque Nationalist Party along with his brother Sabino Arana. He served as president of the PNV 1911?–1916, 1922–1930 , and 1932–1933....
and Sabino Arana
Sabino Arana
Sabino Arana Goiri, self-styled as Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Sabin, , was a Spanish and Basque writer. He was the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party and father of Basque nationalism....
, and is commonly regarded as the national but unofficial symbol of Euskal Herria, or the wider Basque Country
Basque Country (historical territory)
The Basque Country is the name given to the home of the Basque people in the western Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain on the Atlantic coast....
. It is widely seen in the French Basque Country and forms part of the unofficial flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the French overseas community
Collectivité d'outre-mer
The French overseas collectivities , like the French regions are first-order administrative divisions of France. The COMs include some former French overseas territories and other French overseas entities with a particular status, all of which became COMs by constitutional reform on 28 March...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
that was settled by French Basque and also many Spanish Basque sailors. The Ikurriña is also the flag of the Basque Nationalist Party
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
(EAJ-PNV). A controversy exists because at first it was only the symbol of a section of the party (the section of Biscay) and many persons thought that another flag must represent the territory.
The red ground symbolizes the Biscayan people (the race); the green saltire might represent the Oak of Guernica
Gernikako Arbola
Gernikako Arbola is an oak tree that symbolizes traditional freedoms for the Biscayan people, and by extension for the Basque people as a whole...
, a symbol of the old laws of Biscay, or Fueros; and over them, the white cross, God's symbol of Basque Catholic devotion. Thus, red, white and green have become the national Basque colors.
History
The flag was designed in 1894 to represent the province of BiscayBiscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
in a set of one flag for each of the seven Basque provinces and one for the whole country; however, since PNV activity was scarce outside of Biscay, only the Biscayne flag was publicly recognized. It was hoisted for the first time in the "Euzkeldun Batzokija", the club that preceded EAJ-PNV. The party adopted it in 1895 and, in 1933, proposed it as the flag of the whole Basque Country
Basque Country (historical territory)
The Basque Country is the name given to the home of the Basque people in the western Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain on the Atlantic coast....
.
In 1936, because the Basque people had accepted the "ikurriña" and at the suggestion of the socialist counselor Aznar, the Basque Government adopted it as the flag of the Basque Autonomous Region.
The regime of General Franco prohibited it in 1938 (it continued to be used in the Basque departements of France
Northern Basque Country
The French Basque Country or Northern Basque Country situated within the western part of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques constitutes the north-eastern part of the Basque Country....
). It became a symbol of defiance – the first actions of the clandestine group ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
involved placing flags in public places.
During the Spanish transition to democracy
Spanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
, it was legalized in 1977. Two years later, the Basque Government turned to adopt it as flag of the Basque A.C.
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, and it has also remained as an unofficial flag for some sectors of Basque society in the rest of the provinces.
Name
The name is a neologism by the Aranas from ikur ("mark, sign", compare to Catalan senyeraSenyera
The Senyera is a vexillological symbol based on the coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon, which consists of four red stripes on a golden background...
). In Basque, it has the generic meaning of "flag," but specially the one of the Basque Country, as defined by the Euskaltzaindia
Euskaltzaindia
Euskaltzaindia is the official academic language regulatory institution which watches over the Basque language. It carries out research on the language, seeks to protect it, and establishes standards of use...
(Royal Academy of the Basque Language).
The original Biscayne spelling of the Aranas was ikuŕiñ (the final -a is the Basque definite article
Definite Article
Definite Article is the title of British comedian Eddie Izzard's 1996 performance released on VHS. It was recorded on different nights at the Shaftesbury Theatre...
).
The modern standard Basque spelling is ikurrin.
See also
- The arrano beltzaArrano beltzaThe arrano beltza is an ancient Basque and Navarre symbol which shows a black eagle upon a yellow background. Today it is mostly, though not exclusively, used by Basque nationalists as a symbol of Euskal Herria, the Basque Country.- History :The black eagle was originally the seal of King Sancho...
("black eagleBlack EagleThe Black Eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical Asia and hunt mammals and birds, particularly at their nests...
") is another flag often displayed by Basque leftist nationalists besides Ikurriña. - The flag of Navarre is also used by a sector of nationalism that considers the kingdom of NavarreKingdom of NavarreThe Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
as a precedent of a future Basque state. The three flags can be found side by side on some events. - The modern flag of Saint Pierre et Miquelon (French North America) recognizes its Basque heritage by including an ikurriña.
- Gallery of flags with crosses
- Basque peopleBasque peopleThe Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
External links
- www.ikurrinamunduan.com Photographs in which the Ikurriña appears outside the borders of Euskal Herria.
- The French regiment des Cars used a similar flag in the 18th century.