Eala Frya Fresena
Eala Frya Fresena is a Frisian / East Frisian motto and a central expression of Frisian freedom . It was proclaimed at the Upstalsboom , a medieval meeting place near Aurich , by the assembled Frisians .
translation
The saying has often been incorrectly translated as Oh, you free Frisians or Heil free Frisians , but is rather to be understood as the reverse of the feudal submission of kneeling down. This meaning comes from the translation (Stand), (you) free Frisians! closer. The first word eala can also be found in Old English as an interjection (“Wohlauf!”), But cannot be directly related to Eala Frya Fresena , since the Old English diphthong ea in Old Frisian corresponded to a stretched a .
History and meaning
The historical testimony of the saying begins late, apparently not in East , but in West Friesland (Friesland west of the Lauwers ). According to P. Sipma (Eala Fria Fresena, Pompebledden 19 [1948], pp. 21-24), the apparently linguistically corrupted saying in Old Frisian is not documented, but appears for the first time in 1585 as eele ffrye ffryse by C. Kempius, then in 1617 as Ela fria fresena / fresa with S. Siccama and finally in 1686 with SA Gabbema in the form Eela Fria Fresena .
The answer to Eala Frya Fresena is in East Frisian Low German the exclamation Lever dood as Slaav (Better dead than slave). The latter saying is in North Frisian Lewer duad üs Slav at the same time motto in the North Frisian coat of arms .
Eala Frya Frisia as "Frisian folk song"
Eala Frya Frisia is the text of a "Frisian folk song" that Rudolf Justus published for you from Leer in 1842 in the first issue of the Emden magazine Frisia . It was considered the East Frisian national anthem in the 19th century. The first stanzas are (with an allusion to Goethe ):
- “On the meadows that are deserted from the sea
- On the wild North Sea beach,
- We live, we free Frisians,
- Proud of our fatherland ”.