Eala Frya Fresena

Eala Frya Fresena is a Frisian / East Frisian motto and central expression of Frisian freedom. It was allegedly proclaimed as a greeting by the assembled Frisians at the Upstalsboom, a medieval gathering place near Aurich. It means roughly, “(Stand) up, (you) free Frisians!” This was answered with the call: “Lever dood as Slaav” (Better dead than slave).

The saying “Eala Frya Fresena” is first attested in 1585 by Cornelius Kempius as “eele ffrye ffryse” for West Frisia, the area west of the Lauwers – a small river running roughly north-south on the border between the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Friesland. In 1617 it was mentioned in writing as “Ela fria fresena” (or fresa). Finally in 1686 as “Eala Fria Fresena“.
Kempius testifies that in Friesland guests were greeted with a full drinking cup and invited to a handshake and a kiss, saying: ghildt eele ffrye ffryse (“Hail to thee, free Frisian!” or “It is to thee, noble free Frisian!”). The guest should answer: Ffaer wael ele vrye ffrise (“Go well, noble free Frisian!”). In addition, one would not have differentiated at all between men and women when drinking. This is not the oldest reference. Already Reyner Bogerman mentions in its proverb collection from 1551 the shortened sentence: “ey ele Frese”. Nevertheless, the tradition is thin.
The spelling Eala fria Fresena was introduced only in 1746 by the East Frisian government councilor Matthias von Wicht. From East Frisia it then spread to West and North Frisia around 1840.

The saying was rediscovered and revived in the Romantic Period (late 18th century until well into the 19th century). This was mainly due to the East Frisian historian and landscape secretary Tileman Dothias Wiarda, who, from 1777 onwards, combined his account of the medieval country days at the Upstalsboom with a romantically tinged thought about time-honored drinking manners, folk customs and supposed freedom retoric. In an article written in 1818 he wrote, translated:

Therefore, at such land congresses, to which everyone had free access, one can count on the confluence of many people from all classes. […] These foreign guests will then, according to general patriotic custom, have been welcomed with a handshake, a kiss and the Frisian greeting: Eala fria Fresena, welcome you free Frisian, by men, women and prostitutes. It was also an old custom among the Frisians that the stranger was welcomed with a drink from a drinking horn or cup filled with wine or beer: het ghild eele frye Freese, dir gilt es, edler freier Friese; whereupon the latter accepted the half-emptied cup offered to him, and then returned it with the words: Faer wel eele frye Freese, i.e. it goes well with you, or it goes well with you, noble free Frisian. Thereupon they shook hands and kissed each other without distinction of gender. […]
That the Frisians, according to old Germanic custom, will have eked out bravely in the evening, or even until the early morning, after the business of the Diet has been done, and that there may have been no lack of popular entertainment, may not be doubted.

Tileman Dothias Wiarda: Von den Landtagen der Friesen in den mittleren Zeiten bei Upstalsboom. Leer 1818, S. 65–66.

With this, Wiarda, probably impressed by the political events of his own time, created the image of an idealized people’s assembly, which at the same time could serve as a wishful image for a longed-for democratic future. The saying was then instrumentalized politically and used in different ways in West Frisia, East Frisia and North Frisia.
The linguists Joost Hiddes Halbertsma and Nikolaus Outzen made the phrase known in the Netherlands and in Schleswig-Holstein.
It was soon used in liberal pamphlets in the Netherlands. However, the call “Eala frya Fresena” (“Stand up! Free Frisians”) became popular only in the last decades of the 19th century and was since then a slogan of the West Frisian national movement, which aimed above all at equal rights for their own language, culture and economy.

So there is no evidence that the call or greeting originates from Pagan times. Nevertheless, in a poem from 1842 by the poet Rudolf Justus Ihnen from the German town of Leer, for example, reference is made to older times. This poem, titled “Eala Frya Frisia” was upgraded as a Frisian folk song soon after its publication. (Text below).

In terms of content, the expression fits seamlessly in the period, when nationalism and romanticism found each other in prose and poetry. By today’s standards it may therefore be somewhat offensive, but one should see it as a product of its time and certainly not transfer it to today’s situations.
Also, from a historical point of view, there are some flaws, such as the lines:

Charlemagne struck with Frisians free
the hard-pressed Rome;

At the time of Charlemagne there was only very far away the Eastern Roman Empire, but Charlemagne had nothing to do with it, and certainly did not fight against it. Therefore, a little from history …

After Charlemagne defeated the Saxons, he also incorporated all of Friesland into his Frankish Empire in 785. On the political level, however, he gave the individual peoples in his empire a certain autonomy. In this context, at the end of the 8th century, he had the various old, traditional laws of the Germanic peoples written down. Among them was also the old law of the Frisians, the Lex Frisionum.
Not all Frisians were part of Charlemagne’s empire. During Charlemagne’s reign, Frisians settled on the islands between Eiderstedt and Sylt; these were called ‘King Frisians’ and were subject to the Danish king.
Probably in the 11th century Frisian settlements were established on the west coast of Southern Jutland (the later Duchy of Schleswig) between the rivers Eider and Vidå.
It is assumed that the reason for this emigration was to escape from the Frankish rule – the Franks had in the meantime extended their area of power to the Eider.

With the support of the Frankish ruler, missionaries were active in Friesland and by 800 the Frisian upper class was Christianized, for the common people this process took considerably longer. The emigrated ‘North Frisians’ even remained faithful to their Pagan Gods until the 11th century. Then, however, they also had themselves converted, making sure that as Christians they did not automatically fall under Frankish rule.
To the limited Frisian autonomy under Charlemagne, also belonged the exemption of service in the Frankish army, but they did have to pay a church tax.

In the period after Charlemagne, the Frisians regained partial independence by driving out the Frankish counts. This was the beginning of the “period of Frisian Freedom”, which lasted from the 12th to the 14th century. In this period they were independent of the empire, i.e. they were not subject to any lord who had sovereignty over Friesland, and therefore they were subject only to the emperor.
The practically autonomous communities, which together were called “the seven Frisian Sea Lands”, elected their delegates who met annually in the 13th and 14th centuries at the Upstalsboom on a site near the German town of Aurich and there they regulated the coexistence within the communities and represented the federation politically to the outside world.
During this period of “freedom”, the Frisians developed a form of government that was different in that it was not a feudal system, as was the case elsewhere in Europe. The many smaller and somewhat larger rural communities were organized in a free and cooperative manner.

Back now to the poem by the poet Rudolf Justus Ihnen, with its bombastic rhetorical and the insertion of poetic freedom at the expense of the real events of history. Within the set time it was the author of this article (Gunivortus Goos) not possible to translate the following poem in rhyme. Hence, it is only tried to reproduce the essence of it in a rather literal translation – first the German original, then the translation…

Eala Frya Fresena

Auf den meerentrung’nen Wiesen,
An der wilden Nordsee Strand,
Wohnen wir, wir freien Friesen,
Stolz auf unser Vaterland,
Das der Freiheit edlen Sproß
Stets genährt in seinem Schoß.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Herrlich ist das Land der Friesen,
Deutschlands bester, reichster Gau!
Land, wo Milch und Honig fließen,
Wo das Fett träuft wie der Thau,
Goldne Saat dem Landmann lohnt,
Der auf freiem Erbe wohnt.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Auf den blumenreichen Auen
Gras’t des Viehes zahllos Heer;
Wohin nur die Blicke schauen,
Wogen Saaten golden schwer;
Ob der rauhe Nord auch zieht,
Nacht’gall singt und Rose blüht.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Leda’s und Amasiens Wellen
Wogen schiffbedeckt durch’s Land,
Tausend stolze Segel schwellen
Such am meerumbraus’ten Strand.
Frieslands kühnes Schiffer-Heer
Segelt auf dem fernsten Meer.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Frisia’s edle Töchter strahlen
In der Schönheit Blüthen-Pracht:
Rosen sanft die Wangen malen,
Himmelblau das Auge lacht!
Wie die Lilien schlank und hold,
Rein wie Perlen, ächt wie Gold.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Hell in Unsers Königs Krone
Strahlt der Demant – Frisia!
Starke Säule Seinem Throne,
Wankend nicht, wenn Stürme da. –
Ob auch manchmal wohl verkannt –
Friesen-Treue hält doch Stand!
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Herrlich strahlt der Friesen Ehre,
Stets mit hohem Ruhm genannt,
über Länder, über Meere –
Ist der Friesen Stamm bekannt;
Wie des Weltmeers Welle frei,
Wie die Felsen fest und treu.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

In der freien Friesen Mitte
Blühet ächte Redlichkeit,
Feste Treue, reine Sitte,
Unerschrockenheit im Streit!
Unter Deutschlands Völker-Heer,
Steht der Friese hoch und hehr.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Als der stolze Römer siegte,
Deutschlands Gau’n in Fesseln schlug,
Muthig da der Friese kriegte,
Nicht des Fremdlings Ketten trug.
Selbst der Weltbeherrscher Thron
Schützten Friesen-Schwerdter schon.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Karl der Große schlug mit Friesen
Frei das hartbedrängte Rom;
Ihre Kühnheit, dort bewiesen,
Zeugt Sanct Michels stolzer Dom.
Und zum Dank für Muth und Treu
Schlug der Karl die Friesen frei.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

In des Kreuzes heil’gem Kriege,
Wehte frisch der Friesen Fahn’!
Friesen brachen kühn zum Siege
Mit den eisern’ Flegeln Bahn.
Damiettes’s stolzer Thurm
Stürzt dem starken Friesen-Sturm!
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

In des deutschen Reiches Heere
Folgten frei die Friesen nur.
Ihre Schwerdter, kräft’gen Speere
Bahnten stets des Sieges Spur!
Wo der Friesen Schlacht-Ruf klang,
Ward’s dem kühnsten Feinde bang.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Unter Edzard, ihrem großen,
Freien Fürsten fest vereint,
Stehn die Friesen! Mag erboßen
Auch der zehnmal stärkre Feind,
Muthig schlägt der Friesen Held
Alle Feinde aus dem Feld.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Auch im Reiche der Gedanken
Strahlt der Friesen Ruhm empor;
In der Wissenschaften Schranken
Tritt der Friese stolz hervor.
Groß im Felde, groß im Rath,
Kühn die Rede, wie die That!
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Als vor Luthers Donner-Stimme
Schwand einst Deutschlands Geistes-Nacht,
Frisia, trotz Tück’ und Grimme,
Froh dem Licht entgegen lacht;
Schnell die Geistes-Fesseln bricht,
Freiheit liebet nur das Licht.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Und der Kranz des Edlen, Schönen,
Hat den Friesen stets geblüht;
Oft in starken, sanften Tönen,
Klang der edlen Friesen Lied.
Frech die Lüge! die da spricht:
Freie Friesen sängen nicht.
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Freie Friesen! hoch erschallen
Laßt der Friesen Volks-Gesang!
Aller Friesen Herzen wallen
Kühner bei des Liedes Klang,
Das dem Vaterland wir weihn.
Donnernd stimmen alle ein:
Hoch erschall’ es fern und nah:
Eala fria Frisia.

Leer.
Rudolph Justus Ihnen.

On the sea-trodden meadows,
On the wild North Sea beach,
We live, we free Frisians,
Proud of our fatherland
That freedom’s noble offspring
Always nourished in its bosom.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Glorious is the land of the Frisians,
Germany’s best, richest county!
Land where milk and honey flow,
Where fat drips like the dew,
Golden seed to the farmer rewards,
Who dwells on his free inheritance.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

On the flowery meadows
the countless cattle is grazing;
Wherever the eyes are looking,
Waves of seeds golden and heavy;
Even if the rude northwind is blowing,
The night’gall sings and roses blossom.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Leda’s and Amasia’s waves
Rush like ships through the land,
A thousand proud sails swell
Seeking along the sea-bound beach.
Friesland’s bold host of sailors
Sails on the farthest sea.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Frisia’s noble daughters shine
their beauty of blooming splendor:
Roses gently paint the cheeks,
Sky-blue are the eyes that laugh!
Like the lilies slender and bright,
Pure as pearls, true as gold.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Bright in Our King’s Crown
Shines the diamant – Frisia!
Strong pillar of His throne,
Wavering not when storms there. –
Though sometimes misjudged –
Frisian fidelity yet stands firm!
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Glorious shines the Frisian honor,
Always with high fame called,
Across lands, across seas
Is the Frisian tribe known;
Like the waves of the free sea,
Like the rocks firm and true.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Among the free Frisians
Genuine honesty flourishes,
Firm loyalty, pure morality,
Fearlessness in battle!
Among Germany’s army of nations,
The Frisian stands high and noble.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

When the proud Roman was victorious,
Germany’s counties in fetters struck,
Bravely the Frisian fought,
did not bore the foreigner’s chains.
Even the throne of the world ruler
Frisian swords already protected.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Charlemagne struck with free Frisians
hard-pressed Rome;
Their boldness, proven there,
Testifies Sanct Michel’s proud cathedral.
And in gratitude for courage and loyalty
Charlemagne gave the Frisians free.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

In the holy crusade wars,
The flag of the Frisians waved brave!
Frisians boldly set out for victory
Using their iron flails to break
Damiettes’ proud tower
fell under the strong Frisian storm!
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

In the armies of the German Empire
The Frisians followed freely.
Their swords, powerful spears
Always paved the way to victory!
Where the Frisian battle cry sounded,
The boldest foe was afraid.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Under Edzard, their great,
Free prince firmly united,
Stand the Frisians! May be enraged
Even the ten times stronger enemy,
Bravely the Frisian hero
Hit all enemies from the field.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Even in the realm of thought
The glory of the Frisians shines up;
Inside the barriers of science
The Frisian stands out proudly.
Great in the field, great in the council,
Bold in speech and bold in deed!
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

When before Luther’s thunderous voice
Germany’s spiritual night once waned,
Frisia, in spite of folly and fury,
Gladly laughs towards the light;
Quickly breaking the spiritual shackles,
Freedom loves only the light.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

And the wreath of the noble, beautiful,
Has always blossomed for the Frisians;
Often in strong, gentle tones,
Sounded the noble Frisian song.
Insolent the lie! that speaks there:
Free Frisians do not sing.
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Free Frisians! resound high
Let the Frisian people sing!
The hearts of all Frisians swell
Bolder at the sound of the song,
That we dedicate to the native land.
Thundering all join in:
High it resounded far and near:
Eala fria Frisia.

Leer.
Rudolph Justus Ihnen.

In the book with the title: “T(h)ing – þing or ðing” and the subtitle: “A European Cultural Heritage” by Gunivortus Goos there is on pages 199-213 a longer section about the Upstalsboom and the “Frisian Freedom”.