Our flag

Our group NAZIOGINTZA thinks that we need a proper symbol standing for Basque nationalism and support to independence in the Basque Country. We have therefore designed the STARRED FLAG (“Izarduna”) to provide a logo and representative symbol, also aspiring to turn it into the symbol of all Basque nationalists and independence supporters.

That does not imply we renounce in any way the most representative flag of the Basque Country here and across the world, the Basque flag (Ikurriña). We think that the Ikurriña should be the official flag of tomorrow’s Basque Republic. Until that day comes, we intend to make the Starred Flag represent the pro-independence position both in the Basque Country and abroad.

We are aware that during the last years the Ikurriña has lost its commitment and pro-independence charge, given the fact that the Basque Autonomous Community’s pro-Spanish parties have assimilated it, while in Navarre it remains a strong symbol of Basque nationalism inasmuch as the unionists discard and ban it. That is the reason we add a new element: the Basque Star.

The star originates in the design of our own Ikurriña, altering one detail: We have removed a short stretch of the white horizontal stripe in order to accommodate the eight-point star featuring in several ancient coats of arms. By combining this genuine symbol and the Ikurriña, we are persuaded we render a flag that any Basque nationalists can make their own, standing for the urge for freedom of the whole Basque Country.

We approve of other symbols, yes we do, and we make them ours. However, we refuse to discard the Ikurriña and replace it with any other symbols meant to represent the Basque Country. While they may hold a meaning, they cannot represent the whole Basque Country.

The Starred Flag provides an opportunity to all Basque nationalists and independence supporters to materialize that sentiment and attitude, as well as showing it off publicly. A star in a flag makes for a symbol of independence in several stateless European nations, not only in Catalonia, so our Starred Flag, as opposed to the traditional Ikurriña, sends out a distinctive pro-independence message.

THE BASQUE STAR OR CARBUNCLE

The eight-point Basque star in our flag sinks its roots in the carbuncle, a medieval charge and Basque symbol still in use all over the Basque Country embedded in the coats of arms of many towns. We find a carbuncle standing alone or combined with other elements in the arms of Baigorry, Lizarra (Estella), Atarrabia, Irunberri (Lumbier), Lazkao or Bergara, set against a red backdrop. It also features in documents and ancient images, such as the Tudela cathedral (12th century), the Bible of Pamplona including fleur de lis points (1197), a 15th century rendition of the fight of Roncevaux depicted in the Big chronicles of France by Simon Marmion, also with fleur de lis points (cf. Mikel Sorauren. Historia de Navarra, El Estado Vasco, Pamiela argitaletxea, Iruñea, 1998, page 95), the Pamplona cathedral, the façade of Chartres cathedral, etc. Let us take a look at some of them:

ATARRABIA

BAIGORRY

BERGARA

CARBUNCLE

COAT OF ARMS OF LIZARRA

LIZARRA

STAMP OF PAMPLONA, 1274

Some of these captures have been borrowed from the illustrated book Gartxot, konkista aitzineko konkista published by Asisko Urmeneta’s and Edorta Barrutiabeña, pages 41-42 . (Publisher Elkar, 2011).

Summarizing, it is customary throughout the pro-independence movements all over the world to add a star in the flag. Therefore, we have substitute the customary star expressing an independence aspiration for an eight-point star with a historic tradition, which along with the Ikurriña stands by now as a symbol for our freedom.

See here some stars representing a pro-independence position:

“ESTRELEIRA” (GALICIA)