Ethnographic Atlas of the Basque Country

The Ethnographic Atlas of the Basque Country is an ethnographic research project intended to provide an overview of popular culture and lifestyles of the Basques throughout the 20th century up to the present day.

Exhibition of the bridal trousseau. Bidegoian (G), 1957. Source: Ana Larrarte, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Zurututza Farmhouse. Zeanuri (B), c. 1925. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

Trousseau escorted by wedding entourage on their way to Izagirre Farmhouse. Bidegoian (G), 1957. Source: Martín Photographic Studio.

Funeral procession entering church. Zerain (G), 1965. Source: Karmele Goñi, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Pumpkins for the livestock. Lezama (B), 1990. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: José Ignacio García Muñoz.

• House and Family
• Diet
• Children’s Games
• Medicine
• Birth
• Funeral Rites
• Livestock Farming
• Agriculture

Heir of the family. Zeanuri (B), c. 1920. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

The widespread practice in the territories under charter law was for one of the children, either male or female, to continue with the family tradition of keeping up the farmstead and its belongings.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Nahiz dala udea, nahiz dala negua, goizeko zortziretan, armozu ordua. Folk song

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Meal on board. Source: Aguirre Archive.

Vegetal clothing and accessories. Egozkue (N), 1967. Source: José Zufiaurre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Akerrak adarrak okerrak ditu, adarrak okerrak akerrak ditu, okerrak adarrak akerrak ditu. Tongue-twister

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Pharmaceutical products have gradually replaced traditional cures.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Vaccination against tubercolosis. Source: Municipal Archive of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Ceferino Yanguas.

Nursemaid. Zeanuri (B), 1924. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Until the mid-twentieth century women gave birth at home with the help of a midwife and women relatives and neighbours. Giving birth was almost exclusively a female domestic occasion exclusively concerning females.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

There were specific paths to carry the corpse from the house of the deceased to the church and the cemetery.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral cortège, c. 1925. Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Shepherd from Lanciego (A) on the climb to Toloño, 1996. Source: José Ángel Chasco, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

The Mediterranean watershed of the Basque Country was, and to a large extent is, characterized by the importance of the commons, the communal character of their exploitation by associations and brotherhoods comprising multiple municipalities still persisting today.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Ezkur urte, laborte urte. Acorns a plenty, a year of prosperity.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Unloading grain into the trailer. Argandoña (A), 2003. Source: Juan José Galdos, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.