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

Old and young husband and wife. Areatza (B), beginning of the 20th century. Source: Rubén de Las Hayas’ private archive.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

The aim was to ensure that the family wealth, taken to be the farmstead and its belongings, would be passed on in full or only slightly diminished, and improved if possible, from parents to their offspring.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Odolosteak ordeaz. Neighbours and relatives are given black puddings and other pork cuts as a gift at pig slaughter time. It is an act of courtesy, an expression of the close bond shared with them, and part of an established exchange ritual.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Pig bleeding. Source: José Zufiaurre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

On a swing. Source: Arrien, Gregorio. Niños vascos evacuados en 1937. Bilbao, 1988.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Sirrin-sarran, domini pan, zure semea errotan, errota txiki, errota handi, eragin deutso, pin-pan.Children’s chant

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

There is a hidden wisdom behind popular medicine that goes far beyond the remedy itself. This collection of data helps us catch a glimpse of a way to understand health and disease —and ultimately the human body— that differs from the prevailing view.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Collecting thyme on Good Friday. Salinillas de Buradón (A), 1998. Source: Isidro Sáenz de Urturi, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Passacaglia. Sangüesa (N), c. 1960. Source: Juan Cruz Labeaga, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Gazteak, badakizue zelan dantzan egin: burua gora-gora ta kaderai eragin. Folk verse

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Dying on a rainy day or if it rained after the death showed that the soul would be saved: gorputz ona, euritsu.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

On the way to the cemetery, c. 1950. Izurdiaga (N). Source: Carmen Jusué, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Traditional sheep shearing. Carranza (B), 1998. Source: Miguel Sabino Díaz, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Grullas p’arriba, pastor buena vida, Grullas p’abajo, pastor más trabajo.When cranes fly north, life is easier for shepherds, when they fly south, work is harder for shepherds.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Uzta garaian lokartzen, miserian iratzartzen. Anyone who sleeps at harvest time wakes up destitute.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Milking of olive trees. Moreda (A), 2015. Source: José Ángel Chasco, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.