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

Several generations under one roof. Zeanuri (B), c. 1910. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

Etxe beteak atsegin, etxe hutsak bihotz min. When poverty comes in the door, love leaves through the window.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Goseak dagonarentzat, ogi gogorrik ez. The famished make a feast out of bread crumbs.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Snack break, beginning of the 20th century. Source: Archive of the Chartered Government of Gipuzkoa: Indalecio Ojanguren Collection.

Group of children. Zeanuri (B), 1920. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children in the traditional society, both in towns and in countryside, only really had the toys that they made themselves. Games were more common than toys, and the latter were just a basis for the former.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Osasun ona eukiteko, oiloekin ohera eta txoriekin jaiki. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Chapel of the Archangel, Sanctuary of Aralar (N). Feast of St Michael, 1984. Source: Anton Erkoreka, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Offering to the departed. Donostia, 1958. Source: Segundo Oar-Arteta, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Ezkonberri, etxe berri. A married person wants a house.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

A small group of neighbours would watch over the corpse in turns during the night and make sure that the light burning next to it did not go out.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Shroud in a suit. Amezketa (G), 1959. Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Blessing of the flock before departure. Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Artaldearentzat artzain guti hobe ainitz baino. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Both animal and human power had a decisive impact on the way of working and on the crops until the introduction of modern machinery.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Haulage of wheat sheaves. Álava, c. 1940. Source: Municipal Archive of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Enrique Guinea Collection.