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

Cooking on the hearth. Apellániz (A), 1981. Source: López de Guereñu, Gerardo. “Apellániz. Pasado y presente de un pueblo alavés” in Ohitura 0, Vitoria-Gasteiz: Chartered Government of Álava, 1981.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

The kitchen in the farmsteads was where people would usually gather together and was at the heart of family life.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Round of the roll on St Christopher’s Day. Oquina (A), 1986. Source: Gerardo López de Guereñu Iholdi, Etniker Euskalerria Groups. Bread and wine hold body and soul together.

Leapfrog. 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

—Arre, arre, mandako, bihar Tolosarako, etzi Panplonarako. —Handik zer ekarriko? —Zapata ta garriko. Children’s chant

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.

Nuclear family. Artea (B), c. 1930. 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

Any bachelor, or spinster, traditionally continued to be linked to the homestead and to be an integral part of the family.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Light offerings would light up the way for the soul of the deceased. And bread would sustain it.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Light offerings. Amezketa (G). Source: Garmendia Larrañaga, Juan. Neguko Festak. Donostia, 1993, J. Juanes Photographic Archive.

Climb to the mountain. Aia (G), 1998. Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

At the end of the Middle Ages, flocks in the Basque valleys converged on the same mountains that are now the main summer grassland used for grazing.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Maiatz luzea, gosea; garagarrilak ekarriko du asea. A very wet May, much straw and little grain.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Wheat being threshed and sacked. Navarre, c. 1960. Source: Archive of the Museum of Navarre: Nicolás Ardanaz Collection.