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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

Gabon, bon-bon; Natibitate, ase eta bete; San Estebantxe, lehen letxe. Eat heartily on Christmas Eve; until you feel full at Christmas; and back to normal on St Stephen’s Day.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Market on St Thomas’ Day. Bilbao, 1950. Source: Sancho el Sabio Foundation.

Children riding scooters and tricycles at Florida Park. Source: Municipal Archive of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Ceferino Yanguas.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Humans play games throughout their lives; however, that activity has a clearly different role for children and adults.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Verrugas tengo, verrugas vendo, aquí las dejo y me voy corriendo.Formula against warts

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Green figs. Source: Akaitze Kamiruaga, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Dancing during patronal celebrations. Zeanuri (B), 1922. 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

Young men and women would meet during the Sunday stroll, dances and pilgrimages.

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.

Black sheep in the flock. Meaga, Getaria (G). Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

A black animal, and particularly a billy goat, was considered to protect the herd, flock or barn throughout the area surveyed.

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.