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

Hearth, wood-burning stove and butane cooker. Neighbourhood of Aiuria (Muxika-B), 2011. Source: Segundo Oar-Arteta, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

Etxe onak, txingar ona. A good fire in a good home.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Sueteko laratzak jakiten dau etxeko barri. People show their true colours at home.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Olabide Farmhouse. Zerain (G), 1982. Source: Karmele Goñi, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children from Beasain in Egozkuen (N), 1967. Source: José Zufiaurre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Txori-ikasten They played looking for birds’ nests and thus learnt about their habits, their songs, the way the nests were built…

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Ona da ardaoa, kentzeko burutik beherakoa. Treat a cold with a hot toddy.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Feast of St William, blessing of water and wine. Obanos (N). Source: M.ª Amor Beguiristain, 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

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.

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

Until the 1950s, flour mills were an essential aspect of the livestock-farming economy of our villages.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Mill in Carranza (B), 1977. Source: Miguel Sabino Díaz, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.