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

Beans and broad beans were the most widely grown legumes and were traditionally an important part of the diet.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Broad bean podding. Source: Akaitze Kamiruaga, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Playing with spinning tops. Getxo (B), 1993. Source: Jon Elorriaga, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Changes in the adult world are also necessarily reflected in the children’s world. It should not be forgotten that those changes also affect the world of beliefs, convictions and rites underlying many traditional games; many of which would be stripped of meaning, some would fall into disuse, others would persist and would adapt to the new circumstances.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Baratxuria, hamalau gaitzen kontra. Garlic cures all ills.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Herbal remedies in store. Elosua (G), 1983. Source: Miren Goñi, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Etxebarri (B), 1968. Source: Edurne Romarate, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Maritxu-teilatuko, gona gorriduna, eutsi hagin zaharra ta ekarzu barria. Popular recitation

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.

Herder and dog. Droveway of the Roncalese (N), 1996. Source: Iñaki San Miguel, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

The introduction of sheepdogs meant they replaced the zagales, young children who had been in charge of herding the flock up to then.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Elur asko den urtean, garia; eta erle asko dugunean, eztia. Año de nieves, año de bienes.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Vecinos trabajando en las eras. Alegría-Dulantzi (A), c. 1940. Fuente: Archivo Municipal de Vitoria-Gasteiz: Fondo Enrique Guinea.