Main Page/en

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

Predominance of mono-pitched roofs. Artajona (N), 2010. Source: Segundo Oar-Arteta, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

The roof was originally erected prior to the walls, foundations and other constructive elements of the house.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Aza-olioak pil-pil, bisigua zirt-zart, gaztaina erreak pin-pan, ahia goxo-goxo, epel-epel. Traditional Christmas song

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Christmas market. Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1977. Source: Fernando Díaz de Corcuera, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Pin, pin, zarramacatín. Carranza (B), 1993. Source: Luis Manuel Peña, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Honek arrautza ekarri, honek erreten ipini, honek gatza eman, honek pixka bat probatu, honek dena jan! Game with fingers

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Pharmaceutical products have gradually replaced traditional cures.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Vaccination against tubercolosis. Source: Municipal Archive of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Ceferino Yanguas.

Urduliz (B), 1984. Source: Akaitze Kamiruaga, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Haurrak negarrik ez, titirik ez. A baby who does not cry, does not suckle.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

The members of the funeral cortege, relatives of the deceased and neighbours alike, would usually carry offerings of bread and light.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Offering bearers. Otsagabia (N), c. 1920. Source: Fco. Javier Zubiaur and M.ª Amor Beguiristain’s private archive: Roldán and Calle Photographic Studios.

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

Spades, ploughs, rakes, sickles, scythes and threshers were the essential tools for agricultural work.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

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