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

St John’s bunches of branches and flowers. Zeanuri (B), 1980. Source: Ander Manterola, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

Different types of rites, such as attaching the St. John’s branch, San Juan haretxa, to the doorposts, were performed around the St. John’s Day festivities.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Ogi erre berri, etxe galgarri. Soft bread at home, an unruly household.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Bread baking. Ariztimuño Farmhouse. Oñati (G), 1955. Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Drawing of lots. Zeanuri (B), 1993. Source: Ander Manterola, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Txirristi-mirristi, gerrena, plat, olio-zopa, kikili-salda, urrup edan edo klik, ikimilikiliklik. Drawing lots chant

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Osasuna galtzen duenak dena galtzen du. If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Snow pit in Astikurutz, Otxandio (B). Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: José Ignacio García Muñoz.

Bilbao, 1995. Source: Asier Astigarraga’s private archive.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Charms, kutunak, were attached to children’s clothes and were said to protect them from the evil eye.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Tolling the bell was a very effective way of announcing the death in rural settlements.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Death knell. Beasain (G). Source: José Zufiaurre, 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

Linoaren atsekabeak, amaigabeak. Producing fine linen is hard work.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Implements for linen making. Zeanuri (B), 1931. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.