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

Zurututza Farmhouse. Zeanuri (B), c. 1925. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

Etxeko habeak, etxeko berri. A fool knows more in his own house than a wise man in another’s.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Food was grown on the family small holding or bought from local markets, which, in turn, were supplied with food grown locally. A few products, nearly always non-staples, complemented local or household self-supply.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Ribera Market. Bilbao, beginning of the 20th century. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive.

Leapfrog jumping. Source: Iñigo Irigoyen, José. Folklore Alavés. Vitoria-Gasteiz: Chartered Government of Álava, 1949.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Astoka One or more participants bend down in a position that is usually called a frog and the others jump over them.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

No distinctions between beliefs and empirical cures in the traditional mindset.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Medals and religious charms. Source: Patxo Fernández de Jauregui, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Promenading. Aoiz (N), 1950. Source: Pilar Sáez de Albéniz, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Neskazaharrak joaten dira Madalenara, santuari eskatzera senar on bana. Folk song

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Cuando el cárabo canta, la muerte levanta. When the tawny owl hoots, death wakes up.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Santa-Grazi (Z). Source: Boissel, W. Le Pays Basque. Sites, Arts et Coutumes. Paris, A. Calavas edit.

Grassy pastures in Carranza (B), 2009. Source: Luis Manuel Peña, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

The priority of the right of herds to cross arable land is expressed in the sentence: soroak zor dio larreari ‘arable land is indebted to grassland’.

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.