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

Several generations under one roof. Zeanuri (B), c. 1910. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

Etxe beteak atsegin, etxe hutsak bihotz min. When poverty comes in the door, love leaves through the window.

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.

On a swing. Source: Arrien, Gregorio. Niños vascos evacuados en 1937. Bilbao, 1988.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Sirrin-sarran, domini pan, zure semea errotan, errota txiki, errota handi, eragin deutso, pin-pan.Children’s chant

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Eros ogi eta gazta, erremediotan ez gasta. Better to spend money on good food than on medicine.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Chamomile. Source: Luis Manuel Peña, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Baptism. Bilbao. Source: Edurne Romarate, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

After giving birth, women would remain confined for a period that ended with the rite of being churched, elizan sartzea.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Sorrow was expressed by wearing mourning.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Mourners. Sara (L). Source: Veyrin, Philippe. Pays Basques de France et d’Espagne. Paris-Grenoble, 1951.

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

Elur asko den urtean, garia; eta erle asko dugunean, eztia. A year of snow, a year of plenty.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Neighbours on the threshing plots. Alegría-Dulantzi (A), c. 1940. Source: Municipal Archive of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Enrique Guinea Collection.