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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

Nahiz dala udea, nahiz dala negua, goizeko zortziretan, armozu ordua. Folk song

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Meal on board. Source: Aguirre Archive.

Playing knucklebones. Zeanuri (B), 1993. Source: Ander Manterola, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Before glass, and even clay, marbles were introduced, they used parts of plants, including oak acorns and seed pits.

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.

Offering to the departed. Donostia, 1958. Source: Segundo Oar-Arteta, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Ezkonberri, etxe berri. A married person wants a house.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Light offerings would light up the way for the soul of the deceased. And bread would sustain it.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Light offerings. Amezketa (G). Source: Garmendia Larrañaga, Juan. Neguko Festak. Donostia, 1993, J. Juanes Photographic Archive.

Shepherd wearing a cape. Eriete (N), 1959. Source: Archive of the Museum of Navarre: Nicolás Ardanaz Collection.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Nolako artzaina, halako artaldea. Every animal ends up looking like their master.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Both animal and human power had a decisive impact on the way of working and on the crops until the introduction of modern machinery.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Haulage of wheat sheaves. Álava, c. 1940. Source: Municipal Archive of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Enrique Guinea Collection.