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

Hearth. Zeanuri (B), 1980. Source: Ander Manterola, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

Su bako etxea, gorputz odol bagea. A house without fire is like a body without blood.

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.

Watching over the child. Source: Novedades. Donostia, 1914.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Obabatxua lo ta lo, zuk orain eta nik gero; zeuk gura dozun orduren baten, biok egingo dogu lo ta lo. Lullaby

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Kirkila bat eta kirkila bi, kirkilak dira hamabi: hamabitik hamaikara, hamaikatik hamarrera, hamarretik bederatzira, bederatzitik zortzira, zortzitik zazpira, zazpitik seira, seitik bostera, bostetik laura, lautik hirura, hirutik bira, bitik batera, batetik bapezera. Formula for scrofula treatment

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

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

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

There were specific paths to carry the corpse from the house of the deceased to the church and the cemetery.

Funeral Rites in the Basque Country

Funeral cortège, c. 1925. Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Dolmen of Gaxteenia. Mendibe (NB), 1980. Source: Blot, Jacques. Artzainak. Les bergers basques. Los pastores vascos. Donostia: Elkar, 1984.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

“The axial zone of the Basque Pyrenees retains underneath a maze of folds traits of a time-honoured culture.” J. M. Barandiaran

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Tente nublo, tente en ti,no te caigas sobre mí,guarda el pan, guarda el vino,guarda los campos que están floridos.Spell against hail

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Vineyard in Obanos (N), 2011. Source: M.ª Amor Beguiristain, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.