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

The kitchen, heart of the home. Andoain (G), c. 1920. Source: Aguirre Archive.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

Gure etxean sua batzen, gure etxean aingeruak sartzen. Angels dance happily in a clean house.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Goseak dagonarentzat, ogi gogorrik ez. The famished make a feast out of bread crumbs.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Snack break, beginning of the 20th century. Source: Archive of the Chartered Government of Gipuzkoa: Indalecio Ojanguren Collection.

Children riding scooters and tricycles at Florida Park. Source: Municipal Archive of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Ceferino Yanguas.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Humans play games throughout their lives; however, that activity has a clearly different role for children and adults.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Osasun ona eukiteko, oiloekin ohera eta txoriekin jaiki. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Chapel of the Archangel, Sanctuary of Aralar (N). Feast of St Michael, 1984. Source: Anton Erkoreka, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Dancing during patronal celebrations. Zeanuri (B), 1922. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Young men and women would meet during the Sunday stroll, dances and pilgrimages.

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.

On the move to the summer pastures in Gorbeia, 2006. Source: Antxon Aguirre, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Traditional shepherding and free-range livestock husbandry have prevailed on regions where these three requisites are satisfied: communal land, open-access rights, and free movibility for herds.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

San Jurgi, artoak ereiteko goizegi; San Markos, artoak ereinda balegoz. St George’s Day is too early to sow maize and St Mark’s Day is too late.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Maize field. Carranza (B), 2016. Source: Luis Manuel Peña, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.