Ethnographic Atlas of the Basque Country
St John’s bunches of branches and flowers. Zeanuri (B), 1980. Source: Ander Manterola, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.
House and Family in the Basque Country
House and Family in the Basque Country
Different types of rites, such as attaching the St. John’s branch, San Juan haretxa, to the doorposts, were performed around the St. John’s Day festivities.
Family Diet in the Basque Country
Family Diet in the Basque Country
Maize, introduced in the 17th century, and potatoes, in the 19th, would revolutionise the Basque diet.
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.
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.
Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country
Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country
The transfer of the chattels was a ritualised act of great importance as it marked the entry of the new spouse in the home, etxe-sartzea.
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.
Herder and dog. Droveway of the Roncalese (N), 1996. Source: Iñaki San Miguel, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.
Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country
Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country
The introduction of sheepdogs meant they replaced the zagales, young children who had been in charge of herding the flock up to then.
Agriculture in the Basque Country
Agriculture in the Basque Country
Ezkur urte, laborte urte. Acorns a plenty, a year of prosperity.