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

Four generations of the same family. Ajangiz (B), 1977. Source: Segundo Oar-Arteta, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

The family was the cornerstone of the farmstead, and the farmsteads along with the families provided coherence and structure to the neighbourhood and society.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Sueteko laratzak jakiten dau etxeko barri. People show their true colours at home.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Olabide Farmhouse. Zerain (G), 1982. Source: Karmele Goñi, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Playing with spinning tops. Getxo (B), 1993. Source: Jon Elorriaga, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Changes in the adult world are also necessarily reflected in the children’s world. It should not be forgotten that those changes also affect the world of beliefs, convictions and rites underlying many traditional games; many of which would be stripped of meaning, some would fall into disuse, others would persist and would adapt to the new circumstances.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Verrugas tengo, verrugas vendo, aquí las dejo y me voy corriendo.Formula against warts

Traditional Medicine in the Basque Country

Green figs. Source: Akaitze Kamiruaga, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Single farewell. Durango (B), 1960. Source: Gurutzi Arregi, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

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.

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.

Dark-faced latxa sheep. Abadiño (B). Source: Rosa M.ª Ardanza, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

The permanence of shepherding in the mountains of the Basque Country over centuries may help understand the fact that denominations given to diverse species of livestock, as well as to the implements used, form a distinguishing lexical corpus, independent from Indoeuropean languages.

Livestock Farming and Shepherding in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Until the 1950s, flour mills were an essential aspect of the livestock-farming economy of our villages.

Agriculture in the Basque Country

Mill in Carranza (B), 1977. Source: Miguel Sabino Díaz, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.