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

Munekogoikoa Farmhouse. Neighbourhood of Urigoiti (Orozko-B), 1994. Source: Edurne Romarate, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

House and Family in the Basque Country

House and Family in the Basque Country

The oldest farmsteads are those where the use of timber was pivotal, both for its internal and external structure.

House and Family in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Gabon, bon-bon; Natibitate, ase eta bete; San Estebantxe, lehen letxe. Eat heartily on Christmas Eve; until you feel full at Christmas; and back to normal on St Stephen’s Day.

Family Diet in the Basque Country

Market on St Thomas’ Day. Bilbao, 1950. Source: Sancho el Sabio Foundation.

Group of children. Zeanuri (B), 1920. Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photograhic Archive: Felipe Manterola Collection.

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children’s Games in the Basque Country

Children in the traditional society, both in towns and in countryside, only really had the toys that they made themselves. Games were more common than toys, and the latter were just a basis for the former.

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.

Etxebarri (B), 1968. Source: Edurne Romarate, Etniker Euskalerria Groups.

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Rites from Birth to Marriage in the Basque Country

Maritxu-teilatuko, gona gorriduna, eutsi hagin zaharra ta ekarzu barria. Popular recitation

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.

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.

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.