Basque ethnography at a glance
Religious medallions and charms. Patxo Fernández de Jauregui. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.
The evil eye is an ancient superstitious belief well extended across the globe. This folk illness receives similar names in all languages worldwide: begizkoa in Basque, mal de ojo in Spanish, mauvais œil in French…, always referring to the human eye as responsible for it. The main mechanism for transmission is the malevolent power in the glance of some people to cast a curse on young children or vulnerable beings. Certain individuals are believed to project a mysterious energy with their eyes known as adurra in Basque. Envy and evil speaking or malediction, from Latin maledictio, along with several witchcraft rituals, can cause the same effect. (more…)
Fishing city of Bermeo. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.
In the old days (and currently to a lesser extent) small-city dwellers provided assistance to each other. Prevailing low-rise housing blocks accommodated barely a handful of residents, and the lack of a lift and a parking garage in the building made transit up and down the stairs compulsory and constant, and therefore, ensured closer and regular contact. (more…)
A sheepfold in Lapurdi. Michel Duvert.
In 1934 J. de Yrizar said “the origins of the farmstead lie in the modest livestock housing known as borda, still seen in the mountains of the Basque Country. […] Most importantly, the building skills and ingenuity of the farmer combined all these elements [stone and oak and chestnut wood]”. In 1981 J.M. de Barandiaran expanded this point of view to note “many ancient rural houses are faithful copies of shepherd’s huts”, which amounts to saying the impact of shepherding practices and communal work (auzolana) resides precisely there, for the work of the hand —not the knowledge— of the artisan in a great number of short-lived or precarious human settlements, as is the case with animal housing, is truly exceptional. (more…)
A pen in the commons (Lapurdi). Michel Duvert.
In former times, when the structure of farmhouses (etxeak, in Basque) was still made of wood, open animal housing in the commons (herriko lurrak) was regulated. Enclosures (borda-barrukiak) were built for livestock to use as natural refuge (from heat, flies…). The Charter of Lapurdi, Title III Article I, says: “Every parish in Lapurdi counts with communal and neighbourhood lands owned by all its parishioners where a certain kind and number of farm animals is allowed to graze”. “Sheds, lodges and fencing may be erected for housing livestock, shepherds and rangers”, with no other requirement but the common obligations applying to any “human settlement”. Besides a high regard for private property, we shall mention open access rights, exclusive dedication to pasture, respect for the veto system, protection of trees and forests, etc. This environment would inevitably develop here and elsewhere. (more…)
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