Basque ethnography at a glance
Haul trucks delivering ore to the crusher, 1974. Miguel Sabino Díaz.
Ángela is the name of an ancient mine situated in lands under the Matienzo council jurisdiction in the Valley of Carranza (Bizkaia) characterised by the presence of numerous sulphide ore deposits: galena (lead), sphalerite (zinc) and fluorite (fluorspar).
The earliest extraction activities took place between 1929 and 1931, reaching only shallow layers of galena. Starting in the 1940s to the end of 1964, the seams of lead were further exploited by the mining company Sierra de Gredos S.A. The construction of the shaft or main access tunnel up to a depth of 286 metres was undertaken for that purpose, the entrance to the mine being located in a spot known as Las Veneras half a kilometre away from the neighbourhood of Matienzo. (more…)
Barandiaran at Sara Etxea. Ataun, 1987. Ángel Alonso. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.
On 21 December 2017 we commemorated the 25th anniversary of the death of José Miguel de Barandiaran. Those of us who devote ourselves to ethnography as members of the Etniker (name created by Barandiaran to signify ‘ethnographic research’) groups certainly owe him a debt of gratitude. He not only founded the mentioned working groups but transformed a discipline which had until then been rooted in rather romantic and biased views. Barandiaran’s new approach to ethnography was based on scientific evidence. By adopting a systematic method and maintaining, first and foremost, such an open frame of mind, he put us on the broad European map. (more…)
Burdock burrs. Sergio González Ahedo.
As Matthew tells us in his Gospel, when Herod realised he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and gave orders to put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who where two years old or under, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to the infant Messiah announced to become king of Israel (Mt 2: 16). This biblical episode is known as the Massacre of the Innocents and follows the Adoration of the Magi. Nonetheless, the implementation of liturgical celebrations does not follow chronological order, and the former is commemorated before the latter. (more…)
Adoration of the Shepherds. Labastida, 1993. José Ángel Chasco.
In this city of the Rioja Alavesa region, the traditional Dance of the Shepherds, originally held at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, is nowadays represented at seven in the afternoon on 24 and 25 December.
The story unfolds at two different venues: the church of the Assumption of Our Lady and La Paz Square in front of the city hall. A living nativity scene is staged. As a child angel announces attendees the birth of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem, the shepherds sing Christmas carols and dance while inviting the members of the council to enter the temple and worship the newborn. (more…)
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