Basque ethnography at a glance
Fields of Arraba. Mount Gorbeia, 2016. Gorane Etxebarria. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.
The Valley of Carranza is a large municipality in Bizkaia where cattle farming and milk production have acquired such paramount importance as to become its major sign of identity. However, the inhabitants of the valley devoted themselves to shepherding before they turned into cow’s milk producers. Shepherding gradually lost relevance throughout the 20th century, and it is only in recent years, coinciding with the crisis besetting livestock farming, that we notice a rebound in the number of small flocks of sheep grazing the meadows dairy herds frequented in the old days, primarily to keep the pastures ‘clean’ and provide meat and a few cheeses for domestic consumption. (more…)
The heir of a family, or etxegaia, in Zeanuri (Bizkaia), c.1920. Felipe Manterola Collection. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.
In former times it was customary for the parents of intending spouses to establish agreements or covenants with the intervention of the bride and groom stating the conditions of the marriage. The prenuptial contract or public deed by which the marital agreements were formalised was known in Basque as ezkontzako kontratua. In the rural world such agreements would benefit the son or daughter appointed to take ownership and responsibility for the family house. The other party would bring the dowry into the marriage. (more…)
Gothic cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres (France).
Christianity is one defining feature of ancient Europe. Until recent times its impact was such that it profoundly shaped numerous cultural aspects of our societies. Architecture was in former centuries a manifestation of Christian worship, the Gothic style expressed in majestic churches and cathedrals being the most powerful example. (more…)
Bell-tolling. Beasain (Gipuzkoa). Josetxo Zufiaurre.
In former days bell ringing guided a farmer’s life. Between earliest sunrise and latest sunset, peals of bells signified the time of day and informed about significant events.
The ringing of church bells at the crack of dawn got the members of the household up and running, particularly those who were to go out to the fields or the woods. At midday bells called for the Angelus prayer. It became customary all over Christian Europe to stop any work and pray on hearing the bell. Let us recall the unforgettable realistic picture by J-F. Millet entitled precisely The Angelus. Until quite recently in the Basque Country, even pelota matches were interrupted on courts at 12 noon to say the Angelus. (more…)
Bilbo-Abando
Colon de Larreategi 14, 2. esk.48001 Bilbo (Bizkaia)
Tel.: +34 94 443 76 84
labayru@labayru.eus
Derio
Larrauri 1A, 5.a48160 Derio (Bizkaia)
Tel.: +34 94 406 01 71
idazkaritza@labayru.eus
Bilbo-Bolueta
Metroalde eraikinaBilbo-Galdakao errep. 6A
48004 Bilbo (Bizkaia)
Tel.: +34 94 607 72 10
labayru@labayru.eus
