Basque ethnography at a glance

Detail of mural paintings at Ramose’s tomb, c. 1350 BC. Photograph taken from ancient-origins.es.

Recitation of poetry at funeral ceremonies is a time-honoured occupation traditionally dominated by women. In fact, an elegy is typically a poem of lament for the dead. Professional mourning is still practiced in cultures across the globe and was once common here in the Basque Country.

Funeral processions and memorial services were often attended by female keeners, and despite continued attempts to avoid excesses, the practice took long to be eradicated. They were known as erostariak or negartiak in Bizkaia, aldiagileak or lanturuak in Gipuzkoa, and mindulinak or minduriak in the Northern Basque Country, among other names.

Women weepers were said to be compensated for marching behind the coffin in funeral processions, as stated by R. M. de Azkue in the late 19th century, who distinguished between mourners who delivered eulogies, known as hiletariak, and those expected to just wail. Fr Donostia, likewise, gave testimony to the existence of professional mourners in Erratzu (Navarre), known there as negartzaileak, in Gartzain (Navarre), and also in Aldude (Lower Navarre).

R. M. de Barandiaran gathered in 1920s Ataun (Gipuzkoa) memories of women summoned to express grief and praise the good actions and virtues of the deceased during the conveyance of the body to church and subsequent burial. The so-called aldiazaleak formerly used to be women from the village and would later be recruited from neighbouring localities. Paid mourners have also performed elsewhere in the country under other names, such as laderas in Aoiz or luteras in Obanos, both locations being in Navarre.

Over here the tradition was lost long ago. According to more recent ethnographic testimonies, outward expressions of grief, wailing and lamenting were more frequent in the past, whereas now the members of the bereaved family themselves tend to contain their tears.

Segundo Oar-Arteta – Etniker Bizkaia – Etniker Euskalerria Groups

Translated by Jaione Bilbao – Ethnography Department – Labayru Fundazioa

Reference for further information: Funerary Rites, part of the Ethnographic Atlas of the Basque Country.