Atsolorra, a Basque birth ritual. Testimonies from Ereñotzu

Abstract

Atsolorra is a ritual related to the birth of a new baby that was once common practic in the Basque Country, although it has now fallen into (almost total) disuse throughout the entire region. Various efforts are nevertheless underway to recover it in some towns. Atsolorra is the name given to the visit made by local women on Sunday afternoon to the farmhouse of the newborn baby’s family. The visiting party was almost always made up exclusively of women, and would usually bring a small gift to help the family. In turn, the family would show its appreciation by offering the visitors a late tea-early supper.

The inhabitants of Ereñotzu, a small neighbourhood within the municipality of Hernani, have succeeded in recovering the practice of atsolorra. Consequently, a research study was conducted between 2015 and 2016 in the neighbourhood with the aim of gaining a more in-depth understanding of this custom. The present paper presents the information gathered from both documentary sources and the fieldwork carried out.

In addition to atsolorra, the paper also analyses other rituals linked to the birth of a new baby, women and their socialisation, social communication and the rural world.