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Paraguay has a distinctive musical tradition, especially of songs and ballads. The music is European in origin. The guitar and native harp (arpa paraguaya) are popular instruments and songs are usually sad and slow. Typical music for dancing, such as the polka and galopa, a variant of which is the bottle dance where performers swing around with a jar on their head, is much livelier.
One of the most important products of the country is the so-called Paraguay tea (maté or yerba maté), which is still the largest article of export. It consists of dried leaves of the evergreen maté tree, crushed and slightly roasted, and drawn in boiling water. It is the favorite beverage of the country, and is in fact a very popular beverage elsewhere in South America. The Jesuit missionaries introduced the use of maté leaves to the Guaraní Indians of the area in the 16th and 17th centuries and this tea almost entirely displaced the intoxicating drinks to which they had been addicted. Hollow gourds, often ornamented with silver (fine souvenirs), are traditionally used as bowls or containers for brewing yerba maté, and it is sipped through a silver filtering “straw” (bombilla).
Same thing I say for wherever one may go- don't look down at the people, look at them, as people. Paraguay is dual-lingual: Spanish and Guarani. Guarani is the language of the home and the heart. See De Niro's movie The Mission, set in Colonial Paraguay. Its real, its powerful! Xe ane qua Miguel-pe. Mbaishipa nde hera?
People greet each other with two kisses one on each side. Only for men to woman, or woman to woman. I found it a little bit harder to understand their language, since they mix a lot of guarani in their speech. And never deny drinking mate with the people, its rude. Even though you might think its not too healthy to share the straws!!
Paraguayan handicraft is renown especially Ñanduti lace. Ñanduti means in Guaraní language “spider fabric”. These laces are made of fine cotton thread, with combinations of many colours, though the most traditional nanduti is white. Also look out for fine clothing hand woven and hand made, shirts, blouses, tablecloths and napkins. Pottery is also a popular craft known by the Indians.
We don't usually discuss a country symbol like the Flag as a Cultural tip. This is an exception on my pages, I will when the occasion arises, such as in the case of the Flag of Paraguay. See if you can figure out why this is worth special note. -.-
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the native Chief of the Guarani = Warrior, has great social standing among his people, and as you can see from the picture, he has his pride and knows his roots
Asuncion Palace Hotel Asunción
1 Review and 51 Opinions We found it difficult to find budget or cheap accommodation in Asuncion. There didn't seem to be any...
Hotel Casino Acaray Ciudad del Este
17 Opinions
Encarnacion Resort Hotel Encarnación
9 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Paraguay attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Paraguay sightseeing.
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Q: So I recently read that the drinking age in Paraguay is 20. I'm 18, so that really killed some of the excitement of going there; I...
A: It's years since I was last in Paraguay, but I doubt it very much. Salud!
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