The Guarani and Paraguay
Guaraní is a South American Indian group living mainly in Paraguay. They speak a language called Guaraní. The Guaraní language is currently spoken by over 4 million people in Paraguay and in some regions of Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia. Beside Spanish, the Guaraní is an official language of Paraguay.
The Guaraní lived in small villages consisting of four to eight large communal dwellings. Each village accommodated 100 people or more, and had a Chief who resided locally.
They depended primarily on fishing, hunting and small farming. The main crops were corn, mandioca and yerba mate. The yerba mate contains medicinal properties that help its drinkers to keep healthy and energetic. The Guaraní have been drinking this tea in the form of MATE or TERERE for thousands of years.
Paraguay is located in South America and it is an inland country, surrounded by Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. Paraguay became an independent republic on May 14th 1811. During that time, Paraguay was a country of small farmers; most of them were mestizos, a mix of Guaraní with Spanish.
Today, Guaraní myths, dances and songs constitute a rich body of the Paraguayan folklore. Modern Paraguay still claims a strong Guaraní heritage.
By Paraguayan Harpist, Antonio Centurion
