Post by Dominicanese on Dec 12, 2017 18:06:08 GMT -4
Paraguay.
Culture:
Paraguay's cultural heritage can be traced to the extensive intermarriage between the original male Spanish settlers and indigenous Guaraní women. Their culture is highly influenced by various European countries, including Spain. Therefore, Paraguayan culture is a fusion of two cultures and traditions; one European, the other, Southern Guaraní.
Cuisine:
Paraguay is a state situated in the central part of South America. Its relief varies from fields with swamps and savannas, to hills with forests. The fauna and the flora of Paraguay include a wide spectrum of species and the agriculture is highly exploited, as it represents 80 % of the total exports. The agriculture mainly focuses on cotton and soy, but breeding cattle is another common occupation. The food in Paraguay is similar to the other Hispanic countries and it includes a variety of both animal products and edible plants. Corn is a staple in the Paraguayan cuisine, together with corn, Beef meat and various kinds of garnishes. Among the most common drinks, there is the mate, which is specific to all the Latin countries and it is named in Paraguay yerba mate. The mate has been a stable drink since before the Spanish arrived in this region and it is prepared with various herbs.
The Paraguayan cuisine is rather uniform and representative for all its regions. Still, in the capital of Asuncion, there are many specific restaurants, with various influences, from all over the world. The South American cuisine is spread all over the country (beans, rice, corn and Beef) and the Brazilian influences are felt in the capital. The Brazilian influences are best represented by the complex meat dishes and eggs, the variety of pastries and baked dishes. In Ciudad del Este, which is a border city, the food mainly bases on Beef dishes, such as the stewed Chicken, served with tapioca or noodles. In Encarnacion, the diet is based on various ground nuts, fresh fava beans, served with lettuce and Pork or Beef Ham, corn pudding and tuberose ice cream as a dessert. In this city, the Mexican influence is the predominant one and the dishes are basically spicier and more mixtures can be found.
Paraguayan cuisine uses elements from various cooking traditions borrowed from their neighbors and developed from their own traditional dishes. While there are no specific or unique preparation methods for Paraguayan cooking, we should point out that attention to detail is important in the Paraguayan cuisine. Using the right amount of spices for example is essential – either for spicing up the taste or for coloring the dish. The diversity of vegetables and cereals found in Paraguay is also noticed in the delicious dishes belonging to their cuisine. The visual attractiveness of the dish is also important, and a balance between colors and proportion differentiates. Each traditional dish has a special cooking method, which is more or less general in all of Paraguay’s regions. Meat is one of the main elements of most Paraguay dishes and cured and smoked hams are often parts of delicious dishes.
Ranging from cake pans, can openers, colanders, egg rings, poachers and holders, food dishekugugrs & portioners, food pans & food containers to other kitchen utensils, such as food scales, food scoops and fryer baskets & accessories, the Paraguayan cuisine needs a diverse cooking equipment set in order to produce the most sophisticated Paraguayan dishes. You should consider insulated food carriers if you are transporting the food and a full set of kitchen linens and uniforms if you wish to look like a pro. Here are a few other items that will come in handy while cooking Paraguayan food: juicers, kitchen knives, kitchen slicers, kitchen thermometers, measuring cups & measuring spoons, miscellaneous utensils, mixing bowls and skimmers & strainers. Essential utensils like serving spoons, spatulas, forks, turners, scrapers and tongs should also be part of your cooking "arsenal".
The Paraguayan people are very fond of their religion and culture and like to celebrate them in all kinds of holidays and family feasts. The public holidays in Paraguay include Catholic holidays, All Saint’s Day in November, celebration of Virgin of Caacupe, Epiphany Day in January, but also Independence Day in May and Founding of Asuncion in August. On these special occasions, people’s diet mainly includes a garnish of rice, beans or potatoes, eggs and any kind of meat as a main course. The dessert is a must on celebrations and it includes milk and various flavors, like chocolate and vanilla.
Music:
The folkloric traditional music of Paraguay is the Paraguayan polka and the Guarania. The Paraguayan polka comes from polka of Czech origin; that was danced for the first time in Asunción, on November 27, 1858. The guarania was created by the Paraguayan musician José Asunción Flores, in January 1925, after experiencing different arrangements with the old paraguayan musical theme "Ma'erãpa reikuaase".
The polka presents numerous variations on a similar rhythmic pattern, which are known as: Polka song, Galopa, Polka valseada, Polka popó, Polka jekutu, Polka kyre'y, Polka syryry, Purahéi jahe'o, Kyre'y, Chamamé, among other. Another rhythm created by the fusion of rhythms is called "Avanzada", which in 1977 was elaborated by the Paraguayan musician Oscar Nelson Safuán.
Ethnic Racial Composition:
* 85.6% Mestizo
* 9.3% White
* 2.3% Mulatto
* 1.8% Amerindian
* 1% Black
People:
Traditionally, the majority of the Paraguayan population is considered mixed (mestizo in Spanish). HLA-DRB1 polymorphism studies have shown the genetic distances between Paraguayans and Spanish populations were closer than between Paraguayans and Guaranis. Altogether these results suggest the predominance of the Spanish genetic in the Paraguayan population.
Paraguay has one of the most prominent German communities in South America, with some 25,000 German-speaking Mennonites living in the Paraguayan Chaco. German settlers founded several towns as Hohenau, Filadelfia, Neuland, Obligado and Nueva Germania. Several websites that promote German immigration to Paraguay claim that 5–7% of the population is of German ancestry,[dubious – discuss] including 150,000 people of German-Brazilian descent.
Languages:
Paraguay is a bilingual nation. Both Spanish and Guaraní are official languages. The Guarani language is a remarkable trace of the indigenous Guaraní culture that has endured in Paraguay, which is generally understood by 95% of the population. Guaraní claims its place as one of the last surviving and thriving of South American indigenous national languages. In 2015, Spanish was spoken by about 87% of the population, while Guaraní is spoken by more than 90%, or slightly more than 5.8 million speakers. 52% of rural Paraguayans are bilingual in Guaraní. While Guaraní is still widely spoken, Spanish is generally given a preferential treatment in government, business, media and education as one of South American lingua francas.
Paraguayan Spanish originates from Andaluzian, Castillian, and Canarian Spanish, with influences from Guarani. There is also some Portuguese & Italian influence to some degree in the border regions.
Religion:
Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, is the dominant religion in Paraguay. According to the 2002 census, 89.9% of the population is Catholic, 6.2% is Evangelical Protestant, 1.1% identify with other Christian sects, and 0.6% practice indigenous religions. A U.S. State Department report on Religious Freedom names Roman Catholicism, evangelical Protestantism, mainline Protestantism, Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform), Mormonism, and the Baha'i Faith as prominent religious groups. It also mentions a large Muslim community in Alto Paraná (as a result of Middle-Eastern immigration, especially from Lebanon) and a prominent Mennonite community in Boquerón.
Economy:
Paraguay has a market economy highly dependent on agriculture products. In recent years, the economy has grown as a result of increased agricultural exports, especially soybeans. Paraguay has the economic advantages of a young population and vast hydroelectric power but has few mineral resources, and political instability has undercut some of the economic advantages present. The government welcomes foreign investment. Paraguay is a middle-income country that changed rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of hydroelectric development, agricultural colonization, construction, and cash crop exports. Nevertheless, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 1986 was approximately US$3.4 billion, or roughly US$1,000 per capita, ranking Paraguay only ahead of Bolivia among the Spanish-speaking countries of South America. Paraguay was the most agricultural economy of South America, and that sector influenced the performance of virtually every other sector of the economy. The over dependence on agricultural economy and low tax collections deteriorated the already wide gap wealth distribution. The extreme poverty increased from 16% to 20% during 2001 to 2012, even the economy growth. By 2013, it has a human development index of 0.669 which is even lower than Bolivia. About 35% of Paraguayans live in poverty.
Sports:
Sport in Paraguay is an important part of Paraguayan national culture. Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport, while basketball is also very popular. Other sports such as volleyball, futsal, swimming and tennis are popular as well. Other Paraguayan sports and pastimes are rugby union, chess, motorsport, golf and rowing.
Videos:
Culture:
Paraguay's cultural heritage can be traced to the extensive intermarriage between the original male Spanish settlers and indigenous Guaraní women. Their culture is highly influenced by various European countries, including Spain. Therefore, Paraguayan culture is a fusion of two cultures and traditions; one European, the other, Southern Guaraní.
Cuisine:
Paraguay is a state situated in the central part of South America. Its relief varies from fields with swamps and savannas, to hills with forests. The fauna and the flora of Paraguay include a wide spectrum of species and the agriculture is highly exploited, as it represents 80 % of the total exports. The agriculture mainly focuses on cotton and soy, but breeding cattle is another common occupation. The food in Paraguay is similar to the other Hispanic countries and it includes a variety of both animal products and edible plants. Corn is a staple in the Paraguayan cuisine, together with corn, Beef meat and various kinds of garnishes. Among the most common drinks, there is the mate, which is specific to all the Latin countries and it is named in Paraguay yerba mate. The mate has been a stable drink since before the Spanish arrived in this region and it is prepared with various herbs.
The Paraguayan cuisine is rather uniform and representative for all its regions. Still, in the capital of Asuncion, there are many specific restaurants, with various influences, from all over the world. The South American cuisine is spread all over the country (beans, rice, corn and Beef) and the Brazilian influences are felt in the capital. The Brazilian influences are best represented by the complex meat dishes and eggs, the variety of pastries and baked dishes. In Ciudad del Este, which is a border city, the food mainly bases on Beef dishes, such as the stewed Chicken, served with tapioca or noodles. In Encarnacion, the diet is based on various ground nuts, fresh fava beans, served with lettuce and Pork or Beef Ham, corn pudding and tuberose ice cream as a dessert. In this city, the Mexican influence is the predominant one and the dishes are basically spicier and more mixtures can be found.
Paraguayan cuisine uses elements from various cooking traditions borrowed from their neighbors and developed from their own traditional dishes. While there are no specific or unique preparation methods for Paraguayan cooking, we should point out that attention to detail is important in the Paraguayan cuisine. Using the right amount of spices for example is essential – either for spicing up the taste or for coloring the dish. The diversity of vegetables and cereals found in Paraguay is also noticed in the delicious dishes belonging to their cuisine. The visual attractiveness of the dish is also important, and a balance between colors and proportion differentiates. Each traditional dish has a special cooking method, which is more or less general in all of Paraguay’s regions. Meat is one of the main elements of most Paraguay dishes and cured and smoked hams are often parts of delicious dishes.
Ranging from cake pans, can openers, colanders, egg rings, poachers and holders, food dishekugugrs & portioners, food pans & food containers to other kitchen utensils, such as food scales, food scoops and fryer baskets & accessories, the Paraguayan cuisine needs a diverse cooking equipment set in order to produce the most sophisticated Paraguayan dishes. You should consider insulated food carriers if you are transporting the food and a full set of kitchen linens and uniforms if you wish to look like a pro. Here are a few other items that will come in handy while cooking Paraguayan food: juicers, kitchen knives, kitchen slicers, kitchen thermometers, measuring cups & measuring spoons, miscellaneous utensils, mixing bowls and skimmers & strainers. Essential utensils like serving spoons, spatulas, forks, turners, scrapers and tongs should also be part of your cooking "arsenal".
The Paraguayan people are very fond of their religion and culture and like to celebrate them in all kinds of holidays and family feasts. The public holidays in Paraguay include Catholic holidays, All Saint’s Day in November, celebration of Virgin of Caacupe, Epiphany Day in January, but also Independence Day in May and Founding of Asuncion in August. On these special occasions, people’s diet mainly includes a garnish of rice, beans or potatoes, eggs and any kind of meat as a main course. The dessert is a must on celebrations and it includes milk and various flavors, like chocolate and vanilla.
Music:
The folkloric traditional music of Paraguay is the Paraguayan polka and the Guarania. The Paraguayan polka comes from polka of Czech origin; that was danced for the first time in Asunción, on November 27, 1858. The guarania was created by the Paraguayan musician José Asunción Flores, in January 1925, after experiencing different arrangements with the old paraguayan musical theme "Ma'erãpa reikuaase".
The polka presents numerous variations on a similar rhythmic pattern, which are known as: Polka song, Galopa, Polka valseada, Polka popó, Polka jekutu, Polka kyre'y, Polka syryry, Purahéi jahe'o, Kyre'y, Chamamé, among other. Another rhythm created by the fusion of rhythms is called "Avanzada", which in 1977 was elaborated by the Paraguayan musician Oscar Nelson Safuán.
Ethnic Racial Composition:
* 85.6% Mestizo
* 9.3% White
* 2.3% Mulatto
* 1.8% Amerindian
* 1% Black
People:
Traditionally, the majority of the Paraguayan population is considered mixed (mestizo in Spanish). HLA-DRB1 polymorphism studies have shown the genetic distances between Paraguayans and Spanish populations were closer than between Paraguayans and Guaranis. Altogether these results suggest the predominance of the Spanish genetic in the Paraguayan population.
Paraguay has one of the most prominent German communities in South America, with some 25,000 German-speaking Mennonites living in the Paraguayan Chaco. German settlers founded several towns as Hohenau, Filadelfia, Neuland, Obligado and Nueva Germania. Several websites that promote German immigration to Paraguay claim that 5–7% of the population is of German ancestry,[dubious – discuss] including 150,000 people of German-Brazilian descent.
Languages:
Paraguay is a bilingual nation. Both Spanish and Guaraní are official languages. The Guarani language is a remarkable trace of the indigenous Guaraní culture that has endured in Paraguay, which is generally understood by 95% of the population. Guaraní claims its place as one of the last surviving and thriving of South American indigenous national languages. In 2015, Spanish was spoken by about 87% of the population, while Guaraní is spoken by more than 90%, or slightly more than 5.8 million speakers. 52% of rural Paraguayans are bilingual in Guaraní. While Guaraní is still widely spoken, Spanish is generally given a preferential treatment in government, business, media and education as one of South American lingua francas.
Paraguayan Spanish originates from Andaluzian, Castillian, and Canarian Spanish, with influences from Guarani. There is also some Portuguese & Italian influence to some degree in the border regions.
Religion:
Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, is the dominant religion in Paraguay. According to the 2002 census, 89.9% of the population is Catholic, 6.2% is Evangelical Protestant, 1.1% identify with other Christian sects, and 0.6% practice indigenous religions. A U.S. State Department report on Religious Freedom names Roman Catholicism, evangelical Protestantism, mainline Protestantism, Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform), Mormonism, and the Baha'i Faith as prominent religious groups. It also mentions a large Muslim community in Alto Paraná (as a result of Middle-Eastern immigration, especially from Lebanon) and a prominent Mennonite community in Boquerón.
Economy:
Paraguay has a market economy highly dependent on agriculture products. In recent years, the economy has grown as a result of increased agricultural exports, especially soybeans. Paraguay has the economic advantages of a young population and vast hydroelectric power but has few mineral resources, and political instability has undercut some of the economic advantages present. The government welcomes foreign investment. Paraguay is a middle-income country that changed rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of hydroelectric development, agricultural colonization, construction, and cash crop exports. Nevertheless, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 1986 was approximately US$3.4 billion, or roughly US$1,000 per capita, ranking Paraguay only ahead of Bolivia among the Spanish-speaking countries of South America. Paraguay was the most agricultural economy of South America, and that sector influenced the performance of virtually every other sector of the economy. The over dependence on agricultural economy and low tax collections deteriorated the already wide gap wealth distribution. The extreme poverty increased from 16% to 20% during 2001 to 2012, even the economy growth. By 2013, it has a human development index of 0.669 which is even lower than Bolivia. About 35% of Paraguayans live in poverty.
Sports:
Sport in Paraguay is an important part of Paraguayan national culture. Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport, while basketball is also very popular. Other sports such as volleyball, futsal, swimming and tennis are popular as well. Other Paraguayan sports and pastimes are rugby union, chess, motorsport, golf and rowing.
Videos: