Culture

Paraguayans express their culture in arts such as embroidery (aho poí) and lace making (ñandutí). Their music, which consists of lilting polkas, bouncy galopas and languid guaranías played on the native harp.

Family

Social life revolves largely around an extended family of parents, children, blood relations and godparents. The Paraguayans' chief loyalty is to their family, and it, in turn, is their haven and support. Family interests determine to a large extent which political party they will join, who they will marry and what sort of job they will get .Anyone outside the family, except for an old and trusted friend, may be viewed with indifference, if not with suspicion.

Inside the family, conservative values predominate. Godparents have a special relationship to the family, and are usually they are chosen because of their favourable social position, in order to provide extra security for the children. Particular respect is owed them, in return for which the family can expect protection and patronage.

Cuisine

Paraguayans enjoy eating sopa paraguaya which is like a thick corn bread. It consists of many cheeses, onions, bell peppers, cottage cheese, yellow cornmeal, milk, seasonings, butter, eggs and fresh corn kernels.

Arts

The 1950s and 1960s saw the flowering of a new generation of Paraguayan novelists and poets such as José Ricardo Mazó, Roque Vallejos, and Augusto Roa Bastos. Several Paraguayan films have been made.