¡Hoy es jueves jovial! (Today is jovial Thursday!)
La fecha es el dos (2) de febrero del año dos mil veintitrés. (The date is February 2, 2023.)
Celebremos la Fiesta de San Juan. (Let’s celebrate the Festival of San Juan.)
¿Qué es la Fiesta de San Juan? (What is the Festival of San Juan?) San Juan Ára (Saint John’s Day) is a winter festival with a mixture of Guaraní and European culture.
¿Dónde tiene lugar? (Where does it take place?) La Fiesta de San Juan is a major festival in Paraguay.
¿Cuándo tiene lugar? (When does it take place?) The festival begins on June 24, which is during Paraguay’s winter. In Spain, the June 21 summer solstice influenced the original feast day.
¿Cuáles son los costumbres? (What are the customs?) Traditional games and features of the festival include:
- tata pyĩ ári jehasa (firewalking) – stepping on hot coals
- toro candil (flaming bull) – a tent shaped like a bullthat is set on fire and chases after the audience
- pelota tatá (fire ball) – playing soccer with an enflamed ball until it burns itself out
- Judas kái (burning Judas) – burning characterized rag dolls filled with fireworks
- yvyra syĩ (slippery pole) – climbing a greasy pole with prizes at the top
¿Qué se come en la Fiesta de San Juan? (What is eaten at the Festival of San Juan?) A few of the many foods featured during the festival include:
- empanadas (turnovers)
- chipas (cheesy bread)
- tortillas (a fried mixture of flour, milk, eggs, and cheese)
¡Calentémonos! (Let’s warm up!) Check out this artículo (article) for pictures and more details about Paraguay’s Fiesta de San Juan. To practice reading en español, lee este artículo.
¡Que tengas un jueves jovial! (May you have a jovial Thursday!)
L. A. Feliz