Paraguayans have a well-deserved reputation for being very warm and friendly. Whether it´s inviting you to sit down for a tereré break, helping you figure out what bus to take, or refusing to let you leave without a parting gift, Paraguayans are generally very friendly. If you have been at the recieving end of this friendliness, a perfect time to show your gratitude is the upcoming Día del Amigo. “Friend Day” is celebrated throughout Latin America and in Paraguay it takes place on the 30th of July.
On the Día del Amigo people get together (a “reunión” in Spanish) with friends to share a meal or drinks and exchange small gifts. Coworkers might go out to lunch together to celebrate. Gift giving is informal although some groups like to organize white elephant exchanges (“amigo invisible”). Gifts need not be large or fancy, in fact they are almost always a little cheesy. If you are unable to get together with friends it is important to wish them a “felíz día del amigo” in some form – a phone call, email, or, these days, a text message. To provide some perspective this holiday is similar in importance to Valentine´s Day. So make your list, start composing a text message, shop for small tokens of affection/friendship, and get ready to be friendly!
Los paraguayos tienen una reputación merecida de ser cálidos y amables. Ya sea invitarte para tomar el tereré, ayudarte a averiguar qué colectivo debes tomar, o reusádonse a dejarte partir sin un regalito de despedida, los paraguayos son muy amigables. Un buen momento para mostrar tu aprecio por esta amabilidad es el Día del Amigo. Festejado en varios países de latino américa el Día del Amigo se celebra el 30 de julio en Paraguay.
En el Día del Amigo se hacen reuniones entre amigos para compartir una comida o unos tragos y también intercambiar regalitos. Los regalitos se pueden dar de manera informal aunque en algunos casos se organiza un “amigo invisible” para el intercambio. No hay necesidad de que sean grandes o lujosos. Es más, la mayoría son bastante cursis. Compañeros del trabajo quizás salgan a almorzar juntos ese día. Si no puedes reunirte con tus amigos es importante hacerles llegar un saludo de alguna forma – una llamada, un correo electrónico o un mensaje de texto. En cuanto a la importancia de la fecha, se celebra de una forma similar al Día de los Enamorados. Asique ponte a hacer tu lista, escribe un mensaje de texto, busca regalitos de amistad-afecto y alistáte para ser amigable!
A few friends and I were discussing “Dia del Amigo” the last week. In Argentina they say “Dia del Amigo” which is on an earlier date (I think the 19th), but in Paraguay it’s always been “Dia de la Amistad”. I know they may seem like the same thing, and in they they are. There’s just a regional variation that should be preserved IMHO. Bus back in the day we would say “Feliz dia de la Amistad” to our friends and classmates, them after school go out for a coca-cola and an empanada (back when the combo cost about mil’i, I miss the 90s!). In Argentina they say “Feliz Dia del Amigo” , not “Dia de la Amistad” and have had this pointed out to me be several Argentinos a few years ago while I was living there.
I guess it’s like the “Que los Cumple Feliz” song, they have a different version in every country: In Paraguay there’s a line in the middle ” QLCF!, QLCF!, en ti dia dichoso.. QLCF!” in Arg (Formosa to BsAs at least) “en tu dia dichoso” is replaced with “que los cumple, que los cumpla”