infusion of Guarani origin, bitter in taste, prepared from the leaves of the yerba mate tree. It is considered an authentic national drink. The word itself, “mate,” derives from the Quechua word “mati” that signifies “pumpkin.” The conquistadors used this word to refer to what the Guarani people called “caiguá,” which means “what belongs to yerba,” or “from yerba.” Even though it can be savored in any context, the yerba mate is a beverage that should be shared in a circle, as an occasion for getting together and socializing. The yerba mate drinking customs feature lots of rituals that go beyond mere beverage consumption, but establish an interactive exchange between the one who prepares it and the one who takes it. As proof of the centrality of mate’s place in Uruguayan culture, a lively repertoire of slang idiomatic expressions has developed around the magical word/concept. Thus, if you wish to express forgiveness, invite the guilty party for a mate con café. When you mean marriage, brew some mate con miel. As sign of acceptance, take mate con cedrón. If you have to make it clear that somebody’s visit is undesirable, bring out mate con ombú. Mate hirviendo (piping-hot mate) is the unmistakable sign of hatred. And when you need to send someone away to drink at another place, serve some mate lavado (mate brewed from overused leaves).
Given that the majority of the Uruguayan population comes from European stock, primarily Spain and Italy, Uruguayan Spanish features considerable Italian influence. Cocoliche is still spoken as a creole mixture of Spanish and Italian, whereas in the northern regions close to the border with Brazil, a fusion dialect known as Portuñol is in wide use, blending Spanish and Portuguese. The spirit of Uruguayan culture, composed of contrasting and warring elements, and yet blended neatly into a harmonious whole, can be captured most effectively in the course of three distinctive national ceremonies. The merienda teatime with yerba mate, and the asado barbecues, combine the strong, pungent flavors of local cuisine with the imperative for social bonding and communication across food preparation and sharing. Uruguayan carnivals stir up the settled Argentinian influences of gaucho culture, stomping and thumping with the Brazilian impact of the candombe folkloric percussion street bands of around fortyish musicians who pound their barrel-shaped drums in echoes of the music created by the Uruguayan Black population in the nineteenth century. Ultimately, the national passion for soccer, or football, has acted as a fabled and legendary glue sustaining cohesion and binding together this minuscule nation of immigrants into a tight-knit family, all mutually responsible for each other’s safety and success. This feeling extends from the miraculous triumph over Brazil at the World Cup in 1950, through improvised kids’ practice matches in the streets, to one of the most efficient social security and welfare system in South America. Uruguay is all for one, one for all.
Folleto informativo emitido por la Dirección General de Turismo del Departamento de Maldonado.
Museo del Gaucho y de la Moneda.
Uruguay Visión 2011. Ministerio de Turismo y Deporte.
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