During your visit in the Iguassu National Park you will clearly notice the presence of the Guarani culture. In almost every person and habit there is a deep and marked legacy left by this ancient society. Its fascinating customs and history are still alive in this region. Their handcrafts and language are the most vivid witnesses of this survival.

The Guarani people offer their hand made work inside the national park and around Iguassu Port city. They still speak the Guarani Language and most of them live at a very interesting "aldea" (reservation) near the mentioned city.

For the Guarani the rainforest is more than just their habitat. It is, actually, a mithological atmosphere that not only provides for earthly needs but also for spiritual plenitude.

Basically contemplative, the Guarani religion accepts the existence of only one God: Tupá. Interestingly, they don’t use or believe in any idol or image. For them, the invisible God explains everything through the nature phenomena and life cycles. They believe in the immortality of the soul and in evil as wandering demons called: Añá. These demons exist, according to them, to punish those who ruthlessly depredate the rainforest or animals.


The first inhabitants of the "Evil less Land”

The Guarani is a semi-sedentary ethnic group of agriculturists, ceramists, musicians and good sailors. Long before the Spaniards conquest they spreaded out almost all over South America.
They were always known as warriors and as one of the most interesting and culturally rich indian society in Latin America. Their weapons were the "macana" - a hard wooden stick – and bow and arrow; the latter were also used for hunting.
They practiced polygamy and had no matrimonial contract. They lived in big huts often 50 square meters large called "malocas". It has been learnt that these huts could shelter up to fifty families, all of them under the commands of one chief.


The Jesuitic Missions

As a domination and exploitation mechanism Jesuits were sent to Misiones during the year 1609 . Their main purpose was to evangelize and organize indians. They managed to organize Guarani towns in which they developed an impressive educational and organizational system. This system protected the indians from the "bandeiras" - pro-slavery Brazilian groups – and at the same time preserved the language and culture. They also helped to build a significant European-American cultural bond.

During 150 years Jesuits founded and organized 30 prosperous Guarani towns around what is known today as the "zona paranaense" – zones near the Paraná River including the three current countries Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Their economy was based, especially, on cultivation, cattle raising, and marketable manufacture. The YERBA MATE, corn, and cotton started to be the strongest products during their lapse of domination. The commercialization of these products followed a mixed system of private and commune properties, “Tupámbaé” (property of God) and “abambaé” (property of men). Jesuits also influenced on the culture of the region up to the point of consolidating a missionary baroque style that was very popular during their epoch.
The Falls Legend

A long time ago there was an enormous serpent called Mbói who lived in the Iguassu River. Once a year the Guarani people used to throw a beautiful young lady to the Iguassu River as a sacrifice for Mbói. Many tribes, even the faraway ones, were invited to the sacrifice ceremony. During one of these ceremonies, Tarobá – a young cacique – met Naipí, a girl who had already been chosen for the sacrifice. Tarobá tried hard to save Naipí from dieing in the river. He talked to the old people of the tribe trying to convince them not to sacrifice Naipí. But, everything he tried was useless. So, the night before the ceremony he kidnapped Naipí and ran away through the river. When Mbói learned that the youngsters ran away, he twirled under the river making the rocks tremble and forming a big crack known today as the Iguassu Falls. As a punishment for Naipí and Tarobá, Mbói decided to turn them into trees, which today live in the upper part of the river. It is said that the water that falls down the big crack is Naipí’s wonderful hair and that Mbói hid under the Devil’s Throat – the biggest fall in the area – to keep the young lovers away from each other. However, on sunny days the rainbow joins them together reminding us how great and beautiful their love was.