Paraguay celebrates two days in a row because the declaration of independence took place over the evening of the 14th and the early morning of the 15th of May 1811. Both dates are public holidays, and together they make for a long and festive weekend. The Paraguayan flag, unusually, has different designs on each side - it is one of only a handful of national flags in the world with this feature.
School parades are one of the most colourful parts of Independence Day. Children dress in traditional Paraguayan clothing - girls in ao po'i, a delicate embroidered cotton fabric, and boys in traditional white shirts - and march through town streets while bands play the national anthem and guarania music. Parents and grandparents line the streets to watch and cheer.
Independence Day is also a moment to celebrate everything that makes Paraguay unique: its two official languages, its wildlife, its food, and its music. Fairs and exhibitions appear in city squares, with stalls selling sopa paraguaya, chipá, and tereré, alongside crafts like ñandutí lacework and ao po'i embroidery - traditional skills that have been passed from parent to child for generations.