DIVINAS: Divina Charrua

The Charrua are one of the indigenous groups that inhabited the pampas region of Rio Grande do Sul, and many of the Brazilian people today have indigenous blood running through their veins. Their traditions are still with us, they survived through our ancestors, who fought hard so that their identity would not be forgotten. The Charrúa people have always been portrayed as brave, heroic types who rode horses and lived close to nature. They also had the custom of drinking Yerba Mate. Indigenous people considered the yerba tree a gift from the gods and eventually referred to yerba mate as a drink of the gods. It was a source of nutrition and energy for them, but also played a social role and was used as part of their rituals. For the Charrua people, drinking Yerba mate was a social event. They would gather in a circle to share it using a gourd or horn containing whole leaves and hot water.