Dia De San Blas

 The Dia de San Blas or the Festival for Paraguay's patron saint is held every 3rd of February.  Saint Blaise or San Blas is believed to be from the fourth century or even earlier and is known to be the patron of throat illnesses and of wild animals.  Paraguay's devotion to San Blas is said to have started from the early years of the Spanish conquest. The whole country commemorates this day, with the bigger cities hosting grand annual festivals, and smaller communities organizing religious services.  The church named after St. Blaise or the Catedral de San Blas is located in Ciudad del Este.  The celebration begins with the sacred mass held at the Cathedral of Asuncion, the country's capital.  But of course, everyone is also invited to join the revelry.  One of the most popular recreational activities is the Paraguayan dance Baile de las Galoperas, where people of all ages dance and jam to a folk music band.