PARAGUAY

Republic of Paraguay República del Paraguay CAPITAL: Asunción FLAG: The national flag, officially adopted in 1842, is a tricolor of red, white, and blue horizontal stripes. The national coat of arms appears in the center of the white stripe on the obverse, and the Treasury seal in the same position on the reverse. ANTHEM: Himno Nacional, beginning “Paraguayos, república o muerte” (“Paraguayans, republic or death”). MONETARY UNIT: The guaraní (G) is a paper currency of 100 céntimos. There are notes of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 guaraníes. G1 = $0.000146 (or $1 = G6,840) as of May 2003. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard. HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; San Blas Day, 3 February; National Defense Day, 1 March; Labor Day, 1 May; Independence Days, 14–15 May; Peace Day, 12 June; Founding of Asunción, 15 August; Constitution Day, 25 August; Victory Day (Battle of Boquerón), 29 September; Columbus Day, 12 October; All Saints’ Day, 1 November; Our Lady of Caacupé, 8 December; Christmas, 25 December. Movable religious holidays are Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Corpus Christi. TIME: 8 AM = noon GMT.