Arete guazú

Arete guazú ("big day" or "true day" in the Guarani language, "Arete Guasu" in Spanish) is a traditional Guaraní festival celebrated in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. It is also known as '"Carnaval Grande" (big carnival), "Kandaváre" or "Pim Pim" after the sound of the pin-pin drum played during the ceremonies.

Arete guazú occurs in February each year to celebrate the corn harvest season. In the past, arete guazú was only celebrated if there had been a good harvest; however, since the Guarani people have mostly lost their farmland and urbanized, it is held during carnival. People begin preparing at least eight days before the festivities.

The festival is seen as a spiritual ancestral practice that strengthens the community's ties with each other and with their environment. It reaffirms the indigenous peoples' rights to exist and displays their pride in being indigenous.