The region called the Pantanal covers large area of Mato Grosso do Sul and extends over huge area that extends beyond the borders of the Republic of Paraguay and Bolivia, two Latin countries we live with in terms of solidarity. Throughout its history, was traveled by adventurers, by the Spanish conquerors, and also by Portuguese explorers, the Jesuits. However, only after the Paraguayan War was actually occupied by migrants from various regions of the country, which threw their baggage, not only a wealth of accents, gestures, ways of looking at the vast plain that in some places, resembled a sea of fresh water.
These pioneers, recognizing the land suitable for farming, were settling in the region and building, together with the first ranches, a way of being and living consistent with adaptation to this world and away from any inhabited settlements, where it was easier communicate with the Paraguayans themselves than with other Brazilians. So began a different rural culture, rooted in the dictates of farming practiced by people of diverse backgrounds, who, at little, she adapted to living again. And this relationship was born that exchange traditions, habits, beliefs, values, which were passed on to successive generations of wetland.
Among the most salient characteristics of the Pantanal culture can be highlighted the spirit of solidarity, hospitality, taste for celebrations commemorative dates, such as marriage, holy devotion of the farmer (usually feast of St. Sebastian, the Divine), baptized, Farm Foundation, among others. The traditional wetland often say that once, in the Pantanal, all was cause for celebrations, which lasted several days, between careers, betting, big balls, in which the Paraguayan polkas disputing the preference of the pairs of dancers. On these occasions there was no shortage of the barbecue, washed down with tereré, added to the joy and friendship peculiar to the inhabitants of the wetlands. Today, due to the collapse of the cattle, the typical exodus of farmers into the cities, the arrival of neopantaneiros, among other causes, rapid changes are occurring in the cultural habits and traditions of people of Pantanal. Few farmers, as owners of Finance March 23, seek to preserve important aspects of this ancient culture, which is in danger of disappearing, leveling up to the demands of cultural models of post-modernity.

Prof ª. Albana Xavier Nogueira
Formed in Letters from FUCMT, holds a doctorate in literature in the area of Social Dialectology. Argument: The language of the Pantanal man at the University Mackenzie, São Paulo. He is currently a professor in the Masters in Environment and Regional Development / UNIDERP, where he teaches a course in Culture and Environment. Includes books, book chapters and articles published. His research topics related to culture wetland.