Yerba mate is a part of Colegio del Salvador. As many of the mothers have pointed out to me, the main priest associated with the primary school (Father Beto) always carries mate with him. It is true. Whenever he has spoken to the children at the beginning of the school day, he has his mate and his thermos under his arm. When he made a presentation to the parents, he had his mate with him. In fact, both Father Beto and the catechist brought their own mates and thermos’. I thought it was especially noteworthy that they each had their own individual mates since one of the most touted characteristics of mate is that it is a social, shared activity. As I’m talking to people in Buenos Aires about mate, I’m realizing that this is not always true. Several people have told me that they prefer drinking mate alone.
Also noteworthy is that when the mothers from Colegio del Salvador tell me that Father Beto always brings mate everywhere he goes, they also point out that Father Beto is Uruguayan. People from Buenos Aires have often told me that (in contrast to most Argentines) Uruguayans carry mate wherever they go – in the street, in their cars, etc.
Also noteworthy is that when the mothers from Colegio del Salvador tell me that Father Beto always brings mate everywhere he goes, they also point out that Father Beto is Uruguayan. People from Buenos Aires have often told me that (in contrast to most Argentines) Uruguayans carry mate wherever they go – in the street, in their cars, etc.