UruguayLiving.com

On the 29th day of every month, a huge proportion of Uruguayans eat Ñoquis. For the uninitiated, Ñoquis (pronounced nyoh-kees) are know in America and Europe as Gnocchis; little stuffed pasta shells. The ñoquis we had were covered with a rich meat sauce similar to the kind we would expect on spaghetti. They are incredibly filling–one plate, which even I couldn’t quite finish (to the delight of my two dogs), and I was so full that one more bite would have caused a messy explosion.

As an aside, I should mention that it was such a nice Spring day that we had our lunch outside on the patio so we could enjoy the sun and fresh air…

There is also a custom associated with the eating of ñoquis–Uruguayans put a coin under the plate before you eat them and this is supposed to bring you money in the next month. (Maybe if a put a large bank note under the plate it will work even better?) It is all done in good fun. But the interesting thing from a cultural standpoint is that it is still done and done so ubiquitously.

Perhaps because of the association between ñoquis and money, the word is also used to describe certain government employees.

As I am told the story, because civil servants cannot ever be fired here, there are many of them who never go to work, except on the 29th of each month the collect their paycheck: hence they are Ñoquis.

I have been told stories of elevator operators who work in one story buildings, port managers who are assigned in the middle of the plains, etc. One could perhaps write a book, or at least long “short story” about these people.

In fairness however, I must testify that in all of our dealings with the civil service, they have been friendly helpful, courteous and of a much higher caliber than generally found in the US!

So, those of you who think you might want to move here, start practising. Mark your calendar on the 29th of each month as Dia de Ñoquis.

Posted by southron on Saturday, September 30th, 2006 at 11:18.