The culture of Paraná includes a range of artistic and cultural expressions developed by its residents, manifested through handicraft, customs, traditions, cuisine, religion, and folklore, reflecting the diverse identities within the state..

During the colonial period, the cultural practices of indigenous peoples integrated with influences from Europe, particularly Portugal and Spain. Indigenous traditions, such as the use of herbaceous plants, yerba mate, pine nut, honey, maize, cassava, and tobacco, were adopted by settlers. The tropeiros (muleteers) introduced practices such as drinking chimarrão, coffee, and eating feijão tropeiro. The African population contributed elements such as feijoada, cachaça, and distinct dances and rituals.

During the imperial period, European immigrants, particularly in the southern and eastern regions, introduced their cultural practices, which merged with existing indigenous, African, Portuguese, and Spanish influences, enhancing Paraná's cultural diversity through contributions from Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Japan.

Paraná's culture reflects a blend of influences from various groups, evident in its architecture, literature, music, and performing and visual arts.

Ethnic composition and notable figures from Paraná

Paraná's cultural identity is shaped by a diverse array of ethnic groups, including Portuguese, Spaniards, Italians, Germans, Dutch, Slavs, Poles, Ukrainians, Arabs, Koreans, Japanese, indigenous groups, and Africans, alongside contributions from people of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Northeast Brazil.

Notable figures from Paraná include historian David Carneiro; writers Dalton Trevisan, Laurentino Gomes; Helena Kolody, and Paulo Leminski; scientists César Lattes, Metry Bacila, João José Bigarella, Riad Salamuni, and Newton Freire-Maia; doctors Moysés Paciornik, Erasto Gaertner, César Pernetta, and Atlândido Borba Côrtes; educators Anízio Alves da Silva, Sebastião Paraná, and Júlia Wanderley; philosophers Mario Sergio Cortella, Oswaldo Giacóia, and Roberto Romano; journalists Fábio Campana, Teresa Urban, and Aramis Millarch; politicians and former governors Roberto Requião de Mello e Silva, Moisés Lupion, and Jaime Lerner; athletes Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, Gilberto Amauri Godoy Filho, Natália Falavigna, footballers Deivid Willian da Silva, and Dirceu José Guimarães; singers Michel Teló; duos Nhô Belarmino and Nhá Gabriela; Chitãozinho and Xororó; and Jads and Jadson; actresses Sônia Braga, Lala Schneider, Grazi Massafera, Maria Fernanda Cândido; and actors Tony Ramos, Ary Fontoura, and Mário Schoemberger.

Paranist movement and the search for cultural identity The political emancipation of Paraná in 1853 established the Province of Paraná. At that time, the region was predominantly rural, with agriculture and livestock as the economic foundation, and few cultural representations were distinctly associated with Paraná due to its sparse population. Prominent symbols included biological elements such as araucaria trees and pine nuts, and biogeographical features such as the ,, plateaus, sandstones, rivers, and Iguazu Falls. Stories often centered on settlers, tropeiros, and indigenous peoples.

After the establishment of the Republic in 1889, a national movement aimed to define Brazilian identity. In Paraná, this was driven by the economic growth from yerba mate and prospects of fertile land for modernization. In 1900, the Historical and Geographical Institute of Paraná was founded to create a regional history incorporating all ethnic groups.

In 1906, poet Domingos Nascimento referred to Paulistas in northern Paraná as “Paranistas.” In 1927, the term “Paranismo” was formalized in a manifesto by Romário Martins, marking the start of the Paranist Movement, which aimed to foster a sense of belonging among residents during a period of significant immigration. The magazine Ilustração Paranaense, directed by João Batista Grofft, was created in 1927 to promote the movement and economic development, circulating until 1930.

The Paranist Movement contributed to constructing a regional identity for Paraná, with intellectuals, artists, and writers promoting stories and traditions centered on indigenous symbols such as the pine tree, yerba mate, and the landscape. Critics note that the movement emphasized a “white and European” identity, often overlooking the contributions of African and impoverished European settlers, and portraying indigenous peoples as “noble savages” while underrepresenting the significant economic and cultural roles of Black and mixed-race individuals. The movement influenced cultural aspects such as literature and architecture, with examples such as the Portuguese pavement sidewalks in Curitiba featuring pine tree and pine nut patterns. Key figures included Romário Martins, Guido Viaro, João Turin, Theodoro de Bona, Zaco Paraná, Lange de Morretes, and João Ghelfi.

Legends and mysticism

Paraná's legends are rooted in indigenous mythology, blended with European and African influences, and were documented by travelers during the colonial period, gaining academic attention in the 20th century, partly through the Paranist Movement. These stories reflect individual and collective experiences, addressing themes such as religion, hauntings, miracles, cemeteries, and hidden treasures.

Notable legends include the Legend of the Wild Roses, the Legend of the Araucaria and the Azure Jay, the Legend of Yerba Mate, the Legend of the Iguazu Falls, the Legend of Vila Velha, the Legend of Our Lady of Light, the Legend of the Enchanted Grotto, the Legend of Ana Bege, and legends surrounding the monk João Maria. Popular superstitions include those of Maria Bueno in Curitiba, Corina Portugal in Ponta Grossa, the Saint of the Wall in Jaguariaíva, and the Saint Pastorina in Tibagi.

Cuisine

Paraná's cuisine includes regional food preparation techniques and traditions such as jerky, churrasco, barreado, pine nuts, and influences from Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and immigrant communities. Daily meals typically include breakfast with milk coffee, bread, fruits, cakes, and sweets; lunch with rice, beans, pasta, animal protein, and salad; and varied local dishes for dinner. Barreado, originating from Azorean influence, is a prominent dish. Common beverages include chimarrão, coffee, cachaça, wine, and beer.

Regional culinary variations exist across Paraná's 399 municipalities. In Curitiba, notable dishes include barreado, pine nut, and carne de onça. Coastal areas feature Azorean and caiçara cuisine. In the southern region and Campos Gerais, rustic comida tropeira includes dishes such as entrevero de pinhão and quirera com carne de porco. Italian, German, Dutch, Slavic, Spanish, Paraguayan, Arab, and Japanese cuisines are also present in various regions.

Clothing

Clothing in Paraná reflects sociocultural habits and customs, integrating garments into political, economic, and sociological contexts. Although the state lacks an official traditional costume, distinctive outfits include those of the coastal caiçaras, the tropeiros of Campos Gerais, and the gaúchos of the western region.

Clothing production reflects ethnic diversity, with influences from Indigenous, Portuguese, African, European, Arab, and Asian cultures, showing a strong Eurocentric tradition. Traditional outfits include those of ethnic and folkloric groups such as gaúchos, tropeiros, and caipiras, featuring Iberian-influenced items such as bombachas, boots, chiripás, guaiacas, palas, pilchas, ponchos, vestidos de prendas, ribbons, embroidery, scarves, belts, buckles, hats, and berets. Indigenous, Portuguese, African, Italian, Slavic, Germanic, Asian, and Arab influences are evident across various regions..

Architecture

Paraná's architecture reflects historical and cultural influences. Early constructions showcase European styles, including eclectic, neoclassical, colonial, oriental, Byzantine, modern, and minimalist.IMAGUIRE JUNIOR, Key. . Curitiba, PR: Ed. da UFPR, 1982.

In Curitiba, notable buildings include the classical Castelo do Batel, influenced by Loire Valley castles, and the eclectic Paço Municipal with Art Nouveau elements, a listed heritage site. Ukrainian architecture is prominent in churches, and lambrequins are a legacy of immigrant craftsmanship. Modern structures include the Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Curitiba. The municipality of Lapa preserves religious buildings, theaters, museums, and residences, while Paranaguá and Antonina feature Brazilian colonial architecture.

Architects such as Jaime Lerner, Romeu Paulo da Costa, Vilanova Artigas, Ayrton Lolô Cornelsen, Eligson Ribeiro Gomes, Rubens Meister, and Frederico Kirchgässner have contributed to Paraná's architectural landscape.

Languages, dialects, and literature

Portuguese is the official language in Paraná, influenced by African and Indigenous languages. Indigenous languages such as Kaingang, Xetá, and Guarani (including Mbyá and Nhandeva) are preserved in villages such as Ortigueira and Laranjeiras do Sul. Spanish was spoken in northern and western regions during early colonization. Following the Treaty of Madrid in 1750, Brazilian influence grew, especially after 1870 in the Guayrá region.

Immigrants from the 19th century onward, including those from São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and the Northeast, influenced linguistic patterns. The Linguistic Atlas of Paraná identifies variations in Portuguese, with a pronounced “E” in Curitiba, Campos Gerais, and southern regions, and a “caipira R” in northern areas. Coastal speech is termed “parnanguara” or “caiçara.” Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) is also recognized.

European colonization significantly shaped the speech patterns of Paraná residents across various municipalities. In the interior, "colonist accents" are prevalent, particularly among descendants of Germans, Ukrainians, and Poles. Many families in colonies maintain their ancestral languages, including German,, Marechal Cândido Rondon Polish, Ukrainian,, Identity and Culture: Ukrainians in Irati Italian,Ordinary Law No. 3018/2003 of Francisco Beltrão, Provides for the Officialization of Italian Language Classes in Municipal Schools Dutch, and Japanese,, Revista do Brasil alongside smaller communities preserving Russian and Arabic. Some schools provide instruction in these languages.

In the field of dialectology, Paraná features at least two dialects: the Southern dialect and the Caipira dialect. These differ from the Florianopolitan dialect, Gaúcho dialect, and Paulistano dialect. Paraná's dialects exhibit characteristics such as vowel reduction and vowel harmony in mid vowels in pretonic positions, with variations between closed and open mid vowels. Nasal consonants at syllable ends (except for the unstressed -am ending, sometimes pronounced as -ão) and the pronunciation of the vowel “e” at word endings as (unlike the common in most of Brazil) are notable.BISOL; COLLISCHONN, 2009, p. 51. For instance, quente is pronounced rather than , , or .

Paraná's literature is often seen as less distinctly tied to the state's identity compared to other cultural elements. Many works by Paraná authors focus on themes unrelated to the state's people, territory, or culture, prompting critique from some literary figures.