Piñata
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/PI%C3%91ATA.jpg/220px-PI%C3%91ATA.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Pi%C3%B1ata_Animation.gif/220px-Pi%C3%B1ata_Animation.gif)
A piñata (
The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th century. The Spanish brought the European tradition to Mexico, although there were similar traditions in Mesoamerica, such as the Aztecs' honoring the birthday of the god Huītzilōpōchtli in mid-December. According to local records, the Mexican piñata tradition began in the town of Acolman, just north of Mexico City, where piñatas were introduced for catechism purposes as well as to co-opt the Huitzilopochtli ceremony.
Today, the piñata is still part of Mexican culture, the cultures of other countries in Latin America, as well as the United States, but it has mostly lost its religious character.
Etymology
The Spanish word piñata probably derives from the Italian pignatta 'fragile pot,' itself from pigna lit. 'pinecone.'[1][2] It may also come from Spanish piña lit. 'pinecone.'
History
Although today, piñatas are typically used for a fun activity at parties, their origins lie in other customs.[3] There is some debate but it appears that their origin is not Spanish but Chinese.[4] The Chinese version was in the shape of a cow or ox and used for the New Year. It was decorated with symbols and colors meant to produce a favorable climate for the coming growing season. It was filled with five types of seeds and then hit with sticks of various colors. After the piñata was broken, the remains were burned and the ashes kept for good luck.[3][5][6]
The tradition arrived in Europe in the 14th century where it was associated with the Christian celebration of
The European piñata tradition was brought to Mexico in the 16th century; however, there was a similar tradition in Mesoamerica already. The
The
Since that time, the piñata has all but lost its religious significance and has become popular in many types of celebrations, not just during December's Las Posadas. The clay pot has been replaced with a
In Mexico
The piñata is most strongly identified with Mexico.
While the religious significance has been mostly lost, the ceremony that occurs with it has remained mostly intact. Piñatas remain most popular during
Piñatas were traditionally made with a clay pot base and many artisans make a living selling just the pot for people to decorate as they wish. However, clay pot piñatas have mostly been replaced by those made with cardboard and papier-mâché, usually fashioned over balloons.[3] One reason for this is that broken pot pieces can be dangerous to children.[15] These are then decorated with crepe paper, other colored paper and other items.[11] Piñatas today come in all shapes and sizes, with many representing cartoon or other characters known to most children. Popular shapes today can include Batman, Superman, Spider-Man or characters based on popular movies and television shows such as Nemo, the Lion King and more. For Christmas, the traditional style with the points is popular as it is associated with the Star of Bethlehem.[3][11] However, for the most part, piñata designs have been completely commercialized.[11]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Courtyard_Palacio_Gobierno_Christmas_07.jpg/250px-Courtyard_Palacio_Gobierno_Christmas_07.jpg)
Traditionally in Mexico, especially at Christmas, piñatas are filled with fruit and candies such as
There are a number of localities in Mexico that specialize in the making of piñatas for sale. Acolman, the origin of piñatas, along with neighboring Otumba are one.[10] Acolman hosts an annual National Piñata Fair. This event includes cultural events, workshops on the making of piñatas, piñata contests and traditional Posadas. The event has attracted as many as 100,000 visitors over the days that it is held, many of whom come from Mexico City.[8]
About 400 families in the town of San Juan de la Puerta, in the south of the Cuerámaro municipality in Guanajuato, are dedicated to the creation of piñatas, and produce about 16,000 pieces each month. The making of piñatas supports about half of the people in the town. It is the second most important economic activity after agriculture. This tradition began in 1960 by Juan Remigio Anguiano, who brought the craft to the town after living in Mexico City. Today, piñatas from the town are sold in various parts of the state.[16]
In the penal facility of Huajuapan de León, prisoners make piñatas to sell. This began when several prisoners brought the craft with them when they were incarcerated about twenty years ago. These piñatas have become traditional for the population of the city for Christmas.[4]
The busiest time for the sale of piñatas in Mexico is December for posadas. During bad economic times, sales of piñatas can fall as much as thirty percent as they did in 2008.[15]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Pi%C3%B1atas_tabasque%C3%B1as.jpg/220px-Pi%C3%B1atas_tabasque%C3%B1as.jpg)
The star shape, or ball with points, still remains popular for the Christmas season, but for other events, traditional designs such as donkeys have almost entirely been[
One niche market for piñatas in Mexico is of those themed for adults. These include political figures, especially those who are not particularly liked.[3][17] Another type for the adult market are sexually-themed piñatas, mostly those in the form of exotic dancers and strippers. Of the female of this type, the most popular are blondes. For the male, darker shades are preferred.[19][23] These piñatas will be filled with adult items such as condoms in addition to candy.[23]
Piñatas are similarly popular in a number of other Latin American countries as well.[10][24]
In the United States
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Girl_striking_pinata_in_carport_of_California_home_1961_-_2.jpg/220px-Girl_striking_pinata_in_carport_of_California_home_1961_-_2.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Ni%C3%B1os_jugando_en_pi%C3%B1ata.jpg/220px-Ni%C3%B1os_jugando_en_pi%C3%B1ata.jpg)
Piñatas have also become popular in Mexican-American and other Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States, as well as non-Hispanic populations. They are used for birthday parties, Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebrations.[24][25][26][27]
The 2006 video game Viva Piñata is about a world where piñatas compete to be chosen for children's birthday parties. A spinoff television show, also titled Viva Piñata was created to push sales of the Xbox game created by Microsoft.[28]
Similar traditions
Europe
A similar tradition in
In Catalonia, a Christmastide tradition known as "fer cagar el tió" ("making the log defecate") is observed. A log is wrapped with a blanket several days in advance of Christmas and is "fed" grass. On Christmas Eve, the log is repeatedly struck with sticks in order to make the log "defecate". The blanket is then removed to reveal the gifts that have been "expelled" by the log.
In Italy feasts with a game similar to piñata, called pentolaccia, used to be celebrated the first Sunday of Lent.
Asia
In
In South Indian villages, festivals feature a competition called Uri adithal (Pot breaking with blindfold) which closely resembles the piñata event.[31]
In Japan, a similar game called suikawari is played where a watermelon shell is used.[citation needed]
In the Philippines, a similar game called hampas-palayok or pukpok-palayok[32] (hit-the-pot) is played during Filipino fiestas and traditional parties (e.g., birthdays), in which a clay pot filled with treats and/or prizes is used. Also đập nêu (pot-hitting) appears in Vietnamese traditional custom.
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Piñata cookie
- Tió de Nadal
- Parol, a similar but separate tradition in the Philippines symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem
References
- ^ "piñata". Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
- ^ "Piñata [Object]". Children & Youth in History. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
- ^ from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ a b Lesli Aguilar (December 26, 2010). "Piñatas, una divertida tradición que no muere" [Piñatas, a fun tradition that isn't dying]. Diario Despertar (in Spanish). Oaxaca, Mexico. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ CONACULTA. "Primer Concurso de Piñatas Mexicanas" [First Piñata Contest]. Artes e Historia (in Spanish). Archived from the originalon November 11, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ INAH. December 15, 2004. Archived from the originalon November 11, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ "Piñata". Merriam-Webster.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ a b "En Acolman, Edomex, cuna de las piñatas, hacen su feria" [In Acolman, State of Mexico, cradles of piñatas, their fair begins]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. Agencia el Universal. December 16, 2010.
- ^ a b "Municipio de Acolman, en Edomex, creador de las piñatas" [Municipality of Acolman in State of Mexico, creator of piñatas]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. Agencia el Universal. December 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Las piñatas navideñas" [Christmas Piñatas]. La Prensa (in Spanish). Managua, Nicaragua. December 5, 2007. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Cristal Barrientos Torres (December 21, 2003). "Una historia en una piñata" [A story of a piñata]. El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Torreón, Mexico. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ "Exposición-Piñatas" [Exposition-Piñatas]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. Agencia el Universal. February 13, 2010.
- ^ "Presumen piñata gigante" [Showing off a giant piñata]. Mural (in Spanish). Guadalajara, Mexico. December 22, 2010. p. 4.
- ^ José Herrera. "Papel y Cartonería" [Paper and Cartonería (paper crafts)] (in Spanish). Veracruz, Mexico: Universidad Veracruzana. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ a b Minerva Flores (December 15, 2009). "Golpea crisis a las piñatas" [Crisis strikes piñatas]. Mural (in Spanish). Guadalajara, Mexico. p. 6.
- ^ "Sostienen piñatas su economía" [Piñatas support their economy]. Mural (in Spanish). Guadalajara, Mexico. December 21, 2010. p. 12.
- ^ a b Paul Beckett (September 11, 1996). "Even pinatas sold in Mexico seem to originate in Hollywood now". Wall Street Journal. New York. p. 1.
- ^ Antonio Nieto (March 20, 2010). "Pegan policías a piñatas pirata de superhéroes" [Police strike pirated versions of superhero piñatas]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 7.
- ^ a b c Marylú Vallejo (December 10, 2010). "No pierden el camino" [Don´t lose the path]. Mural (in Spanish). Guadalajara, Mexico. p. 6.
- ^ a b Marcha Cázares (June 24, 2010). "Decomisan en Laredo piñatas ..¡piratas!" [Piñatas confiscated from markets in Laredo, for copyright!]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 16.
- ^ Department of Homeland Security Documents / FIND. (2010). CBP Officers Seize Fake Disney Pinatas at Douglas Port of Entry (Report). US Government.
- ^ Fernando Ramirez (September 15, 2006). "Empresa de pinatas preve exportar 380.000 unidades en el 2006; [Source: Expansion]" [Piñata company foresees the export of 280,000 units in 2006]. NoticiasFinancieras (in Spanish). Miami. p. 1.
- ^ a b Yadira Moreno Léon (October 4, 2009). "Un nuevo y divertido mercado: piñatas para fiestas de adultos" [A new and fun market: piñatas for adult parties]. Milenio (in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ a b anonymous (April 23, 2010). "A Hard Knock Life For A Pinata Maker's Art". NPR-All Things Considered. Washington, DC.
- ^ Wayne Greene (May 2, 2011). "Tulsa to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tent parties". McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Washington, DC.
- ^ Peter McCrady (May 6, 2011). "BRIEF: Celebrating Mexican culture, heritage". McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Washington, DC.
- ^ Joe Ferguson (Sep 19, 2010). "Personalized pinatas -- to go". McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Washington, DC.
- ^ Christina Binkley; Suzanne Vranica (October 17, 2006). "Microsoft Tries to Raise 'Candiosity,' Aims at Kid Market with 'Viva Pinata': [1]". Wall Street Journal. New York. p. 1.
- ^ "Fastelavn". Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ "Janmashtami celebrated with zeal, enthusiasm". Mid Day. August 24, 2008. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ "Pongalo Pongal - Pongal Celebrations 2009 at Isha Yoga Center". ISHA Foundation. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
- ^ "HAMPAS-PALAYOK: Tagalog to English: Dictionary Online". Tagaloglang.com. 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2017-05-28.