About Cinco de Mayo Pinatas

Cinco de Mayo pinatas add an element of excitement and authenticity to Cindo de Mayo parties and festivities. Not only do Cinco de Mayo pinatas provide an easy, instant decoration, they also are a great source of entertainment for children and adults alike during the course of the party. Cinco de Mayo pinatas are traditionally red, white and green in color to represent the colors of the Mexican flag, and can be found in any number of authentic Mexican designs.

History

Long before Cinco de Mayo pinatas became a popular decoration for the holiday, the indigenous people of Mexico were creating and using early pinatas in their religious ceremonies. These first pinatas were typically decorated clay pots filled with gifts being offered to an Aztec god and were beaten with a stick as part of the ceremony.

When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they used pinatas as part of their religious teachings and designed the traditional seven-pointed star design of pinatas to describe the seven deadly sins.

In time, pinatas became a staple of Mexican culture and today are used during the Christmas celebrations, other national holidays and children's birthday parties.

Significance

The Cinco de Mayo holiday and the Cinco de Mayo pinatas associated with the day mark the anniversary of the 1862 battle in Puebla, Mexico, where the Mexicans defeated the army of the new French-run government of Mexico. Greatly outnumbered, the Mexican army soundly defeated the French and were able to retake the country and put a Mexican leader in power again. While Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican independence holiday, it is a day that marks the courage of the Mexican people in standing up to powerful foreign forces and regaining control of their country.

Features

While Cinco de Mayo pinatas can be purchased in all shapes, colors, and sizes from party supply stores and online, traditional Cinco de Mayo pinatas are in the shape of the seven-pointed star or donkey and feature the colors of the Mexican flag. Cinco de Mayo pinatas can be purchased already filled or can be filled once purchased with small items like candy and toys for a children's party, or money or other small items for adults.

Many people enjoy making their own simple Cinco de Mayo pinatas at home. While the task can be somewhat difficult and time-consuming, making Cinco de Mayo pinatas is a great craft experience for families to participate in together in anticipation of the holiday. Homemade Cinco de Mayo pinatas are typically circular in shape, since it can be very difficult to make more elaborate shapes, and are created using a papier-mache technique.

Benefits

Cinco de Mayo pinatas make a wonderful decoration for Cinco de Mayo parties as they can be eye-catching and beautifully made. Aside from their decorative benefit, Cinco de Mayo pinatas help to entertain guests at the end of the party when the pinata is broken open. Cinco de Mayo pinatas are most often enjoyed by children who are given a stick to hit the pinata and, depending on their age, are blindfolded to make the task harder. Children take turns hitting the Cinco de Mayo pinatas until it is finally cracked open and the candy and toys fall out.

Warning

While Cinco de Mayo pinatas can be a fun addition to any holiday party, extra caution should be taken when breaking open the pinata. Cinco de Mayo pinatas should be hung outside and only the child holding the stick should be allowed to get close to the pinata. All other children and adults should stay a safe distance away from the child and pinata to avoid getting accidentally hit by the stick or the swinging pinata.

Resources

• The History of La Pinata
• Cinco de Mayo Crafts