The History of Pinatas

When we think of the piñata, most of us think of a game at a child's birthday party. A paper mache object hangs from a rope and blindfolded, disoriented children take swings at it with a bat or stick hoping to break it open and have treats and candies pour out. We also think of the piñata as coming to us from Mexico. However, there is much more to the history of this children's party game.

China

The piñata might have originated in China. When Italian explorer Marco Polo first visited China, he found people making objects from colored paper that were shaped like cows, buffalo and other animals. When the objects were struck with a stick, seeds poured out of the objects, which were generally burst during the celebration of the New Year. After the people had collected the seeds, the remains of the objects were burned and the ashes were gathered as an expression of good luck for the coming year.

Lent

The Chinese custom eventually passed into Europe where it was incorporated into the celebration of Lent. The first Sunday of Lent became known as Piñata Sunday. In Spain, the first Sunday of Lent was a fiesta and celebrated with the "Dance of the Piñata." In the beginning, the piñatas were made of clay containers without decoration. However, as the tradition evolved, tinsel and papers were wrapped around the clay pots to make them more festive.

Christianity

It was Spanish missionaries who brought the tradition of the piñata to North America. The Aztecs and Mayans had similar traditions, in which clay pots were struck with a stick as part of celebration or sport. The missionaries used the familiarity with the tradition to lead the people to conversion, saying the pot represented Satan. The colors and beauty of the piñata was symbolic of temptation and the treats inside of it were the temptations of earthly pleasures. In the end, the piñata represented charity with all participants sharing in its bounty when it was broken.

Mexico

Eventually, the religious meanings attached to the piñata were lost and the people came to use the tradition as a means of celebration. It is still commonly used during Las Posadas, which are traditional processions that mark the beginning of the Christmas season in Mexico. Popular songs, with words that encouraged players to swing with a good aim and teased players about the treats inside, developed to accompany the bursting of the piñata.

Modern

Modern piñatas come in many shapes and sizes. Some are cartoon characters, others are specific to certain holidays and still others take on more traditional forms, such as the pineapple or donkey. While the traditional songs still accompany the piñata, the piñata is now played during celebrations and parties in many cultures around the world. Piñatas can still be purchased at specialty shops called piñaterías, but they also are sold at many retail outlets, department stores and party supply businesses.

References

• History of Piñata
• History of Piñatas
• History of the piñata in Mexico