How to Make a Cinco de Mayo Piñata

Piñatas were once made of clay pottery, but today they're made of papier-mâché. The traditional six-point star piñata of Mexico has been replaced with a variety of other shapes, including animals, toys, people and fruits.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Masking Tape
• Straight Pins
• White Glues
• All-purpose Flour
• Candies And Trinkets
• Salt
• Knife
• Large Bowls
• Scissors
• Old Newspapers
• 12-inch Balloons
• Stick
• curling ribbons (red, green, silver)

Making the Piñata

1. Fold six sections of newspaper in half.

2. Roll each section into a cone shape and secure each with masking tape. The cones should all be about the same size.

3. Cut the bottoms of the cones off so they'll stand level.

4. Inflate a 12-inch balloon and tie it shut.

5. Make up papier-mâché paste (see "How to Make Papier-Mâché Paste," under Related eHows).

6. Cut some newspaper into 1- to 2-inch-wide strips.

7. Dip a strip into the paste and put it on the balloon.

8. Repeat until the balloon is covered.

9. Put one paper cone on the balloon and cover it with strips of paper dipped in the paste. Use the strips to hold the cone to the balloon.

10. Attach all of the cones this way.

11. Let the paste dry completely.

12. Poke a pin into the balloon to pop it.

13. Cut a small access hole off-center in the top of the piñata and on each of the cones.

14. Fill the piñata and cones with candy, small toys or trinkets.

Decorating the Piñata

1. Cut green, white and red tissue paper into 2-inch-wide strips.

2. Fold one in half lengthwise without forming a crease.

3. Make cuts along the folded edge of the tissue paper, about 1/4 inch apart, to create a fringe. Don't cut all the way to the open edge.

4. Keep the paper folded and glue the open side to the piñata. The fringed edge should go toward the floor.

5. Cover the entire piñata with the tissue paper. Work your way from bottom to top as if laying shingles and forming stripes with the three colors of tissue paper.

6. Make a tassel for each point on the star with 6-inch-long pieces of metallic curling ribbon in silver, red and green. Wrap the final piece of tissue over the ends of the tassel to hold them on securely.

7. Hang, and beat the heck out of it.

Tips & Warnings

• The cones can go around the balloon to form a sun shape or be set a little higher to look more like a crown.

• Run a piece of hanging wire through the center of the top of the piñata once the paste has dried.

• Cinco de Mayo isn't the celebration of Mexican independence, as many people think. It commemorates the victory by Mexican troops over the French at La Batalla de Puebla in 1862, and stands for Mexican patriotism and unity.

• Be sure to put down a thick layer of newspaper under the area where you'll be using the papier-mâché paste.