Piñatas: Fighting Sin Has Never Been so Fun!

by Juan Carlos Dozal Varela

Human Heritage

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These paper maché handcrafts are probably the best known outside of Mexico; they form part of the popular stereotype. People usually gather at birthday parties and December festivities around piñatas, taking turns to break the heck out of 'em. When the piñata can't resist anymore a torrent of candy falls to the ground, and the keen, crazed participants rush to get the most out of it.

For a more “traditional” piñata stuffing, use sugar canes, tangerines, chocolate bars, and an amazing variety of traditional candies. For a more modern one, any kind of industrial candies. But the only limit is your imagination: toys, condoms... anything you would like to share (and of course, anything that won't crush).

One can trace piñatas to prehispanic times, when clay pots full of feathers and precious stones were publicly smashed, the fall of all these beautiful objects representing abundance.

The missionaries often used theatrical representations and other types of performances to jump the language barrier that separated them from the indigenous. The piñata is an interesting case: it originally represents a seven pointed star, and each one stands for a capital sin. The bright colors represented temptation; the content, the glories and delights of heaven. So the act of smashing it, was like struggling against one's own passions. Never has there been more fun a way to struggle with sin!

Nowadays though, piñatas take on any shape wanted, especially for birthday parties, where superheroes are popular.

Want to know more about the uses of cartonería in Mexico? Here is our hub about the burning of Judas