A Short History of Piñata

For those who do not know what a piñata is (I didn´t, until a few years ago): piñata is a sort of  acontainer made of papier-machê or other material, decorated, filled with candies and toys, used as a fun activity at birthday parties. You break the piñata by hitting it with a stick, or by pulling the strings attached (lamer version, ermmm, for younger public, who should not be trusted with a stick…).

Piñata is commonly associated with the Mexican tradition (the Mexican piñatas are awesome!), but it seems it´s origins are Chinese. After Wikipedia   (but of course...) the Chinese version, shaped as a cow or ox, filled with different sorts of seeds and decorated with symbols of fertility, was broken at New Year, burned, and the ashes were kept for good luck and abundance in agriculture.

Piñatas were brought to Europe in the 14^th century and were adapted to the celebrations of Lent, being the first Sunday of Lent called “Piñata Sunday”. The name “piñata” most likely comes from Italian “pignatta”, meaning “fragile pot”, as for the European piñatas clay pots for carrying water were used.

The European piñata, brought to Latin America in 16^th century paired with already existing similar tradition of Mayas and Aztecs who would perform a ritual of blindfolding and hitting with a club a lushly decorated container of treasures, that would fall at the feet of the idol as an offering.

Spanish monks used the existing tradition skillfully, for catechism purposes. The pot filled with candies and fruits would represent the evil and it´s temptations, and the seven pointy cones – the seven deadly sins. The disorientated, blindfolded person with the stick represented faith. It is a lovely story, so I should refrain from any sarcastic comments here J