Piñata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A piñata is a brightly-colored papier-mâché, cardboard, or clay container, originating in Mexico, and filled with any combination of candy, small fruit, food items, and toys. It is generally suspended on a rope from a tree branch or ceiling and is used during celebrations. A succession of stick-wielding, often blindfolded children try to break the piñata in order to collect the sweets, small fruit (traditionally peanuts, sweet limes, sugarcane) and/or toys inside of it. It has been used for hundreds of years to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas and Easter.
Contents |
[edit] Origin
There are many hypotheses regarding the origins of piñatas and few reliable sources to confirm or dismiss them. Some believe that piñatas came from Italy after Marco Polo discovered them in China and brought them to Italy on one of his excursions. Others believe that piñatas can be traced to Africa well before it appeared in China. Most people believe that the pinata originated in Spain. However, there is no evidence that the olla or piñata existed in Spain prior to the conquest of Mexico, nor did the piñata appear anywhere else in Spain's Latin America colonies until some time later.
In the Mexican Catholic celebration of Christmas, the piñata is traditionally shaped like a seven-pointed star which represents the devil and the seven deadly sins, while the contents are the goods or blessings he is withholding. Striking the devil with faith, symbolized by being blindfolded, releases the blessings.[citation needed]Piñatas are also used at Fiestas.
[edit] Construction
Piñatas are made from easily breakable materials like straw, papier-mâché, or clay.Traditionally they were made in the shape of human or animal figures, but, in recent times, vehicles, cartoon characters, or corporate mascots have gained in popularity. In some areas in Mexico and Central America, one finds small stores called piñaterías that are devoted exclusively to sales of piñatas.
[edit] International spread
Today the piñata tradition has been adopted in many parts of the world and has become a more common sight at parties and celebrations in the Southern United States, where they are commonly sold at both regular grocery stores and Hispanic specialty supermarkets. Piñatas can also be found in the northeast region of America.[citation needed]
The piñatas penetration in Europe has been slow over the past couple decades. The only country outside of the Americas to have adopted piñatas for cultural celebrations is India.
Piñatas popularity in the UK has rapidly increased within recent years due to mainstream retailers promoting the piñata. Piñatas are now widely used for summer parties and events in the UK.
[edit] Similar traditions
A similar tradition in Denmark is slå katten af tønden ("hit the cat out of the barrel") in which a wooden barrel is struck to release candy.
In South Indian villages, festivals feature a competition called Uri adithal (Pot breaking with blindfold) which closely resembles the piñata event.
In the Philippines, instead of a cardboard paper mache, a clay pot or "palayok" is used. Hence, the local name is "Palayok."
[edit] Song
While hitting the piñata the following rhyme is commonly sung in Mexico:
| Spanish | English translation |
|---|---|
| Dale, dale, dale, no pierdas el tino; Porque si lo pierdes pierdes el camino. Ya le diste una, |
Hit it, hit it, hit it (or "go, go, go") Don't lose your aim Because if you lose it (your aim) You will lose the way. You've already hit it once |
| Alternate Spanish version | English translation |
| Dale, dale, dale, No pierdas el tino Porque si lo pierdes pierdes el camino. Dale, dale, dale ¡Se Acabó! |
Hit it, hit it, hit it (or "go, go, go") Don't lose your aim Because if you lose it (your aim) You will lose the way. Hit it, hit it, hit it (or "go, go, go") It's over! |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Piñatas |
