Tradition: Origin of the Pinata in Mexico

Toute l’année, les enfants attendent le temps des festivités autour de Christmas (entre le 16 et le 24 décembre) pour participer à l’ouverture de la Pinata. D’où vient cette tradition?

First of all, the Pinata is an object made of cardboard covered with colored paper and stuffed with candy and tropical fruits. Originally, it represented a multicolored star with seven to nine points, but over time, it took on shapes as varied as the donkey, the horse, the giant flower, the teddy bear, and others.

The origin

Some people are convinced that the Pinata comes from a Mexican rite introduced by Spanish evangelists in the 16th century.^e century, while others argue that this tradition originated from Aztec celebrations that coincided with Christian Christmas. Some suggest that the Pinata first originated in Italy or China. It seems, in fact, that the Chinese made animal shapes covered in colors.

The materials

In the past, pinatas were made from terracotta, onto which pieces of paper or silky fabric were glued. Later, they were made from a paste of newspaper mixed with water and flour. They are still found in Mexico and other parts of South America, but the tradition is dying out. More recent pinatas have simply become balloons covered with crepe paper.

The process

Les enfants petits et grands raffolent de ce rituel qui se déroule dans la joie. La Pinata doit être suspendue à un lien, entre deux arbres, sous une voute ou un haut plafond. Les enfants portent tous un bandeau sur les yeux et tiennent un bâton. En tournant, ils doivent faire en sorte de frapper la Pinata de façon à ce qu’elle se brise et laisse échapper son fameux trésor qu’ils devront partager.