Learn about the origins of the Mexican piñata and how to make it yourself using different materials

What are the origins of the famous Mexican piñata? And how to do it yourself in a few steps?

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

They are now well known also in the West where they depopulate on the occasion of parties and birthdays. But what is the true origin of the famous pignatte?

They come from Mexico and precisely from the city of Acolman, where the first specimen was born in 1587, although their origins are even more ancient, probably Chinese.

Let's retrace their history and find out how to make them with the DIY, Both cartapesta that of cardboard. 

Index

Pignatta: history and origins

The origin of the piñata (piñata) could be Chinese, where it was made on the occasion of the New Year in the form of an animal covered with colored paper and filled with seeds. 

Tradition from China it reached Europe and from there to Mexico through i Spanish missionaries, who used it as an instrument of evangelization, although similar traditions already existed in the pre-colonial period.

It is believed that the Maya used to break clay containers full of cocoa and that the Aztecs filled terracotta vases lined with feathers and ribbons with treasures and jewels, breaking them on the occasion of the celebrations dedicated to the god Huitzilopochtli.

However, the piñata as we know it today would have appeared for the first time in Acolman, Mexico, in 1587, when the Augustinian friars made the first example, using it for evangelize the inhabitants of the place. 

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Come spiega Fundación Casa De México In Spain, and firstly, they were provided with seven points to represent the 7 deadly sins, the bright colors symbolized the temptation, the blindfold the fact that faith is blind, the stick indicated the strength and virtue necessary to ward off deceptions and sins.

While the delicious content, that is fruit, nuts, games, candies, symbolized the riches assigned as a reward to the faithful. By hitting the pinata with the stick, the faithful then recalled the fight against evil. 

Today the piñatas are made by local piñateros in small artisan workshops and it is even possible to order customized ones. Also in Acolman every year the Feria de la Piñata is organized in December, an opportunity to admire them of all shapes and sizes. 

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DIY Mexican pinata from papier mache

Making a Mexican papier-mâché pinata takes some time, but the result will certainly be amazing.

Look at the following video tutorials to discover all the steps. 

First, get what you need:

• sheets of white paper
• old newspapers
• scissors
• masking tape
• crepe paper of different colors
• a balloon
• glue (which you can also make at home with water and flour) and brush
• glass jar

And here's how to proceed:

• Inflate the balloon and place it on top of the glass jar.
• Cover it completely with the pieces of newspaper, applying them with glue and brush.
• Let it dry for 24 hours. 
• Remove the jar and insert the candy into the hole in the piñata, then cover it with more newspaper.
• Take the crepe paper and cut it out with scissors to form the decorations.
• Make 7 cones with the paper and apply strips of colored crepe paper to the ends.
• Apply the cones to the coated balloon with the help of both masking tape and glue.
• Finish the piñata with the remaining crepe paper, applying it with glue, until it is completely coated. 

DIY pinata out of cardboard

There are several ways to make a piñata, you can also use simple cardboard assembling the various parts together to give life to the desired shape. 

You can for example create a cute cactus drawing and cutting out the shape on the cardboard.

Then assemble the different parts with the masking tape and cover it with the green crepe paper.

Or you can make a nice cloud.

If there are unicorn fans in the house, here's the right piñata!

The ice cream-shaped one is also delicious.

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