The piņata tradition

In towns and villages alike in Mexico, the piņata has always been a favorite feature of parties and festivities.

Chloe Sayer, well-known author and expert on Mexican crafts, describes piņatas like this:

"Made to be broken, these exotic creations are nevertheless fashioned with enormous care. Ships, stars, flowers, fish, birds and animals are just some of the fanciful shapes that are modeled out of paper and cardboard to hold clay pots packed to the brim with sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys. One by one the children are blindfolded. Stick in hand, they lash out at the piņata as it swings dizzily from the branches of a tree, high above their heads. Often a parent joins in the fun, pulling the rope to raise and lower the piņata. The excitement builds up until a sudden crash is heard. The pot, broken at last, pours out its tempting contents while the contestants, screaming and laughing, dive forward in pursuit of treasures."

Whether you are hosting an adult or juvenile party, the piņata game is bound to be the highlight of the party.  Traditionally, the piņata game is played as the "main feature" of a party.  First of all make sure you have everything you'll need to play the game, such as a rope or drying line cord, a place from where you're going to hang the piņata (this may be a tree branch, a basketball hoop, two adults holding ends of a rope with a piņata hanging in middle, etc.), piņata party stuffers such as candy, small piņata favors and large confetti, a piņata buster stick and blindfolds.

Fill the piņata with the goodies before guest arrive at the party, so that they won't know what's inside.  Before the party you may use the piņata as a centerpiece, then take the piņata and hang it form a designated place in your yard.  Form all the children in a line, starting with the smallest one all the way to the tallest one.  If a child is very young, you won't need to blindfold him/her.  Traditionally, children over 3 years old are blindfolded, then spun around a few times, provided with the piņata buster stick and let loose to hit the piņata.  For safety's sake, please make sure that while a child is hitting the piņata all other children are kept away (a 12' radius is recommended) and that the child has completely ceased to hit the piņata before you allow the other children to go grab the goodies spilled on floor. Allow each child to hit the piņata at least a couple of times before you move on to the next child.  To make the game more fun, the piņata must be swung up and down, and guests must be encouraged to misdirect the piņata hitter (if the piņata is down, tell the hitter the piņata is up, etc.).  You may also want to throw candy with your hands while the piņata is being hit.  Make sure that all children have gotten some candy at the end of the game.

THE PIŅATA GAME MUST ALWAYS BE PLAYED UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION!!!

Be sure to place your order for piņata fillers, buster sticks and blindfolds at time you place your piņata order.

The Pull Ribbon Game

Pull piņatas are designed for parents who prefer to have their children (particularly small children) play non-aggressive games. The Pull-Piņata Game is the gentler version of the piņata party game, an age-old tradition and has additional benefits to its innovative design.

How it works:

The pull piņata is constructed like a regular piņata with a few exceptions. First, it has a secret trap door. Secondly,, it has up to 30 ribbons attached to the bottom. Only one "lucky" ribbon is attached to the trap door that opens when the ribbon is pulled -- allowing all the goodies to spill out. All the other ribbons are lightly attached and pull of when tugged.

Make Everyone a Winner! To enhance the enjoyment of this game and to ensure that kids get a prize, tie treats or prizes to the end of each ribbon.

It's versatile! You do not need buster sticks or even blindfolds to play this version of the piņata game, but, if you choose, it can be broken like a traditional piņata.

As a bonus, an unbroken piņata can be used over an over and kept as an attractive decorative item.

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