Take out your stick and wack it!

Day 31

Piñatas are believed to have originated among the Aztecs, Mayans, and other native peoples of Mexico, who made clay pots in the shape of their gods. The pots were meant to be broken forcefully with poles and sticks, so the contents spilled to signify abundance or favors from the gods. Historians tell us that during the birthday celebration of the Aztec god of war, Huitzilopochtli, priests hung a clay pot on a pole in the temple. The pot was adorned with colorful feathers and filled with small treasures like bead ornaments, colorful or painted stones, berries, or nuts. When the pot was broken with a stick the little treasures spilled on the feet of the god as an offering. The Mayans played a game where the central player’s eyes were covered with a cloth while he tried to hit the pot that was suspended by a string.

Nowadays, piñatas have been adopted in many parts of the world and have become a more common sight at parties and celebrations, especially in México, Central America and the Southern United States, mostly due to the close influence from Mexican culture.

Piñatas are traditionally present at children’s birthday parties. They are usually made of cardboard, colorfully decorated to match the birthday party theme (superhero, princess, or any other creative design) and filled with candy, chocolates, small toys and confetti.

Piñatas have, in recent years, become harder to collect than usual, their population having dwindled in Mexico, Central and South America, due to overgrazing and inadequate medical practice. Large herds of piñatas are often seen roaming the countryside, having become wild and in some cases, untamable. Piñatas have become a “cash cow” in the black market, some going for thousands of dollars in foreign countries.  Government officials ignore the problem, as piñatas are, technically, just paper and candy. A growing movement to save the wild piñata is underway with dozens of members of PETP (People for the Ethical Treatment of Piñatas) forcefully breaking up countryside piñata parties. Their efforts are often futile as evidence (typically tissue paper, candy wrappers, rope and sticks) are still found throughout the region.

There are reports of some piñatas retaliating against their would-be oppressors. Apparently, if left alone, piñatas can grow enormous in size, and due to their now untamed nature, have begun to fight back.