Piñata

The Piñatas [ piɲata ] are colorful designed figures, nowadays made ​​of paper mache, formerly of wrapped with crepe paper clay pots that are filled with kids birthday parties with sweets, traditional but with fruits ( tangerines, sugar canes, guavas, Tejocotes, Jicamas, peanuts ). They are found at Easter in Latin America, especially in Mexico, at Christmas and in Spain.

Regulate

Similar to the game " Topfschlagen " beat children whose eyes are connected, alternating with a stick, the Pinata Buster, on the piñata until it breaks and it's raining surprises. The Piñata usually depends on a rope over the children and can only be reached with the stick. Another variant is the pinata to install so that it can be high, and pull down to make it more exciting and fun. In each case a child is blindfolded, and it attempts to meet with the pinata stick the piñata and break it there. Breaking the piñata all children be allowed to lift as much as they can get. For smaller children there is the Pullpinata. These piñatas have at the bottom of several lines that are drawn alternately by the children; only one of the strings opens the tray, drop the toys and candy out of the. To help the child to find the piñata and meet, they sing:

In addition to this version, the following truncated variant, as well as several other songs exist:

Importance

For Latin America, and especially Mexico, the piñata is the symbol par excellence for fiestas. The traditional piñata is a ball with seven conical peaks, symbolizing the seven deadly sins. In the festive season, these stars are the most popular because they represent evil in the celebration of the Posadas. Once smashed, symbolizing the falling fruits and sweets the blessing for all participants. The floor, which is used to hitting the power that God gives to fight evil, the blindfold symbolizes the faith. Today, the piñata has its religious symbolism, however, except at Christmas time, lost and serves only for the fun.

Modern Piñatas have the shape of cartoon characters or other well-known symbols. Some are even inspired by the appearance of politicians, is beaten to the particularly like strong.

History

Originally the piñata comes from China, where they wanted to have Marco Polo saw for the first time. Mostly they had there in the form of a cow. With colored paper and other decorative things you pasted welcomed the new year with her. The figures were smashed with sticks and then burned, the ashes were collected and kept for good luck for the coming year. The custom was known in southern Europe in the 14th century and caught on in Lent.

Word Meaning

The Italian word " pignatta " means as much as " fragile pot ". This clay pot is used to fetch water. The shape of this vessel resembles a pineapple, which is Spanish for " piña ".

Dissemination

When the custom in Spain spread, the first Sunday of Lent was named Danza de la piñata. The Spaniards also used it a water pot. This simple clay pot was originally painted in bright colors and decorated with streamers and paper tufts.

Beginning of the 16th century Spanish missionaries used the piñata to make their religious ceremonies for the Indians more attractive and to convert them. For this purpose, they used a local tradition, where the Mayans broke brightly painted clay pots, in order to honor their gods. This practice has since spread to this day in Mexico, and parts of Latin America.

In the region around Valencia Pinyata ( katal. ) of Pego is known, which is celebrated on the Saturday after Carnival. With her ​​sadness over the end of the carnival celebration is expressed. Full Pego mourns the death by fire of Carnival represented by a sardine made ​​of paper mache. The festival is also called Sepultura de la Sardina ( Burial of the Sardine ).

Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, the Sandinista leadership cadres of self-enrichment is called after her election defeat with La Piñata. Between February 25, 1990 ( Election Day ) and April 25, 1990 ( handover ) was stolen state property such as office equipment and company cars in a big way and transferred all the lands and houses on private individuals.