At Christmas posadas and other parties, handmade piñatas are filled with candy and fruit and then fastened onto a system of ropes and pulleys strung over the street or in a garden.
An adult takes charge of the pulley to manipulate the piñata, keeping it just out of reach of the blindfolded child. The sight of a piñata swinging low and scraping the street as the child spins from the force of a high swing delights those awaiting their turn. Just as the hitter stumbles over the piñata and takes a mighty low swing, the rope is jerked and the piñata is suddenly dangling high over his head. While the children take turns trying to break the decorated clay jar, the assembled crowd shrieks encouragement and assistance. Instead of directing the designated hitter with “left, left” or “right, right,” the savvy observers give directions to the blindfolded child by naming the towns to the east and west. At Ajijic parties they cry out, “Chapala!” “No, no, Jocotepec, Jocotepec.”
Although the piñata originated in China, the traditional party favorite traveled along the trade routes to Italy where it was called la pigata (the pineapple). It gained popularity across Europe just in time for Spanish Franciscan missionaries to bring the tradition of the simple clay jar covered with layers of colorful papel de China (tissue paper) to the new world to demonstrate a morality lesson.
The decorated clay jar represents Satan who all too often wears an attractive mask to attract and mislead humans.
Other symbols said to be hidden in the tradition of the piñata include:
• The seven points of the star-shaped piñata represent the seven deadly sins.
• The candy in the piñata’s inner clay pot symbolize the pleasures Satan offers man to attract him to the underworld.
• The blindfolded child represents faith, which must be blind, and is guided only by the voices of others to destroy evil.
• The stick used to break the piñata represents goodness.
• The breaking of the piñata symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
• The shower of candy and fruit is indicative of the unknown joys and rewards which the good and faithful will receive in Heaven.
(Information by Judy King)