Simple Definition Pinata
Especially this pinata is the one that everyone wants to break. A pinata is a hanging animal-shaped container filled with candy in which blindfolded revellers take turns hitting with a stick. When a pinata finally leaves, everyone rushes to get as many treats as possible. Most pinatas are made from cardboard forges, although historically there were also ceramic and cloth pinates©. The Mexican-Spanish source, piã±ata, means „pitcher or pot,“ and the first Mexican and Aztec pinatas were clay pots full of fruit and sweets. The tradition dates back to ancient China, then to the Spanish fasting celebrations of the fourteenth century. Today, beating a pinata is a common part of Christmas celebrations in Mexico. I used to watch her when I was little, I even had a Dora birthday and there was a big pinata, and I didn`t want to beat her because I loved her so much. The numerical value of Pinata in Chaldean numerology is: 2 Subscribe to America`s largest dictionary and get thousands of other definitions and an advanced search – ad-free! Since then, however, the piñata has almost lost its religious significance and has become popular in many types of celebrations, not just during Las Posadas in December. The clay pot was replaced with a papier-mâché container. [3] The creation of piñatas has even taken on an artistic aspect in some areas.
David Gamez and Cecilia Meade sponsored an exhibition of piñatas as art and not just as a festive gift. The event was called Piñatarama with 25 papier-mâché piñatas at Vértigo Galería in Mexico City, all original works by graphic illustrators from 23 countries, including Australia. Some of the participating illustrators are 1000 Changos, Allan Sieber, Apak, Ben Newman, Cecy Meade, Cristian Turdera, Cupco and Daniel Berman. [10] In Tepatitlán, the largest traditional seven-pointed piñata in the world was created in 2010. It measures 11.2 meters, is made of fiberglass and weighs 350 kilograms. He surpasses the former Guinness World Record holder set in Pennsylvania in 2008. [11] The Mexican Catholic interpretation attributed meanings related to the Catholic doctrine of combating temptation and used for catechism purposes. In this tradition, the seven dots represent the seven deadly sins, the pot represents evil, and seasonal fruits and sweets represent the temptations of evil. It has been said that the person is blindfolded with the stick to represent faith, and the turning, singing and shouting represent the disorientation that temptation creates. In some traditions, the participant is alternated thirty-three times, one for each year of Christ`s life. When the participant strikes the piñata, it is supposed to represent the struggle against temptation and evil. When the piñata breaks, some say (contrary to other interpretations) that the treats inside are the reward for preserving the faith.
[3] [7] [9] Traditionally, in Mexico, especially at Christmas, piñatas are filled with fruits and sweets such as guavas, oranges, jicamas, pieces of sugar cane, tejocotes and packaged sweets. Some piñatas are „traps“ filled with flour, confetti or water. Special baskets of treats can be given to children who leave empty-handed after breaking a piñata. These are called colaciónes and are given to prevent hurt feelings. [1] In the Philippines, a similar game called hampas-palayok or pukpok-palayok[30] (hitting the pot) is played during Philippine holidays and traditional holidays (e.g. birthdays) where a clay pot filled with treats and/or prizes is used. Also đập nêu (to hit the pot) appears in traditional Vietnamese customs. The busiest time to sell piñatas in Mexico is December for posadas.
In times of economic crisis, piñatas sales can drop by up to thirty percent as in 2008. [13] In Maharashtra, India, another similar tradition called Dahi Handi is celebrated on the day of the Janmashtami festival, the birthday of Lord Krishna. The iconography depicts the depiction of Lord Krishna`s childhood as a mischievous Maakhan (butter thief) choir. Clay pots filled with buttermilk, silver or treats instead of butter are hung in public squares or streets at a height that implicitly challenges young people to break them. The teams put a lot of planning, skill and effort into forming human pyramids, one taller than the other, to break the pot and claim the prize. [28] Piñatas are also popular in a number of other Latin American countries. [8] [22] In Huajuapan de León prison, prisoners make piñatas for sale. It started when several prisoners brought the ship with them when they were imprisoned twenty years ago. These piñatas have become a tradition for the population of the city at Christmas. [2] The tradition has its origins in the 14th century. In the nineteenth century, it was associated with Christian Lent. In Spain, the first Sunday of Lent, the „Sunday of the Piñata“, became a festival known as the dance of the piñata.
As the Italian origin of the word suggests, pignatta (also pignata and pignàta) means „terracotta pot“, the Spaniards first used a simple clay container before starting to decorate it with ribbons, garlands and colored paper. It is believed that the origin of the Italian word is associated with the Latin word pinea, „pine cone“. [1] [5]. The history of the piñata in Mexico dates back to the same time as the Christmas posadas at Acolman de Nezahualcoyotl, in what is now the state of Mexico, near the archaeological site of Teotihuacan. In 1586, the Augustinian monks of Acolman received permission from Pope Sixtus V. to hold the so-called „misas de aguinaldo“ (special masses that took place before Christmas), which later became the posadas. During these masses, held in the days before Christmas, the monks introduced the piñata. They used the piñata as an allegory to assist them in their efforts to evangelize the indigenous peoples of the region and teach them the principles of Christianity. The star or ball shape with spikes is still popular for the holiday season, but for other events, traditional designs such as donkeys have been almost completely replaced by cartoon characters based on American movies and TV shows. [15] However, most of the piñatas made from these images do not respect copyright, which has caused problems. Copyright holders such as Marvel Comics have complained of infringements by piñata manufacturers in Mexico.
Federal authorities responded by seizing the goods from stores in various neighborhoods in Mexico City. Sellers have been complaining about selling these piñatas for decades and have never had any problems. [16] Those who have had copyright issues argue that it is difficult to sell other types, as most customers prefer to buy those based on popular characters. [17] Mexico exports piñatas to the United States and other parts of the world, but copyright was also an issue. [17] [18] Disney-based piñatas and other characters were seized at the border for violating U.S. copyright law. [18] [19] Some were also seized and destroyed by customs officers suspected of hiding drugs. [20] Although piñatas are now generally used for a fun activity at festivals, their origins lie in other customs. [1] There are some discussions, but it seems that their origin is not Spanish, but Chinese. [2] The Chinese version was shaped like a cow or ox and was used for the New Year.
It has been decorated with symbols and colors that should create a favorable climate for the upcoming growing season. It was filled with five types of seeds, and then beaten with sticks of different colors. After the rupture of the piñata, the remains were cremated and the ashes kept for good luck. [1] [3] [4] Hit it, beat it, hit itDon`t lose your targetBecause if you lose itYou`ll lose your way I`ve compared the nomination and confirmation process to a piñata, which just means that the confirmation process has become quite difficult here. But I`m not going to be preached by the Democratic leader or the Democrats, it`s a manual written by the Democratic leader and our colleagues opposite. Piñatas have also become popular among Mexican-American and other Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States, as well as among non-Hispanic populations. They are used for birthday parties, Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebrations. [22] [23] [24] [25] Although the star shape is always preferred at Christmas, piñatas are now available in a variety of models.
In Mexico, many piñatas are often still made with a ceramic pot, but you will also find some that are purely made of papier-mâché. Those that have a pot inside are easier to break because they don`t swing as much when you hit them, but they can also pose a risk of shard theft if the piñata breaks.