piñata
Candy-filled vessel
A piñata is a decorated container, traditionally made of papier-mâché or pottery, filled with candy and small toys.
At parties, especially for children's birthdays and Mexican celebrations, a blindfolded person strikes the suspended piñata with a stick until it breaks open, spilling its contents for everyone to grab: The kids took turns swinging at the piñata.
Annual date of origin
- blindfoldSight-blocking eye cover
- stickThin piece of wood
- broom handleSweeper's wooden shaft
- batFlying mammal or sports club
hanging · rope · tree branch · swing · turn-taking · spinning · song · chanting
Custom passed through generations
- MexicoNorth American southern nation
- posadaLatin American inn
- fiestaFestive public celebration
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
Cinco de Mayo · handcraft · calavera · burro · donkey · clay pot · olla
Capable of being shattered
- papier-mâchéMolded paper-paste sculpture material
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- brittleLiable to shatter
- crackableAble to be broken
shatterable · bashable · destructible · cardboard · tissue paper · paste · hollow · crumpled
birthday
Annual date of origin
- blindfoldSight-blocking eye cover
- stickThin piece of wood
- broom handleSweeper's wooden shaft
bat · hanging · rope · tree branch · swing · turn-taking · spinning · song · chanting · cheering
tradition
Custom passed through generations
folklore · Cinco de Mayo · handcraft · calavera · burro · donkey · clay pot · olla
smashable
Capable of being shattered
- papier-mâchéMolded paper-paste sculpture material
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- brittleLiable to shatter
crackable · shatterable · bashable · destructible · cardboard · tissue paper · paste · hollow · crumpled · split
candy
Sugary edible treats
lollipops · caramels · taffy · fruit · peanuts · coins · confetti · trinkets · treats · prizes
donkey
Long-eared equine
- starLuminous astronomical object
- animalMulticellular motile organism
- cartoon characterDrawn entertainment figure
superhero · unicorn · ball · number · heart · rainbow · custom · themed · elaborate · handmade
- Latin AmericaArgentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Cuba
- party traditionschampagne toast, toasts, toasting, cake cutting, gift opening
- Latino CultureHispanic Americans, Latino, Chicana, Mexican-American, Cuban Americans
- birthdaysbirthday cake, birthday candle, birthday card, birthday wish, birthday song
- kids partiesbirthday cake, balloons, party hats, party favors, goodie bags
- Mexican HeritageAztec, Maya, Nahuatl, mariachi, tequila
piñataheirloom
Inherited family treasure
keepsake · time capsule · museum piece · trophy · monument
piñatasafe
Free from peril
vault · lockbox · strongbox · time capsule · treasure chest
piñatacenterpiece
Decorative table focal point
ornament · balloon · bunting · party decoration · showpiece
- piñata stickTool for breaking piñatas