According to local records, the Mexican piñata tradition began in the town of Acolman, just north of Mexico City, where piñatas were introduced for catechism purposes as well as to co-opt the Huitzilopochtli ceremony. The Spanish brought the European tradition to Mexico, although there were similar traditions in Mesoamerica, such as the Aztecs' honoring the birthday of the god Huītzilōpōchtli in mid-December. The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th century.
Piñatas are commonly associated with Mexico.
For other uses, see Piñata (disambiguation).Ī nine-pointed star piñata A woman strikes a piñata at a celebration.Ī piñata ( / p ɪ n ˈ j ɑː t ə/, Spanish pronunciation: ⓘ) is a container, often made of papier-mâché, pottery, or cloth, that is decorated, filled with candy, and then broken as part of a celebration.
