Mexican piñatas: a tradition of generations

“Hit it, hit it, don’t lose your aim, because if you lose it, you lose your way.” Who hasn’t sung these notes with the joy of being next in line to break the piñata? And indeed, piñatas are inherent to the December festivities, just like punch or Christmas carols. In Mexico, Christmas celebrations are the result of the syncretism between pre-Hispanic, Christian, and popular festivities. The posadas, celebrated from December 16 to 24, culminate in processions, songs, and, of course, piñatas. As noted by the Museum of Popular Art: “In Mexico, before the Spanish conquest, the arrival of Huitzilopochtli was celebrated in the month of Panquetzaliztli, which coincided with the time when Europeans celebrated Christmas. This led to the posadas or processions becoming one of the many ceremonies of a profane-religious nature that were used to replace the ancient rites of the indigenous people with the Catholic faith. During the early years of the Colony, the custom was to attend the atriums; but the already evangelized indigenous people, who were fond of the traditional ceremonies, moved them to their homes. By 1808, the posadas were being celebrated with overflowing enthusiasm, mainly in Mexico City, in almost all families and with varying degrees of luxury, according to their means.” The posadas are part of the December festivities in Mexico. For eight days, churches and the courtyards of houses are adorned with colorful cardboard or clay piñatas, with seven peaks or trendy characters. The piñatas await the one who will break them with a stick that represents virtue, and we get excited when our turn comes to break it or to rush in to grab the best fruits or candies with which it has been filled. What does it mean to make a piñata?Julio Pérez is the third generation of Mexican piñata makers. His grandfather and father taught him the trade, which he has preserved throughout his life and passed on to his children and grandchildren. For him, the secret of a piñata is that it is made with the heart: “I have no words to describe what making piñatas means to me, because every time you make one, you put a piece of your heart into it. Everything you learned over the years goes into every little piece you put on or in the combination you decide to use in each creation.” Julio sells his piñatas every year at the Jamaica Market, on Avenida Morelos. At home, they cut the paper every time the season approaches and assemble them with his family already at the market. When it’s not the December season, he sells flowers and fruits, but his greatest joy is when the piñata season arrives because then he can share with all the visitors the trade he learned from his father, who in turn learned it from his grandfather. At his stall, one of the most colorful on Avenida Morelos, you can find piñatas up to three meters tall. There are paper and newspaper piñatas, clay pots, and papel picado, with seven, eight, and even nine peaks, as well as donkeys and your favorite characters. All are a delight to the eyes because they reflect the heart of the Pérez family, which has been serving the joy of Mexican piñatas for three years. A taste of the best piñatas If you love piñatas, visit until December 12 the courtyard of the Museum of Popular Art, at Revillagigedo 11, in the Historic Center. Here you can see the winning piñatas of the 15th edition of the Mexican Piñata Contest of the MAP, which featured 230 piñatas from artisans, collectives, and the general public from all over the country. Or, dare to prepare them in festive dishes that will bring joy to everyone at the table, like a delicious piñata gelatin or a piñata cake. Enjoy your posadas with a warm punch and don’t lose your aim!