A piñata (Spanish pronunciation: [piˈɲata]) is a container often made of papier-mâché,
pottery, or cloth; it is decorated, and filled with small toys or candy, or
both, and then broken as part of a ceremony or celebration. Piñatas are most
commonly associated with Mexico, but their origins are considered to be in China.
The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th
century, where the name, from the Italian pignatta, was introduced. The
Spanish brought the European tradition to Mexico. Today, the piñata is still part of Mexican
culture, the cultures of other countries in Latin America, as well as the
United States, but it has mostly lost its religious character.
Before you hang your pinata and have your
guests bash it open, here are a few tips to make the game go more smoothly.
Below we will detail the best way to fill a pinata, pinata filler suggestions,
how to play the pinata game and give you some additional tips. If you are
playing the pinata game with toddlers, we suggest buying a pull piñata and guess what! we have
the best range in Ireland!
Quick plug: Check out www.thebigparty.ie for the best
range of pinatas in Ireland - delivered next working day nationwide.
How to Fill a Pinata
- All pinatas have a designated opening for filling purposes. To find this area, look for the sticker on your pinata that says "press here to fill."
- You
can either press into that part of the pinata with your finger or
carefully cut a U shaped flap using a knife or scissors.
- Make
sure you do not tear or cut off this section because it will make a hole.
- Choose
sweets or small prizes that will fit into a hole (see pinata filler
suggestions below) and place as many as you can inside the pinata.
- The
bigger the pinata, the more prizes it can hold. We suggest that you fill
one pinata for every 8-12 guests.
- After
you fill the pinata, push the flap down or tape it in place.
- Hang
your pinata with sturdy rope or string by its plastic handle.
- We
suggest hanging the pinata about 1-2 feet above the guests' eye level.
- You
can even use your pinata as a table decoration and then hang it when it's
time to play the game.
Pinata Filler Suggestions
Here are the best ideas to use as pinata filler. A good rule of thumb is to have three to four prizes for every player.
- Miniature
chocolate bars – from Supermarket variety packs
- Individually
wrapped hard sweets
- Shaped
rubber bands
- Party
Favours
- Party
Poppers
- Child-sized
rings
- Fun shaped erasers
How to Play the Pinata Game
If you are using a regular pinata, you can choose to play the game
either with or without a blindfold. Older children/adults should use a
blindfold to make the game more challenging. - Set
up some rules ahead of time to prevent children from grabbing at prizes
once the pinata breaks such as:
- Each
child can only have 3-4 prizes
- No
pushing or shoving
- Everyone
lines up single file according to height.
- Stand
everyone far enough from the pinata so that no one will get hurt by the
person swinging.
- Smallest
should play first. (This is a good idea especially if you have children of
different ages playing. The oldest child will most likely hit the hardest
and break the pinata. This way, everyone should get at least one turn.)
- If
you're playing with blindfolds, tie it around the first player's eyes. You
can use a scarf or tie if you don't have a blindfold.
- Hand
the first player the piñata buster.
- Spin
them around three times slowly and then stop spinning once they are facing
the pinata.
- The player
now gets three chances to break the pinata open with the buster.
- After
they take their three turns, the next player in line gets blindfolded and
spun around.
- Continue
taking turns until someone manages to break open the pinata.
- After
the pinata is open, give your guests empty favour bags to fill with
prizes.
How to Use a Pull-String Pinata
If you are playing the pinata game with a pull-string pinata, see the directions below.
- Set
up some rules ahead of time to prevent the children from grabbing once the
pinata breaks such as:o
Each child can only have 3-4 prizeso
No pushing or shoving
-
You
can use a pull-string pinata one of two ways.
- For
younger guests: Have all the guests pull a different ribbon at the same
time.
- For
older guests: Have the children take turns choosing one ribbon to pull.
- Only
one ribbon will pull open the trap door to make the prizes fall out!
- After
the pinata is open, give your guests empty favor bags to fill with prizes.
Questions & Answers
What is the recommended age for playing the pinata game?We highly recommend that children under 3 should not play the pinata game. Pinatas are filled with small prizes that could be choking hazards for toddlers. Also, children under 3 could get hurt during the game. You should also keep pets away while this game is played.
How much pinata filler do I need for my pinata?
Refer to the size of the pinata before you purchase it to make sure it will hold enough candy for all of your guests. If you're having a big party, you may need more than one pinata.
- A 16
to 28-inch pinata can hold about 100 pieces of pinata filler. This is
enough for 8-10 children.
- A
pinata up to 34 inches high will hold up to 150 pieces of pinata filler.
This is enough for about 12-15 players.
There are several situations where a pull-string pinata is more appropriate for your party.
- Children
between ages 3 and 7 will have an easier time opening a pull-string
pinata.
- If
your party is indoors
- If
you have a lot of children at the party, a pull-string typically has 20
strings to pull.
- A
shy group of children may prefer a pull-string
Don't panic if your pinata won't break. In some cases, you may need to hit the pinata in just the right spot with just the right amount of force for the prizes to fall out. This will normally be towards the bottom center of the pinata. If you try to hit the pinata in the bottom center and the prizes still won't fall out, cut a small slot in the bottom center and then continue playing the game. This is a rare occurrence but happens sometimes if your pinata is particularly large and sturdy.
Where should I buy my piñata?
From http://www.thebigparty.ie/ of course! Ireland’s number 1 party website has Ireland’s best range of
quality piñata ready for next day delivery to your door. Lots of communion parties in 2015 will be playing piñata in 2015 so join the party!
Top 5 bestselling Pinatas list completed according to sales at www.thebigparty.ie
- Donkey Pinata
- Unicorn Pinata
- Horse Pinata
- Dinosaur T-Rex PInata
- Soccer Pinata
