Piñata Making: Sierra Arts Again at Cinco de Mayo Reno

 (February 15, 2003 - Reno, Nev.) – Smashing a piñata filled with candy and trinkets that usually reminds us of Mexican and Hispanic heritage was actually in originated Italy. Repeating the successful event held during the Cinco de Mayo Reno 2002 celebration, Sierra Arts, along with Ronald McDonald, will teach children and adults how to make these colorful art objects and allow them to decorate their own to take home. This year, children also get the opportunity to take a whack at a piñata at the Circus Circus piñata tent located on Virginia between Fourth and Fifth Streets. Sierra Arts “Piñata Making” takes place May 3 and 4, from noon to 5 p.m. The Circus Circus piñata tent is open all three days of the celebration.

Bill Kolton, special events and development director for Sierra Arts, says this is a great event for the entire family and is pleased to be a part of it.

“Sierra Arts is excited to be involved with Cinco de Mayo Reno in that it ties in our October Dia de las Muertos event and it helps us meet our mission of promoting cultural diversity,” Kolton said recently.

Kolton said he’s never made a piñata himself, nor is he about to start now.

“We have artists who are making the piñatas prior to the event. The process is one of layering paper mache and letting it dry, and repeating the process over and over. If the kids were to actually make them, they’d be there all weekend,” Kolton added.

But, most agree the real fun associated with piñatas the gathering of candy and trinkets it falls from a piñata that is busted open when struck by an enthusiastic blind-folded child.

“We thought it would be a fun event for kids to join in on the excitement of taking a swing at piñatas during the Cinco de Mayo Reno celebration,” Dean Richard, marketing director for Circus Circus said recently. “We plan on bringing up a truckload of piñatas for use in our piñata tent.”

The history of the piñata is fascinating:  The piñata was once called a pignatta and it was filled with trinkets, jewelry, or candies. A person would be blindfolded and tried to hit the pignatta while it was being swung back and forth from a rope. Once the pot was broken open, the guests would all rush out and collect the fallen contents.

The Italian custom of breaking the pignatta spread throughout Europe and to Spain. Spaniards then began to design the crude pot in order to cover the rough unglazed surface. The piñata was brought to America by the Spanish explorers and conquistadors along with traditions, customs, and religion of their homeland.

Mexicans adopted these traditions and the piñata soon became one of their own. Mexican artists found other ways of making piñatas using paper mache and cardboard. Piñatas were shaped to symbolize Mexican heritage and took the form of piñatas today.   

How To Make A Mexican Piñata

• Paper mache glue
• Sheets of newspaper
• A balloon
• String
• Candies/lollipops
• Masking tape (optional)
• Paints

                        1. Blow up the balloon.  

                        2. Tear about five large sheets of newspaper into

                          strips.  In a waterproof area, dip the strips of

                          newspaper into your paper mache glue, then lay them

                          across the balloon.   Put strips all around the balloon,

                          both vertically and horizontally.  Continue until your

                          balloon has about three coats of newspaper all

                          around it.  Leave a small hole at the knotted end of

                          the balloon so that you can get the balloon out later.

                        3. Drape a long piece of string over the top and down

                          both sides of the balloon.  Both ends of the string

                          should extend beyond the knotted end of the balloon

                          by about 12 inches.   Drape another long piece of string

                          over the balloon in a similar manner, but at

                          right-angles to the first piece of string.  Later, you

                          will use these strings to hang up the piñata.

                        4. Put more newspaper strips over the top of the

                          strings.  Continue to place newspaper strips around

                          the balloon until the balloon has about six layers of

                          newspaper on it (including the three layers beneath

                          the string).

                        5. Leave to dry completely.  This will usually take at

                          least 24 hours, depending on the climate where you

                          live. 

                        6. Pop the balloon through the hole at the base, and

                          gently pull it out. 

                        7. Put candies/lollipops into gap in the balloon shape. 

                          Close over the hole either using masking tape or

                          using more paper mache newspaper strips.  

                        8. Paint and decorate the piñata.  You can hang

                          streamers off it, or use cardboard to attach a horse's

                          head, legs and tail to it.  Whatever you like!

                        9. Use the strings to hang up the piñata outside.  Take it

                          in turns to hit the piñata with a stick or bat.  When

                          the piñata breaks, the candies will spill everywhere. 

                          First in, first served!

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