The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PINATA

AMONG THE MEXICANS, THERE IS A FAVORITE GAME CALLED
PINATA. A DONKEY (OR ANY FIGURE) IS MADE FROM
BRIGHTLY COLORED PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL. THEN,
SEVERAL CHILDREN ARE BLIND-FOLDED AND THEY TRY TO
STRIKE THE DONKEY WITH AN INSTRUMENT. THE DONKEY,
HOWEVER, IS BEING PULLED AROUND BY A STRING BY
SOMEONE INVOLVED IN THE GAME. THE CHILD WHO
SUCCESSFULLY STRIKES THE DONKEY DISCOVERS THAT IT IS
FILLED WITH CANDY AND SWEET BREADS. THIS IS AN
ESPECIALLY FAVORITE GAME AT CHRISTMAS TIME,
ALTHOUGH IT IS PLAYED ALL YEAR ROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-15-1971