Sunday, June 12, 2011

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Pinatas........


















One of my favourite street sights here in Mexico City are the shops which sell pinatas. These particular tiendas are just around the corner from where I live, and depict all the favourites for children's parties. I especially like the speccy Harry Potter contrasted with the rather muscular and robust Spiderman.......



















Of course in addition to the cartoon characters, traditional sputnik-style pinatas are sold and flown all year round - but especially in the approach to Christmas. Here are some soaring above the cobbled streets of Taxco, and my school playground....



















Each of the seven spikes represents one of the seven deadly sins, so when you have bashed the life out of gluttony, sloth, anger etc, you are rewarded with the shower of sweeties and goodies....



















A word of warning, however, to stand well back when the pinata is being bashed for all its worth. A friend of mine spent her first Mexican Christmas in hospital after being rendered unconscious by an-over enthusiastic blind-folded child wielding the stick like a baseball bat!! I also witnessed a young English child, who hadn't quite got the concept of pinatas, absolutely traumatised by the sight of poor Winnie the Pooh's four limbs sailing off in all four compass directions leaving him quadraplegic and a child sobbing on her first birthday - the joy of cultural exchange totally evading her!!


















But aren't they vibrant and beautiful? - their bright colours and shapes are an iconic sight on the streets of Mexico City. For more global glimpses around the world today check out the My World Tuesday postings by clicking here. Enjoy!

13 comments:

Owen said...

Ah, what fun it must be to bash a pinata from time to time, and get showered in sweets...

So what are you going to re-name your blog after the move ? I was thinking : Small Fish in the Big PACA... ?

(Paca is the abbreviation for the region Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur)

Ash said...

Hi Catherine. You have a lovely blog here. My boyfriend too worked for a while in Mexico ( We live in England)

I'll be back!

Pretty Life Online said...

cool one for myworld... Have a great weekdays ahead!!! Hoping you can visit @ my little corner.

Martha Z said...

I think I prefer the traditional pinata. I'm with that little girl, I wouldn't want to bash effigys of my favorite characters.

Kay L. Davies said...

I made a pinata once, about 30 years ago. Never again!
These are wonderful, however, especially the traditional ones. I never knew that about the 7 Deadly Sins. Makes sense, however.
So sad about the little child seeing Pooh destroyed.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

A Cuban In London said...

Oh, what happy memories you'be awakened!

No party in Cuba would be complete without pinatas.

Many thanks for your lovely photos. I've travelled back time through them.

Greetings from London.

Al said...

What a fun variety of pinatas - very nice, colorful photos. I'd never heard of a pinata until I moved to Colorado, as we simply didn't have them when/where I was growing up.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I grew up in New Mexico, USA which has strong Hispanic traditions and were at a lot of birthday parties and such with pinatas. The warning about standing well clear is good, because to break many of these you have to swing very hard and being blindfolded means you don't know at what you are swinging.

Lesley said...

I also prefer the traditional ones. I didn't realize they also came in fictional characters - that just doesn't feel right, somehow!

LivingSoAbundantly said...

They even have Mario! :0) He would be at the top of my list. Very interesting post!

Lynne with an e said...

I totally understand that little girl's dismay about favourite characters being bashed to pieces--I used to cry at cartoons because of the mean cat chasing the mice (and I hate mice). But I might have a go at those pointy beauties. So interesting to learn of their symbolism. Actually, I'd hate to break them.

Margaret Gosden said...

Love your green shadows. The message I get in trying to comment says something about using javascript and cookies - I don't know what that means but may be gives you a clue as to the problem?

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