Piñatas are ubiquitous in Mexican parties. No fiesta is complete without these papier-mâché figures filled with treats. While piñatas now come in all shapes and sizes, mostly representing superheroes, animals, and cartoon characters, piñatas were traditionally made from a clay pot covered in paper mâché and painted or decorated with brightly colored paper.
Many believe that the piñata originated in China, where Marco Polo saw it and brought it back to Italy. Through trade, the tradition was brought from Europe all the way to Mexico. While piñatas are closely associated with Mexico, variations of hitting a similar object with treats inside are played worldwide. A watermelon shell is used in a similar game called "suikawari" in Japan. During Filipino fiestas and birthday parties, an almost identical game called "hampas-palayok" (hit-the-pot) is played using a clay pot loaded with prizes. Sometimes flour is mixed in with the sweets, making it harder to find the treats on the ground.
The fun element of hitting piñatas somewhat clashes with the original symbolism associated with the religious use of piñatas. Historically, piñatas were shaped like a seven-pointed star representing the seven deadly sins, while its colorful exterior represented temptation. The hitting of the piñata is thought to symbolize someone overcoming sin. When someone successfully breaks the piñata, they have now gained the "riches of heaven."
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