Editing Piñata (section)

{{Short description|Container often made of papier-mâché, pottery, or cloth}}
{{Other uses}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
[[File:PIÑATA.jpg|thumb|right|A nine-pointed star piñata]]
[[File:Piñata Animation.gif|thumb|right|A woman strikes a piñata at a celebration.]]
A '''piñata''' ({{IPAc-en|p|ɪ|n|ˈ|j|ɑː|t|ə}}, {{IPA|es|piˈɲata|-|Piñata1.ogg}}) is a container, often made of [[papier-mâché]], [[pottery]], or [[cloth]], that is decorated, filled with candy, and then broken as part of a celebration. Piñatas are commonly associated with [[Mexico]].

The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th century. The Spanish brought the European tradition to Mexico, although there were similar traditions in [[Mesoamerica]], such as the Aztecs' honoring the birthday of the god [[Huītzilōpōchtli]] in mid-December. According to local records, the Mexican piñata tradition began in the town of [[Acolman]], just north of [[Mexico City]], where piñatas were introduced for catechism purposes as well as to co-opt the Huitzilopochtli ceremony.

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.