Editing Piñata (section)

==History==
[[File:MonkPiñataAcolman1.JPG|thumb|Statue of Franciscan friar hitting a piñata in [[Acolman]], [[State of Mexico|Mexico State]]]]
Although today, piñatas are typically used for a fun activity at parties, their origins lie in other customs.<ref name="mexconnect">{{cite web |url=http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/459-history-of-the-pi%C3%B1ata |title=History of the piñata |author=Wendy Devlin |date=February 16, 2007 |publisher=Mexconnect |issn=1028-9089 |access-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-date=May 31, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531081305/http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/459-history-of-the-pi%C3%B1ata |url-status=live }}</ref> There is some debate but it appears that their origin is not Spanish but Chinese.<ref name="divertida">{{cite news |title=Piñatas, una divertida tradición que no muere |author=Lesli Aguilar |url=http://www.diariodespertar.com.mx/estado/mixteca/45525-Piatas-una-divertida-tradicin-que-muere.html |newspaper=Diario Despertar |location=Oaxaca, Mexico |date=December 26, 2010 |access-date=June 15, 2011 |language=es |trans-title=Piñatas, a fun tradition that isn't dying |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421071514/http://www.diariodespertar.com.mx/estado/mixteca/45525-Piatas-una-divertida-tradicin-que-muere.html |archive-date=April 21, 2012 }}</ref> The Chinese version was in the shape of a cow or ox and used for the [[Chinese New Year|New Year]]. It was decorated with symbols and colors meant to produce a favorable climate for the coming growing season. It was filled with five types of seeds and then hit with sticks of various colors. After the piñata was broken, the remains were burned and the ashes kept for good luck.<ref name="mexconnect"/><ref name="primer">{{cite web |url=http://www.arts-history.mx/semanario/?id_nota=18102007151123 |title=Primer Concurso de Piñatas Mexicanas |author=CONACULTA |author-link=CONACULTA |work=Artes e Historia |language=es |trans-title=First Piñata Contest |access-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231505/http://www.arts-history.mx/semanario/?id_nota=18102007151123 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="inah">{{cite web |url=http://www.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletines/8-investigaciones-y-estudios-historicos/407-pinatas-tradicionales |title=Piñatas tradicionales |publisher=[[INAH]] |date=December 15, 2004 |language=es |trans-title=Traditional Piñatas |access-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231653/http://www.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletines/8-investigaciones-y-estudios-historicos/407-pinatas-tradicionales |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The tradition arrived in Europe in the 14th century where it was associated with the Christian celebration of [[Lent]]; in Spain, the [[First Sunday of Lent]], "Piñata Sunday", became a celebration known as the Dance of the Piñata. As the word's Italian origin indicates, ''pignatta'' (also ''pignata'' and ''pignàta'') meaning "earthenware cooking pot", the Spanish initially used a plain clay container, before starting to decorate it with ribbons, tinsel and colored paper. The origin of the Italian word is thought to be linked to the Latin word ''pinea'', "pine cone".<ref name="mexconnect"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pi%C3%B1ata | title = Piñata | access-date = 2013-03-04 | work = Merriam-Webster.com | archive-date = 2016-02-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160216033525/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pi%C3%B1ata | url-status = live }}</ref>

The European piñata tradition was brought to Mexico in the 16th century; however, there was a similar tradition in Mesoamerica already. The [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] tradition was similar to the modern piñata tradition, including blindfolding the participant hitting the piñata. The Aztec tradition commemorated the birthday of [[Huitzilopochtli]]. Priests would decorate a clay pot with colorful feathers. When the pot was broken with a stick or club, the treasures inside would fall to the feet of the idol as an offering.<ref name="mexconnect"/> According to local records, the piñata was first used for the purposes of evangelism in 1586, in [[Acolman]], in the modern [[State of Mexico]], just north of Mexico City.  The [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] monks there modified European piñatas and created the [[Las Posadas]] tradition to co-opt the celebration of the birth of Huitzilopochtli, which was celebrated in mid December.<ref name="inah"/><ref name="feria">{{cite news |title= En Acolman, Edomex, cuna de las piñatas, hacen su feria |agency=Agencia el Universal |newspaper=El Universal |location=Mexico City |date=December 16, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=In Acolman, State of Mexico, cradles of piñatas, their fair begins }}</ref><ref name="municipio">{{cite news |title= Municipio de Acolman, en Edomex, creador de las piñatas |agency=Agencia el Universal |newspaper=El Universal |location=Mexico City |date=December 17, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=Municipality of Acolman in State of Mexico, creator of piñatas }}</ref><ref name="nicaragua">{{cite news |title=Las piñatas navideñas |url=http://archivo.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2004/diciembre/21/revista/revista-20041221-04.html |newspaper=La Prensa |location=Managua, Nicaragua |date=December 5, 2007 |access-date=June 15, 2011 |language=es |trans-title=Christmas Piñatas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009111549/http://archivo.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2004/diciembre/21/revista/revista-20041221-04.html |archive-date=October 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Catholic Church in Mexico|Mexican Catholic]] interpretation assigned meanings related to the Catholic doctrine of struggle against [[temptation]], and used for [[catechism]] purposes. In this tradition, the seven points represent the [[seven deadly sins]], the pot represents evil, and the seasonal fruit and candy inside the temptations of evil. It was said that person with the stick is blindfolded to represent faith, and the turning, singing and shouting represent the disorientation that temptation creates. In some traditions, the participant is turned thirty three times, one for each year of [[Christ]]'s life. As the participant beats the piñata, it is supposed to represent the struggle against temptation and evil. When the piñata breaks, some say (contrary to other interpretations) the treats inside then represent the rewards of keeping the faith.<ref name="primer"/><ref name="municipio"/><ref name="unahistoria">{{cite news |title=Una historia en una piñata |author=Cristal Barrientos Torres |url=http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/65995.una-historia-en-una-pinata.html |newspaper=El Siglo de Torreón |location=Torreón, Mexico |date=December 21, 2003 |access-date=June 15, 2011 |language=es |trans-title=A story of a piñata |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322101108/http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/65995.una-historia-en-una-pinata.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since that time, the piñata has not retained its religious significance and has become popular in many types of celebrations, not just during December's Las Posadas. The clay pot has been replaced  with a [[papier-mâché]] container.<ref name="primer"/> The creation of piñatas has even taken on an artistic aspect in some areas. David Gamez and Cecilia Meade sponsored a showing of piñatas as art rather than just as a party favor.  The 2010 event was called Piñatarama, with 25 piñatas made of papier-mâché at the Vértigo Galería in Mexico City, all original works of art by graphic illustrators, from 23 countries including Australia. Some of the illustrators who participated include 1000 Changos, Allan Sieber, Apak, Ben Newman, Cecy Meade, Cristian Turdera, Cupco and Daniel Berman.<ref name="exposicion">{{cite news |title= Exposición-Piñatas |agency=Agencia el Universal |newspaper=El Universal |location=Mexico City |date=February 13, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=Exposition-Piñatas }}</ref> In [[Tepatitlán, Jalisco|Tepatitlán]], the world's largest traditional seven-pointed piñata was created in 2010. It measures 11.2 meters, is made of fiberglass and weighs 350 kilograms. It surpasses the former [[Guinness World Records|Guinness record holder]] which was made in 2008 in [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name="masgrande">{{cite news |title= Presumen piñata gigante |newspaper=Mural |location=Guadalajara, Mexico |date=December 22, 2010 |page=4 |language=es |trans-title=Showing off a giant piñata }}</ref>

[[File:Traditional Mexican Piñatas 02.jpg|thumb|Traditional star-shaped piñatas sold at the market in Mexico City]]