Piñatas are an exciting addition to any party. It is a lot of fun bashing a piñata open and discovering which kinds of treats are inside. The mad rush to pick up all of the treats from the ground is also a lot of fun for kids and adults alike.
If you want to have a piñata at your next party, you have come to the right place. In this post, I’ll share some information about the origins of the piñata before explaining how to play the piñata game at parties. Afterwards, I’ll share some high-quality piñatas that are perfect for different kinds of parties.
Where did the piñata originate?
Although piñatas are mostly used for parties nowadays, traditionally, they were used for various ceremonies and religious events. Surprisingly, the first piñatas didn’t come from Spain or some part of Latin America – piñata’s were first used in China.
The Chinese used sculptures that were shaped like cows, oxen, and other farm animals. These piñatas were usually covered with symbols and colors that would increase the fruitfulness of the coming growing season. Each piñata would contain different kinds of seeds, which were usually planted after being recovered. After being smashed open, the piñata would be burnt, with the ashes retained for good luck.
The tradition made its way to Europe in the 14th century, when Christians in Spain began using piñatas as a part of their Lent celebrations. The invented the word piñata, which came from pignatta, which means “earthenware pot” – the kind of vessel often used to make their piñatas.
Piñatas became popular in Mexico in the 16th century, however, the Mayans had already invented a tradition involving the piñata. The Mayan tradition of using piñatas is very similar to how we use them today, with blindfolded participants attempting to hit the piñata. The Aztecs would fill a clay pot with colored feathers and people would attempt to crack the pots open using large sticks.
Modern piñatas are typically made from craft paper and cardboard. These materials are used because they are easy for children to break open and won’t send any dangerous shards of clay pot flying in many directions.
Although most people fill their piñatas with candy, they can also be filled with many other items. In Mexico, piñatas are often filled with a combination of wrapped candy, toys, and fruit. “Trap” piñatas can also be made, which can be filled with flour, eggs, streamers, and confetti. It can be fun to have multiple piñatas in action, with the participants trying to guess which ones contain candy and which ones are a trap!
How do you play the piñata game?
The piñata game can be the highlight of a party. It is the perfect game for many kinds of party including birthday parties, quinceañeras, bar mitzvahs, graduation parties, BBQs, anniversaries, engagement parties, and bachelorette parties. To play the piñata game:
- Gather the items you need
To play the piñata game, you will need at least one piñata, a blindfold, a stick, and items to fill the piñata with. The most common piñata fillers are candy, toys, dollar store finds, craft supplies, play jewelry, and glow sticks – but use your imagination.
If you want to make the game even more exciting, use multiple piñatas filled with different kinds of items. The stick should be one that is light enough for the participants to lift, so very young children may require a lightweight plastic baton.
- Find a location to hang the piñata
Normally, the piñata game is played outdoors, but indoors is also fine if you have a large enough room available. All you need is an object to hang the piñata from. Suitable objects are ones that are stable and capable of holding the weight of the filled piñata.
The best objects include overhead beams, tree branches, and basketball rings. If the participants are children, you can use a rope that is being held by two adults, with the piñata in the middle.
When calculating the best piñata height, think about the height of the shortest participant and the length of the stick. The piñata height must be low enough that they can easily hit it with a swing. If you have participants that greatly vary in height, consider raising the piñata height between rounds. The piñata should always be above the participant’s heads, so they must swing the stick at an upwards angle.
3. Fill the piñata
Before the party has started, fill the piñata with your chosen goodies. Do it out of sight, so the attendees of the party have no idea about what the piñata holds.
4. Setup the piñata
It’s usually a good idea to set up the piñata when you set up the party decorations. This makes the piñata a fun-looking centerpiece of the party and gives attendees something to look forward to.
5. Have the participants get ready
When it is time to play the piñata game, have all of the participants stand in a circle around the piñata. If the participants include children, have them stand in order from the shortest to the tallest. This gives the youngest children a chance to have a few swings before the bigger kids crack it open.
All participants should be at least 15 feet from the piñata so the person with a stick doesn’t accidentally hit someone. If the player is older than 3 years of age, blindfold them and spin them around a few times so they lose their sense of direction. You won’t need to do this for very young children as they will struggle to hit the piñata even without the blindfold.
Check out some more fun blindfold game ideas.
Each player gets 5 swings at the piñata. The other players can shout out to count the swings and give clues about the piñatas position. Once a player has completed their turn, they give the blindfold to the next person in the circle.
Once the piñata has been successfully opened with a swing of the stick, make sure the child with the stick knows they have succeeded — this will ensure they stop swinging again as the children rush in to collect candy. You can throw in additional candy to make sure that all of the children collect some of the treats.
To make the game even more challenging, you can push the piñata so it swings around. You can also have some guests give the player incorrect information about the position of the piñata.
What is the best piñata to buy?
There are dozens of different piñatas available. Each one has a unique design, candy capacity, and construction quality. To help you choose the right piñata for your party, we’ve created list of the 5 best piñatas that are currently available. These colorful piñatas will make your next party much more enjoyable for attendees.
Thanks for reading How to Play the Piñata Game at Parties! Make sure you check out our Mexican themed games and activities.
