The Piñata

 

 This piñata really deserved its very own post. Not only was this the first time I had one at a party, but it was the first time I had made one. They had been avoided until now, because I always associated them with a wild crazy free for all at the end. As a child I loved piñatas, but as a mother they felt like a recipe for disaster... if not tears. Until a Montessori teacher/mother modeled a new way for me. Before any bat swinging begins, the children all know the rules: when the piñata breaks everyone helps to gather the contents into a large bowl. Then a parent distributes the treats fairly. No tears. No child with less or more than another. It gave me the courage to give it a try.

One of our favorite books, El piñtero/The Piñata Maker, is all about a traditional piñata artisan in Mexico. It's a blend of culture and artistry, as he shares his process of making and selling amazing piñatas in his town. Wonderful photography brings his story to life. My whole family is captivated every time we read it. Of course, we'd have to make one of our own! Even if it was only a humble cat head shaped from a balloon... and made in a little snow covered farmhouse ever so far from Mexico.

I researched the steps and set up shop in front of the wood stove... because everything we do is close to the stove in January. Plus, I figured it would dry faster. I didn't want it to be such a sturdy cat that we couldn't break it, so two layers of paper sounded right. My son and I stayed up late on Friday night applying strips of newspaper with a paste of flour and water to our balloon. 11/2 cups of each made just enough for one layer. We hung it to dry from a beam near the stove and went off to watch a movie (Stardust). It was still drying when we went to bed. In the morning it looked like this.

And this.

 

Yikes! Or as my 12 year old would say: "EPIC FAIL!"  Was there time to start again? We went for it. No hanging to dry this time. No way! We still kept it close to the stove for drying puposes. 12 hours later- with two layers of newspaper, one coat of paint and glued on felt ears... it was ready! Thank you wood stove! We filled it the next morning with lollipops, cat buttons, silly bands my daughter was ready to let go of (finally!), rainbow crayons... you get the idea.

I poked a nail into each side near the top and then used wire cutters to clip a hanger and attach it. A   party hat  was glued on to cover the hole that the balloon had slipped out of and that the treats had gone into.

And then it awaited its fate. 

If you haven't made one before, you've gotta try it! Even with the botched first attempt, I'm still looking forward to making another next year! Do you have any piñata tales of your own?