piñata

American  

[pin-yah-tuh, pee-nyah-tah] / pɪnˈyɑ tə, piˈnyɑ tɑ /

noun

plural

piñatas

1. (in Mexico and Central America) colorful papier-mâché figure or cheerfully decorated crock filled with toys, candy, etc., and suspended from above, especially during Christmas or birthday festivities, so that children, who are blindfolded, may break it or knock it down with sticks and release the contents.

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piñata British  

/ ˌpɪnˈjata /

noun

1. a papier-mâché party decoration filled with sweets, hung up during parties, and struck with a stick until it breaks open

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Etymology

Origin of piñata

1885–90; < Spanish: literally, pot < Italian pignatta, probably derivative of dial. pigna pinecone (from the pot's shape) < Latin pīnea, noun use of feminine of pīneus of the pine tree; see pine ¹, -eous

Explanation

A pinata is a hanging animal-shaped container, full of candy, that blindfolded party guests take turns hitting with a stick. When a pinata finally breaks open, everyone rushes to grab as many treats as they can. Most pinatas are made of papier-mâché, though historically there have also been pottery and cloth pinatas. The Mexican Spanish source, piñata, means "jug or pot," and the earliest Mexican and Aztec pinatas were clay pots full of fruit and sweets. The tradition can be traced back to ancient China, and after that to fourteenth century Spanish celebrations of Lent. Today in Mexico, hitting a pinata is a common part of Christmas celebrations.

Example Sentences

As they strive to find new ways to raise revenues at Murrayfield, Scottish Rugby could do worse than having a giant Peter O'Mahony pinata hanging from the lower reaches of the east stand.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2025

Comedians, journalists, assorted tech CEOs, conservative talking heads, and other assorted Twitter wags took turns whacking at the crimson pinata.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2020

There’s little dispute that Scott has been a human pinata lately.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2019

During his 20s and 30s, Coogan was a favourite tabloid pinata.

From The Guardian • Jan. 4, 2019

A donkey pinata with button eyes hung from the ceiling.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García