Posts Tagged ‘pinatas’

The Origin of the Humble Pinata…

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Birthday Cake Pinata Game £10.95Pinatas are a great game for childrens birthday parties and many people think that they came from Mexico, but did you know that they may have originated in China?

It is said that the explorer Marco Polo witnessed the Chinese people making hollowed animal figures, covered in colourful paper and adorned with ribbons. These figures were then filled with seeds, to signify plentiful harvests and prosperity. They were hit with sticks, so that the seeds would spill out. After burning the remains, people gathered the ashes to ensure good luck throughout the year.  It is rumoured that Polo was so fascinated with this celebration, that he took some of these ‘pinatas‘ back to Europe.

So…next time you are surrounded by a group of small children precariously waving a pinata basher, you only have Marco Polo to blame!

How to…play a Pinata Game!

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Pinatas are a fantastic game for childrens parties – not only are they great fun, they are also easy to play. 

Pirate Ship Pinata £11.95There are two types of pinata available – the standard bash pinata and the pull pinata (or pullina). With a standard pinata game, the children take it in turns to hit the pinata with a stick (or pinata buster as it is often called) until the pinata breaks releasing the treats inside. The pinata can be quite difficult to break, so this game may be better suited to older children. You also need quite a lot of room to play the game, so you may wish to choose this option if you plan to play outside (think excited children waving a big stick around in the middle of the living room – not always a good idea!).

  Lion Pull Pinata £11.95With the pull pinata, the children take it in turns to pull attached ribbons until the correct one is selected, pulling the base of the pinata open and freeing the goodies inside. This is a much gentler game and may be more suitable for younger children (especially if they could get upset at the thought of hitting an animal shaped pinata with a stick), or where the game is to be played indoors.

Jet Balls £0.12To prepare, carefully cut a hole where indicated on the pinata and fill with small treats – our favourite fillers are temporary tattoos (kids love them), jet balls (bounce everywhere) and small packs of sweets (but watch out for the sugar rush!).

To view the full range of pinatas & pinata accessories from SwagBags.biz, please click here.