Exploring Countries and Cultures: Mexico – Homemade Piñata

Although one of their most memorable projects of our Mexico study, the homemade piñata isn’t suited for the most impatient among us. (It’s difficult for girls to remain patient when they know candy awaits.) The piñata took several days to make (due to the drying process), but it was worth it in the end.

The project (from p. 123 of Global Art: Activities, Projects, and Inventions from Around the World) required covering an inflated balloon with a few layers of small newspaper squares dipped in liquid starch (and dried overnight or longer between layers). Once all layers were dried, the balloon was then popped and removed, leaving a hardened balloon-shaped shell, which was then filled with candy. The final steps included covering the candy hole with more starched paper, then decorating the dried shell with brightly colored tissue paper and paints.