For the longest time, I really wasn’t sure exactly what this day celebrated. I remembered learning that it wasn’t the Mexican Independence Day, but what it actually was didn’t quite stick. Much like any other Americanized celebration, this one centered around food and booze. But, even better? Cinco de Mayo, more often than not, came with a piñata.
Not quite like the pinatas that I grew up with, but useful, no?
Nothing says “let’s party!” like beating open something resembling an animal, in hopes of getting candy (and, apparently, other goodies).
Wait, what? Yeah, I know. That sounded a little funny to me, too. So I did a little research. Via Wiki, por supuesto:
- There are many hypotheses regarding the origins of piñatas and few reliable sources to confirm or dismiss them. There is no evidence that the olla or piñata existed in Spain prior to the conquest of Mexico, nor did the piñata appear anywhere else in Spain’s Latin America colonies until some time later.
- In the Mexican Catholic celebration of Christmas, the piñata is traditionally shaped like a seven-pointed star which represents the devil and the seven deadly sins, while the contents are the goods or blessings he is withholding. Striking the devil with faith, symbolized by being blindfolded, releases the blessings. Piñatas are also used at Fiestas.
So, if I understand this correctly, aside from Christmas, there’s no confirmed explanation of what the piñata stands for? I can make up my own meaning at any *other* fiesta? The opportunities are endless! I’m almost overwhelmed.
Our office opted to have a Cinco de Mayo party today; I suggested having a piñata (duh). With this new knowledge, I think the most appropriate shape would be a printer. Because who hasn’t wanted to do this at one point or another?
The piñata then represents a common enemy (helpful in office team building/cohesion) and provides an outlet to vent frustrations (good for mental health). And the candy…well, the candy could represent the release of all the paper jams that you’ve ever experienced.
Or it could just be candy, ’cause god knows you need a sugar rush every now and then to get through the work day.
Now I’m really hoping that they took my piñata suggestion. Or, at the very least, that someone spikes the virgin margaritas.
Fingers crossed!
I would like a pinata full of little tequila shooters. I could get down with that!!!
I think that’s the best kind of pinata. Total win.
Wait, but what is Cinco de Mayo? I really don’t know. I should google it…
“4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.” Who knew?
That has got to be one of the greatest scenes ever put on film. Seriously, the printer beating is right up there with the baptism in Godfather, the stairway in the Untouchables and Danny Boy in Miller’s Crossing.
I brought in brownies for our office 5th of May celebration today. Mexican brownies (as opposed to Mexican Brown) with chipotle and cinnamon. Ummm.
Mmm…we had similar brownies today. I’m currently in somewhat of a food coma.
Everybody is having office parties- my friend Emily is having a party in the office, with alcohol…
Sadly, alcohol is not officially sanctioned for this one.
By “virgin margarita,” you mean half as much tequila as usual? Or only one third…? Because I know it can’t be no tequila at all. I don’t even know what would leave…
It doesn’t leave much. Let me tell you.
Office party you say? Do you think your co-workers would notice if I just happened to appear and say I work there? You could vouch for me.
I’m assuming there is alcohol involved.
I would totally vouch for you. Be here soon?
Virgin margaritas? I hope you’re joking. I’m pretty sure that’s a sin against Catholicism in Mexico.
We bought a pinata once in college and filled it with airplane liquor bottles. In hindsight that wasn’t the safest thing.
The idea of a virgin margarita is only for people who believe in parthenogenesis or “partyongenesis” if you would prefer a neologistic form of the word.
I have that same Office Space pic taped above my printer at work.
Cinco de Mayo always makes me think of my blonde girlfriend, her redheaded husband, and their brunette little girl. Because Little Girl was born on Cinco de Mayo, and they’ve been asked in total sincerity if that made her a Mexican.