Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-09
Written for the Ledger.
A PINATA IN OLD MEXICO.

Navidad"-the natiyity-a very pretty
and appropriate name, but many Of
ir holiday festivities are not in
keeping with the name. For about
two weeks these Pinatas, or Xmas
parties, continue.
We were invited to one yesterday
afternoon. It was out in the open
air. The home is right on the noun
tain side and the Guanajnato river
falls in cascades in full view of the
place. From the massive portal we
were led through a regular labyrinth
OF flower beds and fountains, through
arches Of green into a second garden
more open than the first. Here car.
pets andtiger rugs we're spread upon the
ground and seats arranged here and
there for the reception Of the guests.
Sweet music was heard from every
directlon-hidden behind the bushes.
In the center of the assembling place,
from an orange tree, hung two Pin
atas.
The Pinata proper lisa most hideous
figure or eflgy. The head is OF paper or
pasteboard all painted very fantasticly
much like our masks or "false faces,n
the body is a large "olla," or round
earthen pot. This is filed with all
kinds Of fruits, candies, nuts and
nicknacks Of every description, and
the whole thing is dressed very gor-
geously in all colors Of tissue paper,
with gilt and silver trimmings. The
feet and hands stick out at old sorts
Of angles and the figure complete
would be an excellent one for our
ripened cherry tree or strawberry
patch, instead of some Of the figures
we stick up on poles.
A large animal hide is spread under
the Pinata, and as the music continues
each guest is in turn blind-folded and
led up until his feet touch the
edge of this hide. Then he is given a
huge club and it is his object to strike
the Pinata square on the body of the
ola, There are many wild dashes at
1t and the dress is often riddled-
finally the lucky hit is made and the
earthen vessel is shattered into a
Thousand pieces-scattering the good
things everywhere = then everybody
scrambles-down on all fours-to see
how much he can gather in in his pam
uels-little bags made of his pocket
handkerchief.
This sport continued until the sun
sank behind the mountain peak and
the stars peeped out to see what was
going on. Then the Japanese lanterns
and candles hanging everywhere were
lighted and refreshments YER served
to the children on the ground-to the
rest Of US, on a long table in the patio
or open court. Festoons and garlands
Of flowers, MOSES and lights hung
everywhere and little Images
of the Savior, the Virgin or the
three wise men stuck round in every
crevice-most hideous objects they
are too-to mar the beauty and pic
turesqueness Of the scene and sacred
ness of the memories of nineteen hun
dred years ago.
When it comes to the menu my
English dictionary fails me, and my
Spanish one has not been sufficiently
studied as yet. l wish / could de-
the queer dishes and the queer
err shapes in which they are gotten up.
Myl the filigrees and forms and fancies
that one has to digest But while
they strike the eye as very fantastic,
they are very dainty and delicate to
the taste mostly sweets on such
occasions.
The music came from within doors
as well as without all the time refresh
ments we're being served. 1t was hard
when the time came to tear ourselves
away from this enchanted spot. But
the little images that we bore home
us reminded us that these fes-
would be repeated some sweet
lay.
And this is the way l am spending
NY Christmas. I was most bounti-
lully remembered on the morning OF
la Nayldad." Among other things
[ was presented with a cup and sau-
yer, which belonged to the Emperor
Macmillan. 1t has his gold and green
monogram upon it. l drank my |
,offee from it on Christmas morning
ind wondered il poor old Macmillan
,ver slipped from the same. This was
presented to me by the American Con-
Jul Of G~uanajuato, who surely must be
jhe best man in the Republic and his {
wife the best lady. Very cordially,
ANNIE d. HINDE.
Gu%anajuato, Old Mexico. |.
II