The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-02-03
A FR0LIC IN MEXICO
BREAKING THE PlNATA DURING THE
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

| thf
Christmas I'm Mexico is not the typ
| ical Christmas OF cold and snow ana
| ice. but one Of bright, warm sunshine,
| cloudless blue skies, flowers in profu-
sion trees in full foliage and a life Of
ont Of doors.
At least a week before Christmas in
the principal streets Of Mexico arches
| are erected from sidewalk 10 sidewalk.
fcstooncd with wrcaths Of flowers and
bunting in the national colors-rcd,
white and green. Under the arches
booths are erected, and every toy man
ufacturcd iu Mexico is on sale.
In every Mexican house great prep
aratons are made for what is called
the "pinata." Every child bcgs and
scrapcs and saves the ccntayOs for
weeks and months ahead. All kinds Of
articles are made especially for this
ceremony, and every family yies with
its friends and nclghbors 20 have its
pinata more beautiful and fanciful than
any one clse's.
The plnata IS really an earthcnwarc
utcnsl which IS in general use for cook
ing. II is called I'm common parlancc
an Ola and is Of brown pottery some.
thing like the old fashioned carlhcn-
ware crooks used I'm the north before
enamel ware became the fad.
The pinatas are large or small, ~ the
purse OF the purchaser permits. They
are round, pot bcllicd and very large at
the top. They are sold from door 10
door on the streets and IN the markets.
They cost only 10, - or % ccntnyOS,
but the Ola Is the least expensive part
Of the game.
The body Of the Ola for n woman Is
covered with tissue paper; then erin
klcd paper dress Is fashioned; then q
bodice is built up drapcd to represent
a loose white waist ana above this Is
placed a false face The hair is made
with black paper, braided into one long
plait nj the back, as the women wear
their hair in Mexico. Sometimes Il
white tchuana hcaddrcss Is made OF the
lace paper used by bakers and confcc-
| TONERS.
A flower pinata is decorated with
| large paper flowers in every color of
| the rainbow. Rcd, white and green rib
! bons. forming long strcamcrs, and Sil.
| yer and gold tinscl, glass balls and col.
orcd lights all help 10 make the flower
| plnata very beautiful. The possibilities
for dressing these pinatas arc endless.
| In a large family the mother AMI
| daughters have their own pinaias, and
| great secrecy Is maintained In the dec
Grafton of the Ola. 1t is the aim of
! each TO devise as original n dressing
| for the pinaia as possible, and it can
| be made u very cNtravagant ornament.
In the familica of wealthy McXicans
. the luxury of the pinata often mounts
! into thousands.
After the ola Is decorated 10 the taste
! il is filled The filling consists of pea
nuts, hazel nuts, hard candies, Hike
marbles, and all kinds Of Mexican
! dulccs. These dulccs are candicd fruits,
| nut paste, etc
! Christmas night the pinnias are car.
| ricd i'm great state into the sala and
suspended from the ceiling one at a
! time. An the relatives Of the family
are present, and rs cousins of the hfth
and sixth degree are recognized and
! children are very numerous there Is
generally a large gathering. They all
sit very dcmurcly ON chairs ranged In
row around the wills of the room.
one person is constituted master of
ceremonies. the eldest son or daughter
Of the house. He or she stands In the
/ middle of the room. Near hy is n jar
! or umbrella stand filled with apiSnco
canes or sticks. When everything Is
| ready a child or grown person Is SO.
lcctcd and called by name. She comes
| forward and Is blindfodcd.
Then the fun begins The person
blndrodcd Is turned round and round
! until she loses all knowledge OF where
the pinata hangs. \ cane is put in her
! hands. and she is told 10 hit the pinata
! and try TO break It, She Is given three
! chances. If she fails to hit II she sits
down amid laughter and ridiculc If
she hits il without breaking II she Is
entitled 10 n small prize.
And SO Il goes on, one after another
being called up. bliudfoldcd and given a
! cane and three chances to break TN"
! puata. Finally one more fortunate
, than the rest succeeds I'm giving hard
enough blow. and. crash, the piuatu
falls TO the grounds I'm hundreds of bits,
and its contents are scattered Car and
wide.
A wild scramble cnsucs. Everybody
| rushvs forward 10 gather rs much OF
the spilled contents 0s possible.
The fortunate breaker of the piuatl
! gets u handsome prize and rs awarded
! the seat of honor lie or she sits down
! and is debarrcl from another trial at
! breaking another uuata. As soon rs
! the confusion dies Gown and order Is
! somewhat restored another ola Is huns
! up and the same routine gone through
So the FUN continues until the last pima
"a is broken, and then the prizes are
| awarded.
! The pinata party is the great socia
and fun making feature of the Christ
mas season After the piuatas have
been broken ana supper has beer
served there follows dancing or a tray
cling company ot Indians from the
mountains is brought I'm to sing anC
dance in native costume.
These travelling Indians are some
what like the singing bands which 2,
nrounh at Christmas time from hous'
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