My name is Isaías D. Rodríguez, also known as the Little Piñata Maker. I’m a Chicano creative entrepreneur born in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, CA, and I’m deeply passionate about the transformative power of art and culture. You can find my Little Piñatas available for purchase at events, workshops, art galleries, and museums. I also offer both in-person and online workshops, with a variety of curriculum packages tailored for different grade levels and special occasions. I take custom orders for a variety of events. Contact me today to plan a unique and memorable workshop experience!
The history of the piñata is complex and has multiple theories about its origins:
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Aztec traditionThe Aztecs celebrated the birth of their war god, Huitzilopochtli, by breaking a clay pot filled with treasures at his altar. The pot was decorated with feathers and hung from a pole in the temple.
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Chinese traditionMarco Polo may have seen a Chinese tradition where people stuffed hollow animal figures with seeds and smashed them with sticks to bring good fortune and harvests.
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Italian traditionRoman soldiers in Italy played a game called “pignatta” where they tried to hit clay pots while blindfolded.
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Spanish traditionSpanish missionaries in Mexico used piñatas to teach Catholicism by representing good versus evil. The missionaries covered clay pots with colored paper and used them to teach Catholic lessons. The most traditional piñata is a sphere with seven points, each representing a deadly sin. Players would hit the piñata blindfolded to show that faith could overcome sin.
The first documented piñata in Mexico was hung in 1587 during a festival to celebrate the birth of Huitzilopochtli.
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