Priests would decorate a clay pot with colorful feathers. The Aztec tradition commemorated the birthday of Huitzilopochtli.

The Mayan tradition was similar to the modern piñata tradition, including blindfolding the participant hitting the piñata. The European piñata tradition was brought to Mexico in the 16th century however, there was a similar tradition in Mesoamerica already. The origin of the Italian word is thought to be linked to the Latin word pinea, 'pine cone'. As the word's Italian origin indicates, pignatta (also pignata and pignàta) meaning 'earthenware cooking pot', the Spanish initially used a plain clay container, before starting to decorate it with ribbons, tinsel and colored paper. The tradition arrived in Europe in the 14th century where it was associated with the Christian celebration of Lent in Spain, the First Sunday of Lent, 'Piñata Sunday', became a celebration known as the Dance of the Piñata.

After the piñata was broken, the remains were burned and the ashes kept for good luck. It was filled with five types of seeds and then hit with sticks of various colors.

It was decorated with symbols and colors meant to produce a favorable climate for the coming growing season. The Chinese version was in the shape of a cow or ox and used for the New Year. There is some debate but it appears that their origin is not Spanish but Chinese. Inspired by the true, horrific history of how the Spanish conquistadors used piñatas to force Aztec children to break their gods, Piñata is a possession horror story about how the sinister repercussions of our past can return to haunt us.Statue of Franciscan friar hitting a piñata in Acolman, Mexico StateĪlthough today, piñatas are typically used for a fun activity at parties, their origins lie in other customs. And it might be too late for them to escape what's been awakened. They're leaving.īack home in New York, malevolent and unexplainable happenings seem to swarm the Sanchez family, throwing their lives into chaos. After a disastrous accident at the construction site nearly injures Luna, Carmen's had enough. The locals treat the Sanchez women like outsiders, while Carmen's contractors openly defy and sabotage her work. Her teen daughters, Izel and Luna, are with her for the summer, and left to fill their afternoons unsupervised in a foreign city. A Head Full of Ghosts meets Mexican Gothic in Piñata, a terrifying possession tale by author and artist Leopoldo Gout.Ĭarmen Sanchez is back in her home country of Mexico, overseeing the renovation of an ancient cathedral into a boutique hotel.

Piñata by Leopoldo Gout