- Title: MEXICO: Artisans hand-craft traditional, colourful pinatas for Christmas
- Date: 26th December 2006
- Summary: NEZAHUALCOYOTL, MEXICO (RECENT) (REUTERS) PIÑATA-MAKING SHOP MAN MOLDING A PIÑATA HANDS PASTING OLD NEWSPAPERS ON THE PIÑATA MOLD MAN CARRYING THE COVERED MOLD HANDS JOINING PIECES WORKERS JOINING PIÑATA PIECES UNFINISHED PIÑATAS HANGING IN WORKSHOP WORKER PASTING RED PAPER ON PIÑATA MOLD GIRL DECORATING PIÑATA WOMEN PASTING PAPER PAPER STRIPS BEING GLUED TO PIÑATA WOMAN MAKING PIÑATA ROBERTO PEREZ, NEZAHUALCOYOTL MUNICIPAL WORKER, AT HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROBERTO PEREZ, NEZAHUALCOYOTL MUNICIPAL WORKER, SAYING: "There are families that if you visit them now, have past (the tradition) along to a second generation of producers. The first generation was the one who gave impetus (to piñata-making). Today, the second generation is continuing the artisan piñata industry and a third generation is coming along with young people between 15 and 17 years old." PIÑATA WORKSHOP AT HOUSE BOY PASTING DECORATIVE PAPER TO PIÑATA WOMAN HANDLING OLD NEWSPAPERS WITH BOY MAKING PIÑATA IN BACKGROUND BOY PASTING DECORATIVE PAPER ON PIÑATA BABY GIRL AT HOUSE WITH SANTA CLAUS PIÑATAS HANGING BESIDE HER PIÑATAS WORKSHOP WITH PIÑATAS HANGING WOMEN TAKING PIÑATA OUT FROM THE WORKSHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CLAUDIA SANCHEZ , PIÑATA PRODUCER, SAYING: "The tradition comes from a long time back; for years. It used to be that the star design was the best-known (style). After the star, we went to other figures done with a clay pot. Now, with all the cartoons and so many existing characters, new figures began to be created, mostly superheroes and cartoons" FINISHED PIÑATAS PIÑATA TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS STAR PIÑATA PIÑATAS WITH TILT UP TO STAR PIÑATA TRUCK LOADED WITH CHRISTMAS STAR PIÑATAS
- Embargoed: 10th January 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA9L7JG0OMBXIAIRRVW2GRBQL79
- Story Text: In the humble Mexico City suburb of Nezahualcoyotl, there's a taste of Christmas all year as hundreds of artisans create the colourful piñatas that are an integral part of traditional holiday festivities.
Dozens of family-run workshops are located in the "El Sol" district, where dexterous craftsmen's hands twist cardboard, papier-mâché and wire to create a variety of piñatas with themes ranging from the religious to the folkloric.
With deft hands working quickly, the artisans slap coloured paper and rope on the figures, keeping a family tradition alive for another generation.
"There are families that if you visit them now, have past (the tradition) along to a second generation of producers," said Nezahualcoyotl municipal worker Roberto Perez. "The first generation was the one who gave impetus (to piñata-making). Today, the second generation is continuing the artisan piñata industry and a third generation is coming along with young people between 15 and 17 years old."
The most traditional pattern is a star with 7 peaks representing the capital sins of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride that is filled with fruit representing grace. According to Catholic beliefs, the breaking of the most traditional piñata represents man's struggle against temptation.
Eventually, piñatas in the forms of animals, Santa Claus and figures such as automobiles became popular. Most recently, superheroes were popular sellers.
"The tradition comes from a long time back; for years. It used to be that the star design was the best-known (style)," said Claudia Sanchez at her workshop. "After the star, we went to other figures done with a clay pot. Now, with all the cartoons and so many existing characters, new figures began to be created, mostly superheroes and cartoons"
Each workshop produces more than 2,000 Christmas piñatas, each of which sell for 45 pesos (approximately US $4), a third of which is profit.
The piñata is an important part of Mexico's traditional Catholic remembrance of the birth of Christ. On Christmas Eve, Mexicans go to midnight mass and return home to a party which includes breaking the piñata which is filled with candy and fruit. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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