Pinata
A piñata is a wonderful South American invention which makes the garden a lot of fun. While you can buy this in the UK now, often for New Year, it’s a lot of fun to make your own.
Tradition
The original piñata is shaped like a donkey and filled with hard sugar sweets.
It was used to celebrate saint’s days in Mexico and then became traditional for birthdays and many other festivals
You whack it with a stick and the person who breaks it is supposed to be responsible for sharing out the contents
You can use a blindfold to make the game more fun.
Today
Update the old favourite by making your own piñata and filling it with things that have special significance for your family and guests
A balloon should be wrapped in papier mache and left to dry. The thicker the coat the harder it will be to crack. Suitable simple designs for a balloon piñata include painting it to look like a bee or an egg, or a piranha fish or hanging a little basket below the narrow end and making it look like a hot air balloon.
Pop the balloon and paint the body – old gloss paint will toughen up the outside no end, but apply one thin coat of PVA glue before painting so that the pinata doesn’t become too wet and collapse
Glue some strings to the inside of the shape, fill the body with your goodies (wrapped sweets, tiny plastic toys etc) and then add more papier mache to seal the whole and set the strings in place
Tie the strings securely around a tree branch in the garden, find a suitable blindfold, and start whacking!