| When Christmas time comes, many people shop | | | | available for any culture for just about any |
| for presents, prepare menu plans for the | | | | occasion. If you appreciate an authentic |
| visiting family members and friends, and of | | | | Mexican Christmas, you will appreciate the |
| course, choose Mexican Christmas traditions | | | | piñata. These are wonderful when filled with |
| to make this holiday more authentic and | | | | sweet treats and little toys. Watching the |
| familiar. The piñata has been used for | | | | gleeful delight with which the youngster in |
| hundreds of years in celebrating various | | | | your life swings wildly hoping to score a bit |
| holidays such as Easter, birthdays, and yes, | | | | of something special is something any adult |
| Christmas. There are some wonderful memories | | | | can appreciate. Of course, not only children |
| in my own past where a piñata was the center | | | | appreciate this activity. An authentic |
| of the celebrations. These brightly colored | | | | Mexican Christmas is a wonderful time for |
| objects are made of paper mache and brilliant | | | | family and friends. Yet this symbolic piñata |
| colors. Whether the container is a donkey, a | | | | has spread to other holidays and |
| star, or some other favorite design, there | | | | celebrations. Today, you can even fill the |
| are few people that can resist taking a swing | | | | container with other items that make it more |
| at a piñata. Traditionally, a piñata is | | | | age appropriate. Regardless of what is |
| filled with sweets such as sugarcane, but now | | | | inside, you will find that getting to what is |
| there are toys, gifts, and even money that | | | | inside is part of the fun. When the time |
| can come out of the favorite piñata. Once | | | | comes, you can purchase the piñata for your |
| upon a time, a piñata was a clay ritual pot | | | | Mexican Christmas, or you can choose to |
| filled with water in the pre-Columbian Aztec | | | | purchase one. These are available in seasonal |
| days. This was a symbolic symbol for thunder | | | | designs or you can even create your own! The |
| and represented the pouring of rain following | | | | internet has definitely made it a lot easier |
| a thunderstorm. Of course, another type of | | | | to get the design choices you need, and you |
| piñata was used to represent Huitzilocochtli | | | | will even find that some websites offer an |
| the war god. This clay pot was covered in | | | | interesting look on the history. You will |
| feathers and filled with little trinkets. | | | | definitely get more than you expect when you |
| With the addition of Catholicism to the | | | | choose this avenue for your shopping. Having |
| region, these rituals were adapted to fit | | | | a great Mexican Christmas means being with |
| such religious celebrations. There are many | | | | family, friends, and people who care. Yes, |
| theoretical origins for the lovely piñata, | | | | having a celebration filled with tamales, |
| but the truth of the matter is that it does | | | | delicious desserts, and other awesome cuisine |
| not matter where this wonderful tradition | | | | is great, but the reason for the season is |
| started. What matters is that these are fun | | | | better when shared with those you love. |
| for children around the world, and while | | | | |
| Mexico is often a traditional place where | | | | More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican |
| these are associated, the mighty piñata has | | | | food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican |
| definitely crossed the borders and are | | | | Food & Gifts To Go. |