Mexican Piñata
Create a piñata for a special birthday celebration

Introduction
In the Maya & Miguel episode “Surprise, Surprise,” Chrissy is down in the dumps because the pop star Enrique has not answered the hundreds of fan letters she has sent, so Maya decides to cheer her up with a surprise birthday party. With Miguel and Abuelita at her side, Maya gives her best effort to convince the megastar to make an appearance at her friend’s birthday.

In this activity, cultural birthday traditions will be explored through language and the artistic creation of a piñata. Words associated with “birthdays” will be talked about in English, Spanish or your own native language.

Materials:

• 1 large balloon or beach ball
• 1 newspaper torn into 2-4 inch squares
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of water
• cord to tie and hang Piñata
• crepe paper
• 12-18 inch strips of colorful ribbons
• 1 small bottle of liquid glue for attaching decorations
• masking tape
• pencil
• candy

Note: Flour and water amounts may need to be adjusted to reach consistency of glue.

Directions: Make a piñata by following these steps:

• Day one: Inflate and tie balloon/beach ball. Hang up with string. Mix the flour and paste to the consistency of glue. Dip the newspaper pieces into paste and cover the balloon twice and let dry for 24 hours. Be sure to leave a 2-inch hole in the top to pull out balloon later and add candy. Store paste in tightly covered container.
• Day two: Cover again (twice) with paste and newspaper. Let dry for 24 hours before decorating. Cones can also be added by pasting cone-shaped drinking cups around the form.
• Day three: Pop balloon and pull out. Fill 1/2 full with candy. Traditional piñatas are bright and colorful. Cut long strips of crepe paper 2-inches wide. Fringe cut the strips every 1-2 inches. Use pencil to curl ends. Start from the bottom of the balloon and attach strips with masking tape. Wrap cones with crepe paper and attach streamers and ribbons to tips.

Talk About It: Invite your child to talk about the steps in making the piñata. Talk about words associated with birthdays like party, present, cake, decorate and guests.

Take It Further: Play the piñata game! (Add to the fun by inviting some friends to join you and your child)

• Hang the piñata up in an area that has plenty of room for the swinging of a broom handle; outside under a tree is an ideal location. The goal is for each person to take turns swinging at the piñata until it bursts and the candy inside pours out. Begin by blindfolding one person and handing them the broomstick. Turn the person in a circle three times and point him/her in the direction of the piñata. Each person gets three tries at hitting the target. When the piñata breaks, everyone gets to share the candy!

With a Group: Learn how other cultures celebrate birthdays! Share this list of birthday traditions. Make a matching game by writing the countries on one list and the traditions down on another. Have children match the countries with traditions. Then talk about how these traditions are alike and different from traditions common in the United States:

• Brazil -- The birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe for each year he/she has been alive.
• Canada -- Noses are greased with butter or margarine
• Japan -- Noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life.
• Ecuador -- When a girl turns 15, she wears a pink dress. Her father puts the birthday girl's first pair of high heels on her and they dance the waltz.
• India -- The birthday child wears a colored dress to school and passes out chocolates to the entire class, with the help of a trusted friend.
• Israel -- Grown-ups raise and lower the child sitting in a chair according to the child's age, plus one for good luck.
• Norway -- The birthday child stands in front of his/her class and performs a little dance with a friend while the rest of the class sings a happy birthday song.
• Puerto Rico -- The birthday child gets tapped on the arm for each year he/she has been alive.
• Vietnam -- The Vietnamese do not acknowledge the exact day they were born, so everyone’s birthday is celebrated on New Year’s Day.