I soooooo don't get the whole "Here's something cute. Now beat it with a stick." pinata thing.

So wrong.

This is so sad to me. We have to be careful what we teach our children. I know this is a cultural festive event,but I too do not get it. I never understood the logic of beating the pinata (even if it's a toy)as a reward for something good. Some children can interpret this act later in life in negative ways.

Creating a generation of "serial paper-mache animal beaters" is a serious concern, and should be delt with swiftly!

The whole elephant-in-striped-knickers is the most frightening thing about this whole ordeal.

I think they're overalls.

Story of my life, P2.

(And wow, before it was mauled by the little ones, that pinata was the cutest I've ever seen!)

It has beautiful eyes.

Kevin R--

I'd be happy to console you. ;)

To prepare kids for a life of dating, perhaps we should simply encourage pinatas in the shape of hearts.

I could never eat my easter bunnies, a pinata killing would have been a nightmare. I just got around to reading the thread about the wildcat/nursery. There are two kinds of people: sensitive, imaginative, empathetic types and the others who seem less encumbered. Visual input was much more intense when I was small and things like the shape of knots in the pine panelling could be sinister or friendly. I'm trying to throw things out but feeling that this broken sofa will be sad if I send it to the dump even though I know it is an inanimate object and has no feelings.

Wait, did I miss a joke?

that is the most adorable pinata i've ever seen.

i'm not entirely sure, but i think the pinata is a sort of declawed version of ripping effigies to shreds, a la guy fawkes day. which is an idea descended from pagan sacrifice, i believe. a reminder that, once upon a time, childhood was not nearly as sanitized as it is today.

as a kid, i don't know that i was horrified by the idea of pinatas, but it seemed like i was always too little to hit them with any real force. the dads or older boys had to actually do the dismantling -- which is symbolically creepy in its own way. they were more disappointing than scary or violent.

I was going to make a bitchy comment about what you guys must think about Halloween, but I see someone has already beaten me to it with an earnest comment about Easter bunnies.

I'm speechless. Y'all have won.

I love Halloween and make excellent costumes for myself and everyone who needs help and supplies.

Kate(NC) quoth: "I'm trying to throw things out but feeling that this broken sofa will be sad if I send it to the dump even though I know it is an inanimate object and has no feelings."

But think how happy unloved furniture is when sold or donated to a new home! That's my theory, anyway.

Yup, I always buy the one with the good expression.

I'm designing one of "W" for my next party.

Wende,I want everything to have a use and the only way I can feel ok about getting rid of something is if someone can use it. I love to deliver my outcasts to people who need social services to furnish a new home.

There is a story on NPR right now coincidentally, about Housing First to get homeless people into homes, a toothless, alcoholic man might appreciate a 70 year old sofa that is falling apart but covered by a slipcover.

There you go! I'd hope that a slipcovered-if-derelict sofa would be appreciated as a nicer alternative than a cardboard box and blanket.

Heck, I did the Horrible Pilled Rug as a freebie on CL rather than throw it out, as I hoped someone would adopt it. I think it went to someone who needed soundproofing for a garage band's practice space.

Hello. I've been reading this site for a while. But this is the first time I'm posting. I think god has sent you to me. I have no teeth, and through the graces of jesus have found a small apartment with the help of social services. I'm trying day by day to get over the evil of alcohol, and could certainly use a sofa. I don't need a fancy one, or even one that's in working condition. Is there somewhere I could get in touch with the person who has that sofa to give away?

Oh no Jim, I hope I haven't destroyed your faith in the bounties of Jesus, but I just read my horoscope while I ate my sandwich and it says "Be content with what you have earned and collected throughout the years." Looks like I have to keep the rotting old thing. Surely someone will step foth to help you. Now I have to stop procrastinating my cleaning project and get back to work

I think you all are reading WAY TOO MUCH INTO IT> It's not that serious! Jeez! Lighten up! So you get to beat a bunch of papier mache' with a stick for some candy. SO WHAT!! oh man. This is cute and funny!

we are light, and p2 got a hookup???

Poor Charlie, beaten to a pulp, Now I am turning this off for serious binge cleaning.

I'm so happy that you've posted this, not only because the photos are interesting and it's nice to see children enjoying themselves (and parents who care enough to go through the effort), but also because it stirred in me this need to do a bit of research on pinatas. I've always been fascinated with culture and double fascinated with that fact that most stems from religious celebrations/traditions, like Easter, the May Pole dance, gosh I could go on forever.

I found this article online to be quite interesting - the history of pinatas, at least according to Mexican beliefs. Don't worry, it's not some psychological study of the emotional effects on children who engage in this activity, I doubt this is any worse that kids button mashing their Ninento DS all day or watching MTV. Still, the history is fascinating.

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/wdevlin/wdpinatahistory.html

Holly

Our car broke down in CT! I was so sad to miss your group birthday... Erica did a superb job- as always

One of the reasons this column remains so much fun to write every week is that I can never predict which posts are going to get people talking.
For me, one of the interesting things about the pinata party is that Erica, who spent literally days making the thing, was so willing to see her work smashed to bits. Would that I were so good at letting go...
While I can understand people's reaction about the violence of this strange game, it's probably also worth noting that our little friends are very sweet kids who know the difference between real and make-believe. They were careful not to hit each other with the bat, they took turns, and they even shared their loot with the big kids.

This stuff has nothing to do with violence! How about breaking a piggy bank? And the poor Russian nestling dolls- they are spit in halves! Look at it from a different angle- as an ever-changing art form.
By the way, Ted Kaczynski had a perfect childhood...

"we are light, and p2 got a hookup???"

Kate(NC) -

I have to respond first!

P2 -

Okay. =)

:)

Children are morbid creatures, fascinated by violence. At least I was. In their 70's New York liberalism, my parents banned toy guns from our home (this is normal now, it wasn't then). So I made guns out of wood and string and glue anyway. The steam of violent inclinations must escape somehow.

I would like to know how this artisinal pinata was constructed - was it purchased or did you make it?

All you couch people? You need to revisit the Ikea red lamp commercial.

Thank you, Sharon. Exactly.

I for one am totally against the beating of pinatas. They are not nearly as appreciative of it as they should be. They just hang there all icy and non-reacting.

I was born and raised in Latin America and I have many fond memories of pinata parties. We called every bday party a "Pinata" (as in "We're going to Maria's pinata today")...that's how much we looked forward to the event!

I don't think it made me a violent person ;) It was just a fun game. Back then with no TV (only two channels in B&W) and no video games, etc. the pinata parties were definitely a big deal for us!

Beat Charlie to a pulp because he is made of pulp, get it? ALEX, make a shape with chicken wire and then cover it with strips of paper, shreds of cereal box, etc, dipped in a mix of wallpaper paste and water or white glue will work. Bugs will eat it if you use flour. Dry between layers and paint it. Google paper mache.
SHANNON, surely you understand the power of images and words and the story you wrote was a tongue in cheek report about the short life of Charlie, pulp brought to life by a skilled artist. Artists and writers use their craft to evoke emotions and ideas and thoughts. I read this morning that Mary Cheney is portraying her father as "warm and fuzzy" because he professed his love for his daughter when she came out. Now, we all interpret that through the filter of our own experiences and opinions.
JONATHAN, that's a great line "The steam of violent inclinations must escape somehow." I myself wore a holster and gun through second grade and wanted to be Dale Evans, later I wanted to be Emma Peele. Children, small and bossed around, need fantasies of power. It's the adults with their fantasies of power, who are scary. Guns can have power and words and images too.

When you're a kid, you're constantly warned against breaking things. Be careful! Don't touch! Play nicely, be gentle, etc.

Piñatas are a great break from all that noise. Here you have grown ups handing you a stick and encouraging you to smash something to bits. And there's a reward at the end.

How brilliant!

I often feel that my life is a pinata. And Lady Fortune, that miserable whore, is the stick

But why oh why does the thing beaten with a stick need to have a face? Um, so this is an elephant... but would you all feel the same way were this a "baby seal pinata"?!

I'd have NO problem if it were in the shape of a rocket ship or a hot air balloon... OR the shape of a birthday present.

I've often felt that our protests in the US could use more effigies. You look around the world, the beating and lighting on fire of effigys seems quite popular at protests. The closest we get are those big puppets. But really, what makes a better point: big puppets, or hitting an effigy with a stick and then lighting it on fire.

Down with tyrannical pants wearing elephants! Four legs bad! Two legs good!

The E. stands for Eames--

Shannon--
My problem with the whole concept DOES NOT reflect in any way on Erica's brilliant and adorable execution or choice of subject matter. And ditto you sentiments on creating something with such care, knowing it will be in shreds by party's end. I couldn't do it!!

I just have trouble with the general idea, but it is (I guess) exacerbated by the cuteness of the subject matter here.

Hey, Kevin R, when does the consoling begin?

Max, maybe it's an effigy of the GOP.

My childhood birthday parties featured pinatas for years. I am unharmed. I am, in fact, a vegetarian, animal-coddling, excessively soft-hearted person who finds it difficult to even live in today's world because I find it so inhumane and ugly. So stop trying to read too much into pinata beating. It's a bit of fun.

My father would dangle the pinata on a pole out of the second-story window. It's one of my fonder memories of him (he died early in my life).

One thing about children (and grown-up children), though -- and this holds for all things -- not just Pinata bashing. When the candy came pouring out, the little beasties were vicious. It was an early glimpse into what the rest of life would be like. Everyone fighting for the prizes, no matter who gets trampled in the process. In fact, Halloween (someone brought that up) was much the same in that regard. Grab, grab, grab.

Ever occur to you you ARE a softboiled vegan now *because* of those childhood pinatas?

It's more likely I'm the way I am because of those grabby little beastly children I grew up with. They seem to have followed me through life. Grab grab grab.

I'm no vegan, though. Just won't eat anything with a brain. (And whaddaya mean softboiled...)

None of my pinatas were ever as cute as this elephant, btw. What wonderful parents to take the time to make this for their child. (I assume this is homemade.) I love the pajama pants.