Cinco de Mayo or the “fifth of May” is a holiday traditionally celebrated by Chicanos or people descending from a Mexican heritage. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican militia’s victory against the French Army at The Battle at Puebla on May 5th, 1862. Over the years, as Cinco de Mayo was celebrated along with the United States – Mexican border, commercial interests caught on promoting the holiday, placing it on the calendar of many Mexican and American people.

Piñatas are a fun addition to any Cinco de Mayo fiesta and often the focal point. Instead of shelling out money to buy a piñata for Cinco de Mayo, piñatas can easily be constructed at home. Making a Cinco de Mayo piñata requires products that more than likely are lying around your home and can be fun and enjoyable for older and younger Cinco de Mayo celebrators.

Let’s Learn How To Make A Cinco de Mayo Pinata!

Before you get started making your Cinco de Mayo piñata, the following items are required:

• Large mixing bowl
• Fourteen to twelve-inch balloon
• Papier-mâché paste – two cups of water, three tablespoons of sugar, ½ cup all-purpose flour
• Several sets of Newspaper
• String
• Glue Stick
• Masking Tape
• Pin needle
• Party hats (optional)
• Tissue paper of varying colors cut into 2-inch squares
• Rope
• Three pounds of individually wrapped candy

Making the Papier-mâché Paste

Boil two cups of water and add ½ cup of all-purpose flour. The mixture needs to boil for ten additional minutes. Add three tablespoons of sugar and allow the mixture to thicken and cool. Use this mixture as your papier-mâché paste.

Making the Cinco de Mayo Piñata

First, inflate the balloon and place it in the bowl for easier handling. Fold the newspapers in half two times and tear one to two-inch strips, do not cut the newspaper. Next, place a strip of newspaper in the papier-mâché paste and clean off the excess paste before placing it on the balloon. Continue pasting strips on the balloon in an overlapping pattern until the entire balloon is covered.

To make the cones for the traditional six-point star Piñata of Mexico, use party hats or fold five sections of newspaper in half and roll into the shape of a cone. If you make cones out of the newspaper, use masking tape to secure the cone structure and trim the excess from the cone to make the bottom level. Use this process to make five additional cones for a total of six.

Place one cone flush to the balloon and use strips of newspaper dipped in the papier-mâché paste to adhere to the balloon. Continue pasting strips on the cone until it is securely attached to the balloon. Attach the five additional cones to the balloon using the same technique. Space the cones like the traditional Mexican Six Point Star piñata as evenly apart as possible. Allow the papier-mâché paste to dry overnight.

Finally, pop the balloon with a pin needle and cut a small access opening. Then, it’s time to fill the piñata with candy and close the opening with tape when filled.

Decorating and Hanging the Piñata

Use the glue stick to dot one side of a piece of tissue paper and glue it against the balloon. Continue pasting other squares of tissue paper of the same color around the piñata in a line until you meet the first piece. Continue this pattern around the piñata using varying colors. When the piñata is fully decorated, use the rope to make a tassel around one of the cones. Hang the piñata, and enjoy taking turns beating the crap out of your homemade piñata at your Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Books About Cinco de Mayo

Don’t forget about the books! Learn more about Cinco de Mayo by reading these books!

More Cinco de Mayo Activities and Crafts

Mexican Flag Craft from Artsy Momma

Mexican Paper Flowers from Kids Activities(dot)com

Musical Maracas from Macaroni Kid

I hope you find some great inspiration to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year with this awesome list of crafts, activities and books.