On Wednesday, April 2, Grand Valley State University’s Honors Familia held a piñata crafting workshop. While making their own piñatas, students learned about the history of the colorful craft and its significance in Mexican celebrations.
Honors Familia is an affinity group that hosts events with the representation and education of different Latinx identities in mind. Throughout the event, students were encouraged to ask questions about piñatas and the Mexican tradition they were participating in. The session provided an opportunity for all students to explore a recognizable tradition, whether they came from a Latinx background or not.
Melanie Hernandez, the group’s president, has first-hand experience making piñatas and wanted to share the cultural tradition with other GVSU students.
“At first, I hoped to bring in a professional in piñata making,” Hernandez said. “But (then) I remembered I made them when I went to elementary school in Mexico. We wanted to allow our members to remember these (cultural) roots and learn the ‘how to’ so they could continue creating these memories.”
The origin of the tradition, hitting a brightly decorated piñata with a stick until it breaks open and treats spill out, dates back hundreds of years and was brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Many scholars believe the tradition originated in China, with hanging paper dolls that were hit and crushed, spilling seeds and then burned for good luck.
Drawing from her experiences and knowledge of the craft, Hernandez planned the session for students to appreciate part of Mexico’s cultural background while upholding the mission of Honors Familia.
Hernandez prepared the piñata bases in advance, making them out of balloons, colorful paper strips and glue. She prepared cones made of thick paper that were glued to the piñatas’ bases, creating an animal shape. Students had full creative freedom with decorating the piñatas by using strips of tissue paper that could be stacked or cut into specific designs.
“Students had the opportunity to collaborate and have fun, all while getting to know our group’s mission,” Hernandez said. “Honors Familia is dedicated to fostering community and support with the Latinx population. (We aim to) embrace the values of academic excellence, cultural celebration and camaraderie.”
By creating their own piñatas, students were given the opportunity to appreciate the rich history of the art form and its cross-cultural reaches in a way that Honors Familia members will remember. As students created the craft, members of the group shared their own personal experiences regarding piñata making.
Honors Familia hosts various events throughout the year that feature speakers and activities. The group invites students to attend events in an effort to immerse themselves and learn more about history and traditions.
