Internationalmatt's Blog

Piñata in the Park- Could it be an Olympic Sport?

This afternoon I joined my friends from iglesía berea for a festival in the park at Cooper Park in Lincoln. There was live music, hot dogs, face painting, an inflatable jumping gym, a info table for free medical help, and an ice cream truck.  At the end it was Piñata time and it was fun to watch.

The intensity and focus the children displayed reminded me of athletes who compete in a sport. They were all determined to obliterate the Piñata because of their mutual goal. I saw swings of the stick that would have made any Major League Baseball player proud and thought- “It could be dangerous to get between the Piñata and the child with the stick” lol

The look in the eyes of the children brought to mind the look in eyes of Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals, or Tommie Frazier when he played Florida for the 1995 Championship. It was the look of sheer determination. The Piñata was colorful and beautiful and was also made well out of paper machete, but no matter how well a Piñata is made, it is no match for determined children with an eye on the prize much like a star athlete focused on winning a championship.

The prize is the candy that is inside the Piñata and when it finally breaks it is a mad scramble for the candy which conjured up memories of football players scrambling after a fumbled football or perhaps of a Rugby Scrum. You definitely do not want to get caught in the middle of the mad dash for the candy.

There is some compassion for those who cannot get to the candy. There were women standing close by with candy  for unfortunate kids who did not get candy. It was a blast to watch the joy of the children as they battled the Piñata and especially as they gathered their bounty after it broke open. I wonder if Piñata time should be an Olympic Event lol

July 23, 2011 - Posted by internationalmatt | Cutural Celebrations, Hispanic friends, international fashion and crafts