Addison lead off a group of children in an attack on Hello Kitty. The helpless pinata held various form of candy that these small people desperately wanted.

The pinata* is a regular fixture at birthday parties in Costa Rica. I can’t get away from it though I tried. My daughter, who’s turning seven, loves them. She used to run screaming from the sugar filled beasts because the “elbow to elbow” battle at the end of the pinata bashing overwhelmed her. So, I had to get the goods for her.

No more.

Note the LARGE stick Addison, her two-year-old brother is holding. No mercy granted for this pinata. Even Coco risked life and head injury to pick up candies that would leak from fatal blows to the strung up cardboard cat.

Addison got first crack at the thing. He’d been practicing all week. He’s only been to a few parties, but it didn’t take long to know instinctively that pinatas must be hit. He got a few good hits in and the big kids took over.

The end was cruel. A hole burst forth and the candy dropped like hail. Each child managed a small box full.

I’ve grown fond of the tradition myself, though I resisted at first. (Well if you saw most parties you’d despise them too.) But when the focus is on the smashing, swinging, flailing, screaming….well then….what could be more fun. And, a few sweet treats in the end don’t hurt either.

*Author send her regrets, for she was unable to find that little wiggly symbol that goes over the n.