Making Pinatas a Family Tradition

Their handiwork is designed to be beaten with bats until it breaks apart.

But Higinio Montes and his wife, Patty, who create up to 15 custom-made pinatas a week at their Oxnard home, say their colorful products are particularly hardy.

Because theirs are made by hand, the Monteses say their pinatas are stronger than the ones found in stores. Large manufacturers “probably make theirs in five minutes,” said Patty. “But that’s how long it takes for them to break.

“Ours, you have 30 kids at a party, that 30th kid is going to get to hit our pinata.”

The creations begin humbly enough as a balloon, inflated and covered with newspaper strips attached with a flour-based paste. After five layers are applied--except for a hole to add candy or other goodies--the pinata is set outside to dry.

Next Higinio, 32, and Patty, 30, settle down with scissors and colored tissue paper to cut leaves to decorate the pinata, which in this case is designed to look like a star. It’s covered in wrapping paper and then filled with candy. Each pinata takes six to eight hours to make.

For Christmas, the couple might put other items, such as oranges, peanuts and apples, inside instead of candy. “But for birthdays, we put candy,” said Patty.

The pinatas, which sell for $14, are a Montes tradition--Higinio learned the technique from his father. “Now he’ll teach his kids,” Patty said. “We have a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, and once they grow up we want them to learn also.”