Stars, Donkeys or Pull-Strings? The Best Pinata for Your Party

A piñata is a hollow figure of cardboard or clay, covered in tissue paper, filled with candy and small treats, and hung up to be broken with a stick. In Mexico it belongs to Christmas posadas as much as to birthdays, and the classic shape is a star with seven cones. In the United States you will also find donkeys, numbers, tacos and pull-string piñatas that open without anyone swinging a stick.

The choice comes down to who will be hitting it, how many guests need a share of the candy, and whether you want a handmade Mexican star or a shape that suits a small child’s birthday. This guide names the piñatas worth buying on Amazon, explains where the seven-point star comes from, and covers the safety points that matter when children are swinging a stick.

Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a family party needs, the makers’ own listings and published guidance from the authorities we cite. We have not used these piñatas ourselves.

Quick verdict: which piñata to buy

The rest of this page explains why, and which one suits your party.

Five piñatas at a glance

Our five standout picks side by side, one for each kind of party, with what each listing states. All eight piñatas are reviewed in full below.

Product images from Amazon. Sizes and candy capacities are as each listing states them; “not stated” means the listing does not give the figure. None of these listings includes candy; our guide to the best piñata candy covers wrapped, allergy-aware fillings.

Our picks for the best pinata

These eight piñatas cover the traditional handmade star, the donkey, number and shape piñatas for small children, a reusable inflatable, a taco for a taco night and a set of mini stars for the table. For each one we say what the listing states and one honest reason to skip it.

Where the seven-point piñata comes from

The piñata’s exact origins are debated, and honest sources say so. A cultural bulletin published by the Consulate of Mexico in Frankfurt (part of Mexico’s foreign ministry) sets out the main versions. Some trace the piñata to China, where it was used in New Year celebrations, and believe Marco Polo carried the custom to Italy, where it became part of Lent. Other historians point to the Maya and Aztecs, who broke clay pots hung from a rope while blindfolded, and whose broken vessels of grain or fruit stood for abundance from the gods.

Both the consulate’s bulletin and an article in UNAM Global, published by Mexico’s national university, agree on the documented Mexican chapter. In 1586 the Augustinian friars of Acolman, near the pyramids of Teotihuacán in today’s State of Mexico, received permission from Pope Sixtus V to celebrate the “misas de aguinaldo”, masses in the days before Christmas that later became the posadas. It was at those masses, the consulate says, that the friars introduced the piñata.

The friars gave it a lesson. According to both sources, the original piñata was a star with seven points standing for the seven deadly sins, and its bright colors stood for temptation. UNAM Global adds that the blindfold represents faith, the stick represents the virtue that destroys sin, and the candy, fruit and toys that fall out stand for the rewards of heaven. The bulletin notes that piñatas were made from a clay pot or molded cardboard covered in colored tissue paper (papel de china), and UNAM Global says Acolman still holds a piñata and posada fair from December 16 to 24.

Today a piñata in Mexico is as likely to appear at a birthday as at a posada, and the shapes have multiplied. If you are planning a Christmas gathering, our guide to Mexican Christmas food covers what is served around the posadas.

Piñata safety: the stick, the blindfold and the candy

A piñata is a game in which a blindfolded person swings a stick at something hanging over a crowd of children, so a few rules are worth setting before the first turn. These are common-sense practices, not official guidance:

• Clear a wide circle. Keep everyone waiting well back from the swing, and do not let anyone run in to grab candy until the hitter has stopped and the stick has been taken.
• One hitter at a time, smallest first. Little children get the first turns, often without a blindfold; older children and adults go last, when the piñata is weakest.
• An adult runs the rope. Raising and lowering the piñata keeps the game moving and keeps the stick away from faces.
• Choose a pull-string piñata for toddlers. It removes the stick altogether.

The candy and favors deserve the most thought, because they are what small children put in their mouths. The American Academy of Pediatrics, on its HealthyChildren.org choking-prevention page, lists hard, gooey or sticky candy among the foods to keep from children until 4 years of age or older, advises avoiding toys with small or detachable parts, and warns that balloons pose a choking risk to children up to 8 years of age. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission bans small parts in toys and children’s products intended for children under 3, and requires choking-hazard warnings on some products with small parts, small balls, marbles and balloons, so read the age label on any trinket you add. If young children will be scrambling for the contents, choose soft, larger, individually wrapped treats, and keep hard candy and tiny toys for the older guests. Our guide to Mexican candy also explains what U.S. and California health authorities say about lead in some imported chili and tamarind candies.

How to choose a piñata for your party

Five questions settle it.

1. Who will be hitting it?

For children under about 4, a pull-string piñata is simpler and removes the stick. For older children and adults, a stick piñata is the real game, and a sturdy handmade star lasts longer than a thin novelty shape.

2. How many guests?

Capacity is the figure that matters most and the one listings most often leave out. The large stars here state 4.5 to 8 pounds; small shapes hold far less. For a big group, buy the largest piñata you can hang, or add a second.

3. Where will you hang it?

A filled 36-inch star is heavy. You need a strong branch, beam or hook, a rope long enough for an adult to raise and lower it, and clear space underneath. Check whether rope is included; only the TexMex star on this list comes with one.

4. Traditional or themed?

A handmade star from Mexico suits a posada, a Mexican Independence Day party or anyone who wants the real thing. Donkeys, numbers, tacos and hearts suit birthdays and themes. Many star piñatas sold online have five cones rather than the traditional seven, and few listings say which.

5. What will go inside?

Plan the filling with the guests’ ages in mind: individually wrapped candy, nothing tiny for toddlers, and a mix of candy and small favors for older children.

How we picked these eight piñatas

We searched Amazon in the United States for traditional star, donkey, number, shape and pull-string piñatas, and checked each candidate’s stock, brand and listing details through Amazon’s own product data. We kept only piñatas that were in stock, came from an identifiable seller, and covered a different need: a handmade star, a large star, a donkey, a number, a pull-string shape, a reusable option, a themed piñata and decorative minis. Where a listing named the country of manufacture we report it; where it gave no size, capacity, material or age range we say “not stated”. The history comes from a Mexican government cultural bulletin and Mexico’s national university, and the safety guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. We have not used these piñatas, and nothing on this page reflects testing by us.

Piñata questions, answered

What is the best pinata ever for a family party?

For most families, a large handmade star such as the TexMex Fun Stuff Extra-Strong Star Piñata: it holds at least 4.5 pounds of candy, comes with rope and is made in Mexico, according to its listing. For a very large crowd, the 36-inch Fiesta Wraps star holds up to about 8 pounds.

What is the best rated pinata for small children?

We do not rank by star ratings. For small children, the best choice is a pull-string piñata such as the Blue Panda number or the Sparkle and Bash heart, because nobody swings a stick.

Why does a Mexican piñata have seven points?

According to Mexico’s consulate bulletin and UNAM Global, the seven points of the original star stood for the seven deadly sins. Breaking the piñata blindfolded represented faith defeating sin, and the candy inside stood for the rewards that follow.

How much candy goes in a piñata?

Go by the listing. The large stars on this page state 4.5 pounds (TexMex) and about 8 pounds (Fiesta Wraps, 36 inch). Small novelty shapes rarely state a figure; plan on far less.

Are pull-string piñatas better for toddlers?

For many families, yes, because there is no stick. The filling still matters: the American Academy of Pediatrics lists hard candy among the foods to keep from children under 4, and the CPSC bans small parts in toys meant for children under 3.

Our last word on the best pinata

Buy a handmade Mexican star for the real game, a 36-inch star for a crowd, a donkey when you want the classic burro with a stick in the box, and a pull-string piñata for toddlers. Whatever you choose, plan the filling for the youngest guest and keep the swinging circle wide.

For the party itself: the best adult pinata fillers and the best pinata ropes and pulleys.

Planning the menu too? Our guide to taco bar supplies covers the serving side of a Mexican party, and our Día de Muertos food guide covers the autumn celebration. And if you would rather the food came from a restaurant kitchen, see the menu or call to order.