Imagine you’re at a party. You notice a decoration swinging from a string. This is a piñata! It’s a hanging container filled with surprises! Break it open, and you might find candy inside. The piñata is a part of Mexican celebrations. This year, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) honored the piñata with new stamps!
People in China may have invented the piñata. The custom got to Mexico in the 1500s. Mexicans have now celebrated with piñatas for many years. They use them for fiestas. For example, you might see a piñata during holidays or birthdays. Today, the celebration has spread across America!
The USPS recognized this Hispanic with piñata stamps. Two show a seven-pointed star. Two show a donkey. The colors are symbols of Mexican culture. USPS officials held a ceremony for these stamps in Roswell, New Mexico. It took place on September 8. That was during the city’s Piñata Festival!
This is the third year with stamps for Hispanic heritage. In 2021, the USPS made stamps for the Day of the Dead. In 2022, there were mariachi stamps. Isaac Cronkhite works for the USPS. “Our stamps allow us to weave together the many threads of our national tapestry,” he said. Cronkhite called piñatas “the perfect example of this.”
Víctor Meléndez created the art for the stamps. He was born in Mexico. Now he lives in the United States. Meléndez said the piñata is a symbol of “happiness.” He added: “It reminds me of all the fun times I had with friends and family.”
Meléndez said it “feels great” to see his artwork on stamps. “I am very proud of my heritage,” he explained. “This is a great project to showcase one of our most beloved traditions.”
Updated September 18, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Russell Kahn (Russ)
