PINATA

[pi.na.ta] n [Sp pinata, lit., pot, fr. It pignatta, prob. fr. pigna pinecone--more at pignoli] (1887): a decorated vessel (as a pottery jar) filled with candies, fruits, and gifts and hung from the ceiling to be broken with sticks by blindfolded persons as part of esp. Latin-American festivities (as at Christmas or for a birthday party)