Cinco de Mayo piñatas made fresh daily: Kenny Be's Sign Language

Passerby peruses an unfinished piñata in the Sunnyside neighborhood.

While hanging piñatas are a common sight on Federal Boulevard, apparently not all of the papier mâché punching bags are made alike. While the bulk of low-cost piñatas are built in huge factories in China, the photo above proves that holiday celebrants can still find ones made fresh daily in a small shop in the Sunnyside neighborhood...

A piñata dries on a sidewalk in Sunnyside.

Piñatas are purchased in a variety of shapes to match party themes. Princess, Toy Story and Sponge Bob piñatas are made for the birthday parties of children. The piñata that is drying in the sun on the sidewalk in the picture above is the classic 24-inch sun, made especially for Cinco de Mayo and other springtime celebrations.

The sun-shaped piñata most resembles the first piñata made for prolific partier and Aztec gardening god Huizilopochtli. The custom of filling the piñata with treats and allowing party guests to bash and spill the contents signifies the hope for an abundant summer growing season.

Below, a panoramic view of the Piñateria Yasmin on Federal Boulevard...