{{Short description|Hollowed-out egg filled with confetti or toys}} {{title language|es}} {{Distinguish|Cascaron{{!}}''Cascaron''}} thumb|Cascarones [[File:Alegría en cascarón.jpg|thumb|Cascarones, Ajijic]] A '''{{lang|es|cascarón}}''' ({{plural form|'''{{lang|es|cascarones}}'''}}, meaning 'eggshell', the augmentative form of {{lang|es|cáscara}}, 'shell'), known as {{lang|es|huevo chimbo}} in Central America, is a hollowed-out chicken egg filled with confetti or small toys. {{lang|es|Cascarones}} are common throughout Mexico and are similar to the Easter eggs popular in many other countries. They are mostly used in Mexico during Carnival, but in American and Mexican border towns, the cultures combined to make them a popular Easter tradition.
Decorated, confetti-filled {{lang|es|cascarones}} may be thrown or crushed over the recipient's head to shower them with confetti. This originated in Spain. When a child would act up, their father would crack an egg over their head as a consequence, and a way of showing his disappointment in them. In addition to Easter, cascarones have become popular for occasions including birthdays, New Year's, Halloween, Cinco de Mayo, {{lang|es|Dieciséis}}, Day of the Dead, and weddings. Wedding {{lang|es|cascarones}} can be filled with rice. Like many popular traditions in Mexico, {{lang|es|cascarones}} are increasingly popular in the southwestern United States.<ref name="Tradition">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FRAGILE+FOLKLORE-a0197682926 |title=FRAGILE FOLKLORE. - Free Online Library |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |date=2009-04-12 |access-date=2014-03-01 |archive-date=2014-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301191616/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FRAGILE+FOLKLORE-a0197682926 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For example, they are especially prominent during the two-week, citywide festival of Fiesta in San Antonio, Texas. {{lang|es|Cascarones}} are usually made during Easter time.
In order to make {{lang|es|cascarones}}, one can use a pin or knife to break a hole in the end of the eggshell and pour the contents out. The shell is then cleaned out, decorated as desired, and allowed to dry, before it is filled with confetti or a small toy. Usually, glue is applied around the outside of the hole and covered with tissue paper.<ref name="Making Cascarones">{{cite web|author=Monica |url=http://www.mommymaestra.com/2011/04/brief-history-of-cascarones.html |title=A Brief History of Cascarones |publisher=Mommy Maestra |date=2011-04-21 |access-date=2014-03-01}}</ref>
==History== {{lang|es|Cascarones}} are said to have been first brought to Europe by Marco Polo from China, where perfume-filled eggs were given as gifts.<ref name="LatinoPopularCulture">{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Candelaria|first1=Cordelia|title=Cascarónes|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture, Volume 1|page=113|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|date=2004|isbn=9780313332111|access-date=2022-01-08|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=STjcB_f7CVcC&dq=cascarones&pg=PA505}}</ref> A popular myth credits Empress Carlota and Emperor Maximilian with bringing {{lang|es|cascarones}} to Mexico in the mid-1800s,<ref name="The History of Cascarones">{{cite web|last=Hoyt |first=Dale |url=http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1547-cascarones-egging-on-mexican-fiestas |title=Cascarones: Egging on Mexican fiestas : Mexico Culture & Arts |publisher=Mexconnect.com |date= |access-date=2014-03-01}}</ref> but they cannot have been the first. Accounts of weddings and celebrations in California as early as 1826 include accounts of {{lang|es|cascarones}}, often as means for mischievous girls to attract the attention of eligible bachelors.<ref name="LatinoPopularCulture" /> The Los Angeles Star mentioned the eggs in an article about Christmas celebrations on January 4, 1855, saying: "In the city, {{lang|es|cascarones}} commanded a premium, and many were complemented with them as a finishing touch to their headdress."{{cn|date=May 2026}}
== References == <references />
==External links== *[http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/folkarts/cascarones.html South Arizona Folk Arts, University of Arizona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908131554/http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/folkarts/cascarones.html |date=2006-09-08 }} *[http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/cascarones.html Cascarones Instructions]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403174442/http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/cascarones.html |date=April 3, 2018 |title=Archive }} from ZOOM *[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cracked-up+surprise-a016904056 Cracked-up Surprise] {{Easter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cascaron}} Category:Easter egg Category:Mexican handicrafts Category:Folklore of Arizona Category:Folklore of Texas Category:American folk art