Whacking a pinata in Papua New Guinea

Marcus and Diane Reese served their guests a rich cultural stew recently in the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea. The missionaries hosted a costume party for their 6-year-old daughter’s birthday at their home in Alotau.

Their daughterdressed up like a princess and many of her friends wore their traditionalattire, grass skirts and elaborate headdresses. One of them, Rexona, took aturn trying to hit a pinata — a Mexican tradition.

“Thepinata was a new concept,” Diane Reese said, “but they quickly got into theidea, as whacking things with sticks seems to be common among children all overthe world!”