How Do Confetti Eggs Work?

Confetti eggs, also known as cascarones, are festive hollowed-out eggshells filled with small colorful pieces of confetti or sometimes glitter. They work by being intentionally broken over someone's head, causing the confetti inside to burst out and shower the person.

The Simple Mechanism

The basic principle behind how confetti eggs "work" is straightforward: they act as a fragile container for confetti that is designed to be easily broken upon impact, typically on someone's head, to create a fun, surprising, and colorful shower.

How Cascarones Are Made and Used

Making and using confetti eggs involves a few key steps:

1. Preparation: First, raw eggs are carefully emptied by making a small hole at one end and draining the contents. The shell is then rinsed and allowed to dry.
2. Filling: Once the shell is dry, it is filled with confetti, small toys, or other festive materials through the small hole.
3. Sealing: The small opening is then covered and sealed, often with a piece of tissue paper and glue, which is sometimes decorated. This keeps the contents secure until they are ready for use.
4. Usage: The tradition of cracking cascarones is just as fun as making them. Once these hollowed out eggs are filled with confetti they will typically be cracked over the head of an unsuspecting victim so that they are showered with the brightly colored contents. The fragile shell breaks easily, releasing the confetti.

The Cascarón Process

Here's a simple breakdown of the stages of a confetti egg's "operation":

Confetti eggs are a popular part of celebrations, particularly during events like Easter (known as Semana Santa or Pascua in some cultures) and Carnaval in various parts of the world, adding an element of playful surprise and chaos to festivities.