cascarón

Cascarón is a Spanish word meaning eggshell, the hard outer layer of an egg. In everyday use it refers to the eggshell left after the contents are removed, and to crafts made from such shells. The term is also used for the festive tradition of cascarones, hollow eggshells filled with confetti that are popular in Mexico and among Mexican-American communities in the United States during Easter and other celebrations.

Cascarones are typically made from chicken eggs. After the contents are blown out, the shells are cleaned, dyed or painted, and decorated with colored tissue paper, glitter, or ribbons. They are then filled with small pieces of confetti or paper shreds.

During celebrations, participants crack a cascarón over someone's head; the shell breaks and confetti spills out, as a playful gesture intended to bring luck and happiness. The practice has become common at Easter gatherings, birthdays, weddings, and graduations in some regions, and may be found in parades and fairs.

Making cascarones is a seasonal craft: the emptied shells are dried, colored with dyes, glued around with tissue decorations, and filled just before the event. The tradition emphasizes decoration, lighthearted mischief, and communal participation. The word derives from cascar, to crack, with the diminutive cascarón emphasizing the shell.

In some Spanish-speaking regions, the term can refer simply to the eggshell itself rather than the decorative practice. Cascarón thus encompasses both the literal shell and the culturally specific festive object and activity.