Authentic Mexican Party Supplies, Made in Mexico

Papel picado generally symbolizes celebration and community. Because its thin, cut flags move with the slightest breeze, many people also associate it with the fragility of life, and during Día de los Muertos with the presence of loved ones who have died. Meanings vary by family, region and occasion, so there is no single official symbolism. At weddings, fiestas and Independence Day, it mainly signals that a celebration is under way.

You can buy Fiesta Wraps papel picado on Amazon, Etsy, TikTok Shop and Walmart; the links in the papel picado section of this page go to our Amazon listings. Choose plastic papel picado for outdoor or repeated use, or tissue-paper papel picado for the traditional look. Most sets include five banners: plastic banners are 18.4 ft each and tissue banners are 14.8 ft each, and plastic also comes in 2-pack and mini sizes for smaller spaces.

In English, papel picado is usually translated as "perforated paper" or "cut paper," and the decorations are often called Mexican paper banners, cut-paper flags or fiesta banners. Most English speakers simply use the Spanish name. The term describes the decorative cutwork style, so it is also used for papel picado banners made from plastic instead of tissue paper.

Yes. White papel picado is a popular choice for weddings, baptisms, first communions and other elegant celebrations, and it is often used on altars. Fiesta Wraps offers white papel picado in both tissue paper and waterproof plastic, plus a white-and-gold tissue version with metallic accents. You will find the white options in the tissue paper and plastic sections of this page.

Papel picado is traditionally made by Mexican artisans who cut designs into stacked sheets of tissue paper, a craft passed down through family workshops. Today it is also produced in other materials, including plastic. Fiesta Wraps papel picado, both the tissue paper and the plastic banners, is handcrafted by skilled artisans in Central Mexico in traditional papel picado designs.

Papel picado means "perforated paper" or "pierced paper" in Spanish. Papel means paper, and picado comes from the verb picar, which means to pierce, prick or chop. The name describes how the decorations are made: small openings are cut into the paper to form flowers, birds, skulls, lettering and other patterns.

Hang papel picado by tying the ends of its cord to sturdy anchor points such as hooks, nails, posts, beams, railings or tree branches, leaving a slight sag so the flags hang freely. Crisscross several strands overhead to cover a patio or room. Fiesta Wraps banners come strung on a cord; hooks and clips are not listed as included. Keep tissue-paper banners away from candles and heat, and take them down before rain.

Yes. Tissue paper is the traditional material for papel picado and gives it the delicate, translucent look most people associate with the craft. Fiesta Wraps tissue-paper papel picado is made from real tissue paper and is designed for single use, though it can be stored and reused with gentle handling. For outdoor or long-term displays, our plastic papel picado is waterproof and reusable; see the plastic vs. tissue comparison.

Papel picado colors usually follow the occasion rather than a fixed code. For Día de los Muertos, some families give colors specific meanings, such as purple for mourning or orange and yellow for the marigolds on the ofrenda, but interpretations vary. Green, white and red echo the Mexican flag for Independence Day, white suits weddings and religious celebrations, and multicolor banners are the classic choice for fiestas and birthdays.

Papel picado is important in Mexican culture because it marks shared moments. It hangs over streets, plazas, churches and homes during national holidays, religious feasts and family celebrations, and it is part of the traditional Día de los Muertos ofrenda. As a recognized Mexican folk art, it turns everyday spaces into places of celebration, and for many families hanging it is part of the tradition itself.

No. Papel picado is used for Día de los Muertos, but also for Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo, Christmas posadas, birthdays, quinceañeras, baptisms, first communions, weddings and Hispanic Heritage Month events. It is also everyday décor in Mexican restaurants and businesses. Browse ideas by occasion in the celebrations section of this page.

Papel picado comes from Mexico, where it developed as a folk art of cutting decorative designs into paper. Historians link it to earlier Mesoamerican traditions of making and decorating paper and to the tissue paper that arrived through colonial-era trade, but its exact origins are debated. Today it is most closely associated with central Mexico and is used throughout the country.

Plastic papel picado can. Ours is waterproof with UV protection and made to handle rain, wind and extended outdoor use. Tissue paper papel picado is best indoors or in covered outdoor spaces, because it has no waterproofing and is designed for single use.

Yes. Papel picado is a widely recognized Mexican folk art, and schools, offices, libraries and cultural organizations use it in Hispanic Heritage Month displays (September 15 to October 15). It represents Mexican tradition specifically, so pair it with decorations from other cultures when your event celebrates the wider Hispanic and Latino community.