Tissue Paper Papel Picado for Cinco de Mayo

Tissue paper papel picado is the traditional form of papel picado: sheets of thin tissue paper cut into lacy designs such as flowers, birds and geometric patterns, then strung together as a banner. It is used across Mexico for holidays, fiestas and family celebrations, including Cinco de Mayo. The Fiesta Wraps set is made from real tissue paper cutouts: five banners with ten flags each.

Yes, in a covered or sheltered spot. Tissue paper has no waterproof coating, so it does best under a patio roof, porch, tent or covered pergola, and it should come down before rain or overnight dew. Strong wind can tear the flags, so tie the strings firmly. For an open backyard or a display that will stay up for days, plastic papel picado is the more practical choice.

Handle the banners by the string rather than the flags. Unpack them slowly, let them unfold, then tie or clip the string ends to hooks, removable adhesive hooks, curtain rods or ribbon loops. Leave a slight sag instead of pulling the string tight, and avoid taping the paper flags directly, because tape can tear tissue when it comes off.

Sometimes. The Fiesta Wraps tissue banners are designed for single use, but with gentle handling they can be carefully stored and reused. Take them down by the string, lay each banner flat or loosely folded in a box with a sheet of paper between layers, and keep the box somewhere dry. Expect some wear; if reusing every year matters most, choose plastic.

It depends on where you are celebrating. Choose tissue paper for an indoor or covered party where you want the traditional, delicate look and the way light shines through the paper. Choose plastic if the decorations will be outdoors in sun, wind or rain, or if you want to reuse them every year; see our plastic papel picado for Cinco de Mayo.

Count the runs you plan to hang. Each banner in the Fiesta Wraps set is 14.8 ft long, so with a gentle sag one banner covers a run of roughly 13 ft. A single table or doorway needs one banner, while a dining room with four or five rows across the ceiling uses the full set of five, 74 ft of banner. See the planning guide.

The Fiesta Wraps tissue papel picado banners are handcrafted in Central Mexico by skilled artisans, from real tissue paper cutouts. You can see all of our papel picado and handmade piñatas on the Mexican party supplies hub.