Cascarones or confetti eggs are festive, hollowed-out chicken eggs filled with confetti or small toys, originating in China. In Spanish, cáscara means eggshell. Cascarones are similar to the Easter eggs popular in many other countries.
Decorated, confetti-filled cascarones may be thrown or crushed over the recipient's head to shower him or her with confetti. In addition to Easter, cascarones have become popular for occasions including birthdays, Halloween, Cinco de Mayo, Dieciséis, Day of the Dead, and weddings (wedding cascarones can be filled with birdseed). Like many popular traditions in Mexico, cascarones are increasingly popular in the southwestern United States.
Having a cascarón broken over one's head is said to bring good luck.