Shake It: The Ancient Instrument, Reprinted in Gold

Pick up a maraca and you're holding one of the oldest kinds of instrument there is. Shake it once and you'll understand why it never went out of style.

From gourds to gold

Maracas come from the Indigenous peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, including the Taíno. Players dried a hollow gourd, filled it with seeds or pebbles, and fixed it to a handle. The design was so simple and worked so well that it barely changed for centuries. Today maracas keep the beat in salsa, cumbia, Afro-Cuban music and every kindergarten music class.

Party trivia: Cinco de Mayo, the holiday maracas get bought for most often, is not Mexican Independence Day. That's September 16. Cinco de Mayo marks the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when the Mexican army defeated invading French forces against long odds.

Our maracas

Each maraca is 3D printed at 8 inches long and makes a real, crisp shake. Choose from three looks:

• Opulent gold with a matching black handle
• Sleek black with a matching black handle
• Playful pink with an elegant gold handle

Want a different combination, like your team colors, your wedding palette or a rainbow? Message us and we'll print it.

Ways to use them

• Party favors for fiestas, birthdays and Cinco de Mayo
• Table decor that guests can actually pick up and play
• Real percussion for jam sessions, church bands and music teachers
• Photo props at weddings and graduation parties
• First instruments for little musicians, with supervision for the littlest hands

More party pieces

Keep the celebration going with our wine glass charms, which help every guest keep track of their drink.

See everything else we print in our 3D printed guide.