Traditional Mexican handcrafted toys are those made by artisans rather than manufactured in factories. The history of Mexican toys extends as far back as the Mesoamerican era, but many of the toys date to the colonial period. Many of these were introduced as teaching tools by evangelists and were associated with certain festivals and holidays.  These toys vary widely, including el trompo, el bolero, la matatena, las canicas, la lotería, las piñatas, and more—made of many materials, including wood, metal,  ceramic, and glass.   These toys remained popular throughout Mexico until the mid-20th century when commercially made, mostly plastic toys became widely available.