Music and chatter resounded Nov. 2 at Jamaica Plain’s Spontaneous Celebrations’ Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebration, the Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors the dead, believing their spirits return to reunite with family. The event took place at their building and outdoor space located on Danforth Street. 

Framed by arching oak trees and papel picado, a form of perforated, decorative paper, a pathway lined with candles, copal, or incense, and fragrant garlands of cempasúchil, or marigolds, called attention to a glowing cove of ofrendas, altars to remember deceased loved ones. These altars with offerings, created by families, welcomed the souls of the departed, inviting their spirits to temporarily return and be reunited with the living. 

“This is a sacred shrine, dedicated to our loved ones who are no longer with us on earth,” read a sign. 

Paula Cantor, a member of Spontaneous Celebrations’ programming committee and board of directors, stood among attendees, finishing an altar of her own. 

“This year, I’m the keeper of the Spontaneous Celebrations’ altar that we put up every year,” Cantor said. “It’s all of the people that were involved here that have passed — or as many as we can get.”

At the edge of the table, atop a colorful patterned tablecloth, stood a framed black-and-white photograph of Cantor’s parents, Stella and Norman Cantor. 

“This is when they got engaged, in the ‘50s. They’re both gone. My dad would’ve been 102 this year,” Cantor said. Next to the photograph were cards with their names and lists of things they each liked. 

“This year, I made an altar for my mom. Last year it was for a bunch of other friends,” said Jaymes Purtle, a drum instructor for Spontaneous Celebrations. He has participated in their Día de los Muertos celebration for at least 10 years, he said. As a musician, Purtle’s favorite part of the celebration is the mariachi band. 

When darkness fell, the Fire Ceremony, an important ritual that symbolizes the purification and connection between the physical world and the spiritual realm of the dead, commenced. 

“We’re going to start to the right, facing South,” said Rosalba Solis, the co-founder of Spontaneous Celebrations. “You aren’t dancing for you, you’re dancing for them, your ancestors.” 

Solis blew a conch shell, and drums began to play. She explained that four elements are needed for a native celebration: fire, earth, wind and water. 

“Anywhere you go in America, you are close to anybody that is in a native land, in a native place. … Those are our roots, that’s what I bring,” Solis said. “We didn’t have mariachis before.” 

Shoulder to shoulder, attendees encircled the fire to the beat of the drums, following Solis’ directions. 

“We conserve those traditions of the drum, those sounds got carried through the church. When they Christianized us, we were able to keep our culture in some way. Because there was no way you could take away everything,” she said. 

Huddled around the fire, one by one, people stood up with waxy lit candles and announced the names of their loved ones who had passed. A handwritten message and small piece of dark chocolate were attached to the dripping candles with red string. They tossed their candles into the fire as the drum played.

After a moment of silence, attendees passed around sweet, citrusy pan dulce and hearty, spiced hot chocolate.

“I want people to know that you are flesh, and you are going to die,” Solis said. “How do you want to be remembered? How do you want your family to remember you? If you don’t bring that up, you’re going to have this fear of death. Why do you have that fear? You’re dying every day. We are dying constantly but we are just not aware. Because we chose to not pay attention. We have to celebrate it.”