Day of the Dead Altar Exhibit Comes to Life in East Boston

“We bring joy to everything we do,” said Karina Barreto, the company’s director of corporate development and partnerships. center which celebrates Hispanic and Latino cultures and supports economic growth in the community. “It’s really beautiful. You can see the love of people just showing up and getting together.”

Because the Hispanic and Latino population quickly spread throughout the country Over the past few years, the nonprofit has seen exponential growth in demand for its services, such as youth classes and cultural enrichment, as well as festival attendance, which has grown by the thousands, Barreto said.

Even the 4,000-square-foot building where classes are now held has become too small, she said.

Census data released this year showed that Massachusetts had the largest increase nationwide between 2010 and 2022 by the share of immigrants in the state’s total population, with the majority coming from Latin America, and that Hispanic and Latino population since 2013, the state has grown by one third.

“We want to be able to share our culture and our pride,” Barreto said. “Festivals are a way to bring everyone together and we are seeing more and more calls for cross-cultural work.”

At the embankment gallery, most of the volunteers were young people studying at Harvard and Northeastern universities. For many of them, participation in the planning and assembly of altars, or ofrendas, had deep meaning, especially for those who came from Mexico or were of Mexican descent.

“This is a celebration of those memories,” said Michelle Segura, vice president of the Mexican Student Association at Harvard University. “Having a party, celebrating it and making it beautiful – and we love to share that.”

The volunteers became unrecognizable in the black boxes stacked on top of each other. they draped them with fabric, created complex compositions of bright flowers, hung picado paper around the edges and decorated altars. with various items such as a Red Sox skeleton bobblehead, pan de muerto (or “bread of the dead”) artwork, and ceramic dolls in traditional dresses.

Preserving these cherished traditions “brings back a piece of home to us,” said Fernando Rubio, a member of the Harvard group, adding that he believes it is vital that students build strong relationships with the Latino community in East Boston. “It’s very nice to be here, but also remember where your roots come from.”

The altar exhibits honored the lives and legacies of organ donors, those who died trying to cross the Mexico-U.S. border, and mothers whose children went missing as a result of cartel-fueled violence. There were intricately placed candles, an arch decorated with large paper flowers and vines, and massive inflatable skulls.

Miriam Hernandez, who grew up in Ciudad Juarez, a border city neighboring El Paso, Texas, said she and her family honor loved ones during the holidays by visiting cemeteries. More than 2000 miles from home and unable to do so, Hernandez said it was special for her to celebrate a “beautiful holiday” in East Boston, where she immediately felt welcome, hearing many residents speak Spanish and seeing many Mexican restaurants.

“I was very amazed and surprised that I was given such a space because it is such an important place,” said Hernandez, a member of the Harvard group. “I’m proud of it. I’m very happy.”

The exhibition opens on Sunday in the morning, followed by an afternoon parade in the park at Central Square, where the Day of the Dead festival will take place until the evening. Barreto said she expects at least 10,000 people to attend the event.

“We couldn’t do this without the support of the community,” she said.

Shannon Larson can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @shannonlarson98.