Mexican American and Catholic communities gathered joyfully at the 10th annual “Día de los Muertos” celebration on Saturday.

“Día de los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead,” events at different L.A. area cemeteries — hosted by Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries of the L.A. Archdiocese — kicked off Saturday at the Calvary Cemetery and Mortuary in East L.A.

“This year’s celebrations will offer a unique opportunity for families to enjoy a Catholic tradition that unites faith, prayer and cultural heritage to honor the faithful departed,” a news release from the Archdiocese said.

Rooted in Aztec, Mexican and Catholic traditions, Día de los Muertos — celebrated each year at the end of October and beginning of November — is a time to remember the dead. Communities follow traditions like building ofrendas, or altars of offering, and displaying orange-golden marigolds, which symbolize sunshine and light.

Saturday’s gathering began with a Mass presided by Msgr. John Moretta, pastor of Resurrection Parish in Boyle Heights, followed by a procession around the mausoleum. Over 55 community-made ofrendas were blessed to honor the departed.

Festivities included folklorico dancers, arts and crafts, enjoying “pan de muerto” and fruits and candies, and calavera skull decorating.

There were performances by the all-female Mariachi Las Colibrí, Ballet Folklorico Resurrection, Mariachi Tierra Mexicana and Aztec dancers. Martin Tenorio Villagomez, an artist from Guanajuato, Mexico, created a live large-scale sawdust carpet depicting “La Ofrenda” image by sacred art specialist Lalo Garcia.

More Día de Los Muertos celebrations are scheduled for All Souls Day on Saturday.

They will be held at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills and Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.

More information is available at catholiccm.org/diadelosmuertos