Roots and Fruits

Welcome to the “Roots and Fruits” blog… where Spontaneous Celebrations’s past and present are celebrated. Have a story to share? Send it our way!

Spontaneous Celeberations 9/27/22 Spontaneous Celeberations 9/27/22

Our History of Lantern Making!

When we started the JPLP in 1984, we made lanterns by finger painting on paper, which after it dried, we would coat with vegetable oil to make it translucent. The base and candle holder were made from card board…

Spontaneous Celeberations 10/20/21 Spontaneous Celeberations 10/20/21

“The Dancer of Light” (1985)

This is a story adapted from an old Sufi Tale, as was told by Dev Luthra after attending the first Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade.

THE DANCER OF LIGHT

In the beginning there was the dancer of Light.

And she danced across the Universe, hopping from star to star, leaping from galaxy to galaxy. She was filled with light, shining her light across the sky.

Spontaneous Celeberations 10/20/21 Spontaneous Celeberations 10/20/21

“A Ritual is Born” (1984)

A RITUAL IS BORN, Helen Hummel, JP Arts News, November 1984

On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, October 27 & 28 over 100 children and adults made paper “lampoons” at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse. These colorful lanterns with painted, stamped, leaf-printed and inked designs were made for the Lantern Parade Around the Pond at sunset, November 3rd…

Spontaneous Celebrations 9/1/21 Spontaneous Celebrations 9/1/21

“Imagine!” (1994)

This poem was inspired by a visit to 45 Danforth Street in 1994 when Femke, Zafiro, and Menelik hoped the building might become a home for Spontaneous Celebrations.

Spontaneous Celeberations 8/1/21 Spontaneous Celeberations 8/1/21

Meet Femke

"My greatest joy over the past 20+ years has been seeing the building full of children and other people working together on preparations for the Tropical Fiesta, Wake Up the Earth Festival, and Lantern Parade.”

Spontaneous Celeberations 7/1/21 Spontaneous Celeberations 7/1/21

Meet Menelik

“I remember this time of building something together as joyful and rewarding.”

Spontaneous Celeberations 6/1/21 Spontaneous Celeberations 6/1/21

Meet Zafiro

"We shared what we envisioned happening in this space. Inspired by the potential of the building, we also felt a commitment to make those words real… to make our ideas tangible.”

Festival Roots
- Sep 27, 2022 Our History of Lantern Making!
- Oct 20, 2021 “The Dancer of Light” (1985)
- Oct 20, 2021 “A Ritual is Born” (1984)
Roots
- Sep 1, 2021 “Imagine!” (1994)
- Aug 1, 2021 Meet Femke
- Jul 1, 2021 Meet Menelik
- Jun 1, 2021 Meet Zafiro