The month of September is an important month of celebrations in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian celebrations that falls within this month on the Gregorian calendar are the Ethiopian New Year celebrations known as Enkutatash which falls on September. For over 1600 years, Meskel has been celebrated in Ethiopia and it is probably the most important festival after the Timkat.

Orthodox priests lit a bonfire in the heart of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Monday evening to mark the eve of Meskel, a festival to mark the finding of the cross of Jesus.
Tens of thousands of people, many holding up candles in the failing light as the sun set, crowded on terraces around the square where the ceremony was led by the head of Ethiopia’s Christian Orthodox church, Patriarch Abune Mathias.
The colourful and elaborate ceremony was attended by President Mulatu Teshome and deputy mayor of the capital, Takele Uma.
Today’s procession saw participants including priests and students dressed in long white religious robes and head gears amid singing of spiritual songs whiles they circle the bonfire which is fuelled by firewood decorated with daisies prior to the celebration

What is Meskel about?
The annual event which falls on September 27 or September 28 in a leap year commemorates the fourth century discovery by Roman Empress Saint Helena (Queen Eleni) of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
The festival, is also celebrated by Eritrean Orthodox churches. It is marked by the burning of a large bonfire and a procession (Demera) which witnesses tens of thousands of adherents and tourists gather at the Meskel Square.

The bonfire and procession commemorates the belief that Queen Eleni – as she is called by the Orthodox churches – was directed to the true cross through a dream in which she was told to start a bonfire and follow the smoke to where the cross was buried.
The procession is either held on the evening before the festival or on the day itself. Little processions are also held at homes and rain is expected at the end of the event to put out the fire. If the rain falls, the year is expected to be prosperous.
Ashes from the remains of the fire is collected the next day and used to mark the foreheads of faithful with the sign of the cross. A feast is held afterwards. It is also held in Eritrea’s capital Asmara and other parts of the country.

Ashes from the remains of the fire is collected the next day and used to mark the foreheads of faithful with the sign of the cross. A feast is held afterwards. It is also held in Eritrea’s capital Asmara and other parts of the country.

Demera: The Eve of Meskel
Marked with feasting, dancing and all kinds of merrymaking with bonfires and gun salutes, the occasion usually starts on the eve of Meskel with the planting of a green tree in town squares and markets. Long tree branches are tied together and yellow daises called meskel are placed on top.
The branches are gathered together in a bundle called demera and set ablaze by a procession of people – priests, students, etc. The people toss flaming torches which they are carrying at the demera, singing a special Meskel song as they circle it. Around individual homes, little demeras are built as well

The demera burns until it turns entirely into ashes. As it burns and collapses, the direction which the demera falls is interpreted as a sign or portent. Rain is usually expected to fall to put out the fire and when it does, the year is expected to be a prosperous one. In most villages, the celebration continue through the night.
The next day which is the actual meskel, people go to the spot of the demera and use the ashes to mark their foreheads with the sign of the cross. There is a lot to eat and drink as people celebrate together. One of the significant occurrences of the festival is the coinciding with the mass blooming of meskel flowers, the golden yellow daisies.