The true cross

The true cross or The Ethiopian Meskel celebration is an annual religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church , and is held to commemorate the discovery of the True Cross upon which Jesus was crucified by the Romans.

The legend goes that in the 4th century BC in the year 326 AD the Roman Empress Helena who is known as Nigist Eleni in Ethiopia received a vision in a dream telling her where to find the cross. In accordance with the dream , she ordered the people of of Jerusalem to collect wood , then she made a bonfire and the smoke from a huge bonfire apparently indicated the location/direction to the spot where the cross was buried.

In the Middle Ages, half of the cross was given to Emperor Dawit of Ethiopia by the Patriarch of Alexandria in appreciation of protection offered to Coptic Christians that's why meskel is the most important religious holiday in Ethiopia because it's believed that a piece of the cross Saint Helena discovered was brought to Ethiopia and is housed in the mountains of Amba Geshen.

The Ethiopia True Cross festival is held in Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Meskel Square is named after the festival, and every year on September thousands of Ethiopians descend on the space dressed in colourful robes. It’s there that the Demera, a large bonfire in commemoration of that of Empress Helena, is constructed.

The occasion usually starts on the eve of Meskel and the Demera procession take place during the day with planting long tree branches are tied together and yellow daises called meskel are placed on top. Priests, Students , Religious leaders from all over Addis Ababa congregate with the people to bang drums and wave ornate crosses and set ablaze.

The people toss flaming torches which they are carrying at the damera , singing a special Meskel song as they circle it. Around individual homes , little demeras are built as well .

The damera/ bonfire burns until it turns entirely into ashes. After the bonfire has died out, believers collect the charcoal and use it to mark the shape of a cross on their forehead.

Many Ethiopians believe that the Demera bonfire has the power to cancel sins, while others think the direction of the smoke and the way the bonfire collapses can be used to predict the future. Rain is usually expected to fall to put out the fire and when it does , the year is expected to be a prosperous one . Around individual homes, little demeras are built and in most villages , the celebration continue through the night.

The next day which is the actual meskel and there is a lot to eat an drink as people celebrate together . 27-Sep-23 @ evening