Meskel

It is celebrated on the 27th of September to commemorate the finding of the true Cross by Empress Helena wife of Constantine the Great in the fourth century. The celebration is conducted on Squares where many people are gathered together.

The festival is announced by lighting a massive bonfire known as “Demera” that has been collected together. <br />According to tradition, Empress Helena was in need to find the True Cross and asked God help her and prayed for assistance to guide her. Accordingly, She ordered to light the “Demera”, then the smoke drifted towards the direction of the buried cross.  She dug and found three crosses, one of them was the True Cross used to crucify Jesus Christ, Empress Helena then gave a piece of the True cross to all churches, including the Ethiopian Church.