Meskel is a religious holiday in Ethiopia, which is celebrated on September 27, in leap years the celebration is shifted one day ahead. Meskel is one of the country's central religious events.
Meskel in translation from Amharic (the state language of Ethiopia) means a cross. The origin of the holiday is rooted in the depths of the centuries, it was celebrated already in the fourth century AD. In Russian, the name means "The Search for the True Cross".
Tradition says that on this day the cherished dream of the mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine, Helen, came true. She found the Cross of the Lord, on which Jesus Christ was martyred. There are many versions of how this happened.
One of them says that she achieved success in her search through tireless work and endless questioning of the Jews, which eventually pointed to its intended place.
According to another version of incense, he paved the way for her with smoke and eventually pointed to the place where the cross was hidden.
The third option says it was found by Queen Sheba, who had donkey hooves instead of feet. One day she tripped over a piece of wood and miraculously healed, this piece turned out to be the True Cross.
In honor of the completion of her search in the main square of Jerusalem, Elena lit a fire. The flames rose so high that their reflections were visible in Ethiopia.
The holiday is celebrated massively and solemnly. People decorate the branches with yellow daisies and carry them from all over Addis Ababa to the main square. The patriarch makes a speech, and a pyramid is folded from the branches and set on fire after a colorful procession. Sunday school students also participate in the performance. This is considered a great honor. To do this, they dress up in colorful capes with embroidered crosses and perform theatrical performances.
When the sun sets, the unofficial part of the celebrations begins. Dancing and singing are arranged. The holiday lasts all night until dawn. By morning the fire goes out and people go home.
All over the country there are special traditions of this holiday. For example, in some regions of the country it even lasts a week.