Ethiopia is preparing to celebrate the Meskel Festival, which begins with the lighting of the iconic Demera (bonfire) ceremony tonight, the eve of the main religious holiday. Meskel is a major religious festival commemorating the traditional finding of the True Cross—the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The celebration honors the finding of the Cross by Empress Helena after it was unearthed from where it had been buried.

Meskel is globally recognized as the country’s first element inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a status it achieved in 2013G.C.

The Demera ceremony, which is being staged most prominently at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, marks the historical commemoration of Queen Helena’s successful excavation and finding of the True Cross, upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. The lighting of the massive bonfire symbolizes the smoke that is believed to have guided Queen Helena to the burial site.

The actual Meskel Festival will be observed tomorrow, Meskerem 17 (September 27), but the preparations and the Demera spectacle are a powerful reflection of social unity, interdependence, and cultural diversity across Ethiopia.

More than just a religious event observed by Ethiopian Christians, the festival carries profound social significance. It is a time when the faithful are religiously obligated to seek reconciliation, resolve disagreements peacefully, and renew their spiritual lives. It serves as a major social occasion for family reunions and often draws members of the Ethiopian diaspora home, uniting citizens regardless of age, gender, or language.

The festival and its traditions, passed down through generations, continue to foster strong bonds between the cultures of various ethnic groups, making it one of the most vibrant and historically significant celebrations in the country.