President Taye Conveys Best Wishes on Meskel-Demera Holiday

Addis Ababa, September 26, 2026 (ENA) —President Taye Atske Selassie has conveyed a congratulatory message to Ethiopian Christians on the occasion of the Meskel-Demera holiday, wishing them a peaceful and joyous celebration.

In his message, the President wished followers of the Christian faith a peaceful Ethiopian 2019 Demera and Meskel celebration, expressing his hope that the holiday would be marked by benevolence, kindness, peace and mutual goodwill.

Meskel, a Ge’ez term meaning “Cross,” commemorates the finding of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

The Meskel Festival was inscribed in 2013 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The festival is celebrated annually on September 27, with the eve marked by the lighting of Demera, a large ceremonial bonfire traditionally built from bundles of wood and decorated with Ethiopian daisies.

The celebration is observed across Ethiopia, with the Demera ceremony bringing together communities for religious chants, prayers and traditional performances.

In Addis Ababa, thousands have gathered at Meskel Square for the central celebration, where the bonfire is traditionally lit as part of the commemoration.

Beyond its religious significance, Meskel is an important expression of Ethiopia’s cultural heritage and social cohesion, bringing together families and communities and emphasizing reconciliation, mutual care and peaceful coexistence.