Ethiopians are celebrating the annual Meskel festival, the first big festival of the Ethiopian religious year. Thousands celebrated the eve of the festival, known as Demera, by gathering in Meskel Square in the heart of the capital city, Addis Ababa. They are joined by hundreds of priests and deacons from churches around the city, who bring drums and ornate crosses used in religious ceremonies. The bonfire signifies the efforts made by St Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, to find the cross while in Jerusalem in the 4th Century. It was in Jerusalem, the story goes, that St Helena was advised to light a fire that would show her where to look.

Source: Ethiopian News September 27, 2018 12:00 UTC