Next: 28 Sept 2027
Meskel
A tall bonfire crowned with yellow Meskel daisies, lit at dusk before crowds in white.
The colours of Meskel
Meskel celebrates the finding of the True Cross by the empress Helena, who is said to have been guided to it by the smoke of a fire. On the eve, a great cone of poles and branches called the demera is built in the main square of each town. It is topped with a cross and covered with bunches of the yellow daisies that flower in September and are named Meskel flowers after the feast. Priests in gold, red and purple robes circle the pile with chanting and drums, and the crowd, wrapped in white cotton, holds thin candles. At dusk the demera is lit. Afterwards people mark a cross on their foreheads with the grey ash.
#F8D210Meskel daisyThe yellow flowers tied to the bonfire.#F2711CDemera flameThe bonfire at dusk.#FBFAF3Shamma whiteThe white cotton of the crowd.#7A7772Ash greyAsh marked on the forehead afterwards.Values are fair approximations, not official shades.
Read about the colours
Also part of it, and being written: Orange (Firelight.).
Written by the Rang desk with AI assistance. Background: "Meskel" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.