Witness The Vibrant Colours, Joyful Dances, And Spiritual Significance Of Meskel In Ethiopia
As the sun rises over Ethiopia in September, just after the long rainy season, Ethiopian Holidays invites you to embark on a journey of a lifetime with their exclusive Meskel Celebration packages. Known as one of the most revered holidays in the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar, Meskel celebrates the historic finding of the True Cross. This tradition dates back to the 4th century, when Roman Empress Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, had a vision to light a bonfire that led to the discovery of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
Ethiopia’s Meskel Eve, known as Demera, is marked with vibrant bonfires at dusk, beautifully adorned with seasonal yellow “Meskel” flowers. The sight of these flames lighting up the night, paired with the joyous sound of singing and dancing, is a truly captivating experience. The celebration doesn’t end there; on Meskel Day itself, the atmosphere is alive with festivity. Friends and families gather, donning their finest, and the celebrations culminate with many Orthodox Christians marking their foreheads with the sign of the cross using ashes from the Demera fire.
For those eager to witness this cultural marvel firsthand, their carefully crafted Meskel Celebration packages offer a unique opportunity to explore Ethiopia, the Land of Origins. You can also partake in a special half-day tour of the Meskel Festival in Addis Ababa on September 26, 2024. This tour is perfect for travellers with stopover flight times between 13:30 and 20:00, allowing you to immerse yourself in the vibrant cultural and religious traditions of Meskel without altering your travel plans. Starting at 14:30 from either Skylight Hotel or Bole International Airport, this tour takes you to Meskel Square, where you will witness the highlight of the festival; the lighting of the massive Demera bonfire. Surrounding the bonfire, you’ll see colourful processions of priests, hear their soulful chants, and experience the pure joy that marks this celebration.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience of faith, culture, and tradition. Book now and let Ethiopian Airlines be your guide to Ethiopia’s Meskel Festival. Visit www.ethiopianholidays.com for bookings and more information.
For further Enquiries or Bookings Contact:
Nairobi City Office:
+254 701 223 493 / +254 701 223 970 / +254 723 786 649
Or
24 hours Toll free: +254 20 3892349
Or
Email: nbores@ethiopianairlines.com / nbocto@ethiopianairlines.com
*Terms and conditions apply
Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is the fastest-growing airlines brand globally and the continent’s largest airline brand. In its seventy-seven years of successful operations, Ethiopian, the fastest growing airline, has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it is also pursuing its multi-hub strategy through a hub in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet category consists of ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft. Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secured, market driven and customer focused Passenger and Cargo Transport and Logistics, Aviation Training, Airport Management and Ground Services, MRO and Aerospace Manufacturing and Travel and Tourism Services. As a multi-award-winning airline, Ethiopian has been the champion in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for six consecutive years among others. The airline has been a Star Alliance member since 2011 and has been registering more than threefold growth in the past 10 years. For more at: www.ethiopianairlines.com
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