Millions of Christians across Ethiopia gather to celebrate Meskel, a holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman empress Helena in the 4th century. Celebrations include public festivities and large-scale community observances, reflecting the holiday’s religious significance.
The Washington Times notes that celebrations take place even as fighting continues in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray. Other reporting emphasizes the scale and cultural prominence of the holiday and its historical roots, without focusing as directly on the security situation. Together, the accounts describe Meskel’s broad participation while acknowledging that conflict in parts of the country affects conditions in the same period.
