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Maskel - (The finding of the true cross)
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Dates:- September 26- 28 ,2008
Flight Info: Getting here
Tips: Visa |
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Meskal,
meaning 'cross', is one of the most important festivals
in Ethiopia. It has an incredibly old history, allegedly
first celebrated in AD 326. The annual event is a huge
feast celebrating the legendary finding of the True Cross
on which Christ is said to have been crucified.
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Briefly,
there are three main accounts of how the True Cross
was found. First, there is the tale of how the Empress
Helena, Constantine the Great's mother, set off
for Jerusalem to find the "life-giving cross".
After a great many tests and challenges she forced
the Jews to tell her where she might find the Cross
(under the hill of Golgotha).
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The second account, which is the most popular, tells
how Helena went off on her search but rather than
the Jews telling her where the Cross was, she found
it by lighting incense and following the smoke as
it descended to earth.
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The
third account attributes the find to Queen
Sheba.
Beyond the story of how it was found, there
is also the tale of how it came to Ethiopia,
which is related in a 15th century volume
known as the Tefut, located in the remote
mountain monastery of Gishen Mariam in Northern
Showa.
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In
Addis, large crowds of clergy and lay people gather
in Meskal square near the Church of Saint George and
the Municipality. A colourful procession gathers around
the huge pyramid and the torch bearers move forward
in unison to set the pyramid alight.
Around the area, feasting, drinking, dancing, playful
fighting, courting and flirting go on late into the
night.
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The
next day people return to the fire to make the sign
of the Cross in the remaining ashes.
Whatever the history and whichever the particular
form of celebration Meskal takes, the sheer lushness
and beauty of Ethiopia at this time of the year, and
the energy with which Ethiopians celebrate this important
event in their calendar, make it a fascinating and
joyous festival to attend.
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Itinerary |
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Day
01 - Sep 25-arrive Addis
Day 02 - Sep 26-in Addis (Meskal Day Procession)
Day 03 - Sep 27-fly to Axum
Day 04 - Sat Sep 28-fly to Lalibela
Day 05 - Sep 29-in Lalibela
Day 06 - Sep 30-fly to Gondar
Day 07 - Oct 01- fly to Bahir Dar
Day 08 - Oct 02-fly to Addis
Day 09 - Oct 03- fly to Harar
Day 10 - Oct 04- fly to Addis
Day 11 - Oct 05- departure |
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Contact person: Abita Getachew
info@amazingethiopia.com
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