BY STAFF REPORTER
Today, Ethiopians, followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church, are marking the Meskel Festival. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox Church followers, adorned with artistically made traditional attires and singing religious songs, celebrated the annual bonfire ceremony – Demera– the burning of a large bonfire commemorated to signify St Helena’s effort to find the cross on which Jesus was crucified on.
People, irrespective of religious, ethnic, traditional customs, beliefs or any other background, which are of course the basis of their strength and solidarity, celebrated Demera warmly and colorfully at Meskel Square, in the presence of hundreds of thousands people.
Demera and Meskel are one of the religious festivals that demonstrate Ethiopians unity, togetherness and fraternity. As the festival is a time of unity and togetherness for Ethiopians, yesterday, on the eve of the Meskel Festival, leaders and devotees of all religions have shown their love, togetherness and fraternity for their Christian brothers and sisters by cleaning up and preparing the venue- The Meskel Square- where the Demera festival takes place.
“Today taking part in the cleaning and preparing activities of the Meskel Square for Demera Festival, we appreciate the good deeds that leaders and followers of all religions have carried out concertedly to express their best wishes on Demera-Meskel through cleaning and preparing the Meskel Square. Our unity, being the basis of our strength and identity, source of our solidarity and a secret for our harmonious coexistence, as well as a tie that bond us, we have lived for centuries peacefully. The generation will further strengthen these valuable assets and will uphold this wonderful art and secret,” said Adanech Abiebie Mayor of Addis Ababa City.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has also extended his congratulatory message to Ethiopians on the celebration of the Meskel Festival.
As the Premier stated, Ethiopians are at the time that the rainy season is concluded and; they are entering into the time of the crispest and most impressive period of the year. It is at this time that we celebrate the festival – the discovery of the hidden cross.
Meskerem is also one of the months that show us how strong the bond that ties Ethiopians together is; and it is unbreakable.
As to him, in most cases, the way the festivals are celebrated, the Demera, the gathering, the bonfire, young people and children’s rite, the respect given to elders, the blessings and the good wishes extended to are similar. And when we watch these festivals being celebrated from north to south, and east to west in similar manner, it compels us to explore the deep bond that our country, Ethiopia, is interwoven.
When the bonfire is ablaze, the darkness leaves its place to the light, the coldness is substituted by hotness, desperateness would be replaced by hope. The bonfire heralds as we beat the difficult and challenging year and transcend to a new time. Even though no one tells us, the flowers blooming on the field, the radiant sky, birds’ song and the thundering sounds of the whip testify that Meskerem has arrived. Following the festivals and other similar incidents that come with the season, Meskerem is a special month and a great symbol for Ethiopians. And Ethiopians, though passed through a lot of ups and downs, we have reached to the point where we are now.
Mentioning some of the plot nation’s enemies brewed against Ethiopia to weaken the country, the Premier said that despite the enormous evil intentions, Ethiopia has been able to register encouraging achievements in various aspects including economy, mitigating desertification, and filling of the Abay Hydro-Dam and generation of electricity.
Ethiopia has now taken the last option in order to save the country from disintegration; defend its sovereignty and safeguard its people. “The battle we have been carrying out now is aimed at realizing our historical responsibility of protecting our national interests from danger.”
Trying to teach the Ethiopian Government about peace is like tutoring fish how to swim and birds how to fly. No one has paid for peace as much as the Ethiopian Government has paid to it.
The Meskel Festival will be a rite that Ethiopia will overcome all the challenges; and Ethiopians hope for the better for the future. The Premier also called on all Ethiopians to stand together and exert efforts in order to address the national problems of the country.
