Ethiopian meskel fetival

It is on Spetember 26 Upon arrival in Addis Ababa FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Harmony Hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day we visit the National Museum, where we will view the 3.6-million-year-old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeleton was discovered in 1974. We also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University. You will have a lunch break and in Lucy Gazebo Restaurant. After lunch you will drive to Meskel Square. This day is the eve of Meskel (“The Finding of True Cross”) called Demera. A huge bonfire is built, topped with a cross to which flowers are tied. The patriarch of the Orthodox Church leads the lightening ceremony. After the bonfire is blessed dancing and singing begins around it and an inner feeling of brightness spreads through all those around it. Meskel is one of the major Ethiopian orthodox festivals celebrated on 27th September. This festival celebrates "The Finding of the True Cross" (the cross upon which Jesus was crucified) by the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, in the 4th Century. When Empress Helena, in her fruitless search for the Holy Sepulcher, lit incense and prayed for help from God, she was compelled to follow the perfumed smoke to a particular place on the ground – digging, she found three crosses, one of which is said to be the True Cross. After attending the festival, you will be transferred to your hotel.