In 2025, Meskel (Finding of the True Cross) will be celebrated on September 27, 2025 (Saturday), which corresponds to Meskerem 17, 2018 E.C. in the Ethiopian calendar.
Meskel commemorates the 4th-century discovery of the True Cross by Roman Empress Helena (Queen Eleni). According to Ethiopian church history, Helena was guided in a dream to light a smoke fire, and the rising column of incense and smoke bent downwards to point to the exact burial spot of the Holy Cross on Mount Golgotha. Celebrated on Meskerem 17 (September 27 or 28), it was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
Meskel (Finding of the True Cross) in 2025 takes place on September 27, 2025 (Saturday). On the Ethiopian calendar, this date is Meskerem 17, 2018 E.C. (መስከረም ፲፯ ቀን ፳፻፲፰ ዓ.ም.).
Yes. It is an official federal public holiday throughout Ethiopia. All federal and regional ministries, commercial banks, universities, schools, and major financial institutions remain closed.
The most common greeting is "እንኳን ለመስቀል በዓል በሰላም አደረሳችሁ!" (Enkuan le'Meskel ba'al beselam aderesachu!), which means "Happy Meskel / May you celebrate Meskel in peace!". The traditional response is "እንኳን አብሮ አደረሰን!" (May we celebrate it together!).
Celebrations traditionally feature Kitfo (minced lean beef warmed in spiced clarified butter (Niter Kibbeh) and Mitmita chili), Doro Wat with soft fresh Injera, Kocho (flatbread prepared from the fermented stem of the Enset false banana tree), Traditional home-brewed Tella and Tej, served with fresh Injera flatbread and traditional hospitality.
Holiday gatherings in Ethiopia and the diaspora are filled with precious elder stories, church liturgies, and songs. Record them on your phone, and let Andebet transcribe every word in Amharic, Afaan Oromo, or Tigrinya into native Ge'ez fidel and Latin scripts.