Meskel is a public holiday in Ethiopia, and it is observed on Meskerem 17 on the Ethiopian calendar, which is September 27 (or September 28 in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar.
Meskel is an important religious holiday commemorating the True Cross discovery by Saint Empress Helena in the fourth century. According to the legend, Saint Empress Helena was told how to find the cross in a dream. She ordered people to collect wood and make a huge pile when she woke. After the bonfire was lit, the smoke rose high and returned to the ground, where the Cross was buried.
Nowadays, the feast is held in Meskel Square in the capital city of Addis Ababa, and a bonfire is lit in commemoration of the bonfire lit by Empress Helena.
The following is the list of Meskel in Ethiopia from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Meskel | Sep 27, 2022 | Tuesday |
| Meskel | Sep 28, 2023 | Thursday |
| Meskel | Sep 27, 2024 | Friday |
| Meskel | Sep 27, 2025 | Saturday |
| Meskel | Sep 27, 2026 | Sunday |
Please check more public holidays in Ethiopia:
