Tomorrow is the Meskel holiday

Friday 27th September marks the Meskel holiday which commemorates the 'finding of the true cross' by Empress Helena, mother of Constantine. Tonight, on the eve of Meskel, bonfires - called 'demera' - will be lit all around the city and at Meskel Square a giant demera will be built. A ceremony officiated by the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church will take place before the lighting of the demera. According to legend the direction in which the central pole of the giant demera falls will indicate the state of the nation for the year to come.