Thousands gathered on Thursday at the top of Chom’a Hill in Tigray’s capital, Mekelle, to celebrate the annual festival of Meskel.
Meskel, a Tigrigna word for “Cross,” commemorates the discovery of the True Cross. Across Tigray, people gather in public squares and near churches to light bonfires made from piles of logs, dry leaves, and grass. However, the celebration at Chom’a Hill, featuring the largest bonfire in the capital, attracts the most attendees.
Tigray Interim Administration President Getachew Reda, alongside his deputy, General Tsadkan Gebretnsae, and Mekelle Mayor Yitbarek Amha, attended the event. In his speech, President Getachew called for political unity, upholding peace, and development in the region.
This year’s Meskel comes at a difficult moment for Tigray. The region, which endured a two-year-long genocidal war, continues to grapple with a post-war crisis. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees remain in shelters, lacking essential supplies like food and medicine, while many areas including the entire Western Zone of Tigray remain under occupation.
Worsening to the difficulties, internal strife within the TPLF has created a sense of insecurity across areas governed by the Tigray Interim Administration.
For many Tigrayans, this day is not just a holiday but also a solemn occasion to remember the massacre in AdiDaero, Northwestern Tigray. On this day in 2022, what began as a peaceful morning quickly turned to tragedy when Eritrean forces launched an airstrike on the small town, bombarding it multiple times and killing numerous civilians, most of them children.
Historically, the Meskel festival, which celebrates the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, also commemorates its recovery by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. According to legend, Saint Helena had a dream instructing her to light a bonfire and follow the smoke to locate the cross buried in Jerusalem.
Meskel is one of Tigray’s most cherished religious holidays, marked by rituals and festivities across the region. Religious processions took place before the largest bonfire was lit at Chom’a Hill.
Chom’a Hill is central to the Damera celebration, where thousands of believers descend the hill with burning fire sticks on the eve of Meskel. The zigzagging road they follow creates a glowing trail visible from the city below.
One of the key features of Chom’a Hill is the giant metal cross, believed to be the tallest in Africa and the eighth tallest in the world. The cross stands 52 meters high and 29 meters wide. Its 12 legs symbolize the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, while its height represents the 52 weeks of prayer by Saint Yared and the 52 weeks in a year.
For Luis Mora, a visitor we spoke with at Chom’a Hill, “Whoever misses Meskel here is missing something big.”
Luis Mora, 62, arrived in Mekelle from Cáceres, Extremadura in Spain. Since his arrival on Tuesday, he “has visited monasteries and churches in Tigray.” He expressed his admiration for the region, stating, “Tigray deserves a lot of visitors. You have such a rich history.”
Today, the larger celebration of Meskel is taking place in Adigrat, a town in the Eastern Zone of Tigray.