This year's Meskel Demera festival was celebrated in a magnificent and vibrant manner at Meskel Square, attended by a large crowd and many tourists!
Gratitude is due to all those who ensured the festival concluded peacefully and splendidly, while upholding its true essence.
"Even though we each have diverse cultures, languages, religions, and identities, when we stand together—just like the Demera—we become a light that conquers darkness!"
Mayor Adanech Abiebie
In her address at the Meskel Demera ceremony held at Meskel Square, Mayor Adanech Abiebie stated that the festival is a shared cultural asset and one of the major public events celebrated with great grandeur while preserving its religious significance.

Noting that the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ represent the truth through which humanity transitioned from darkness to light, Mayor Adanech emphasized the need to build a society grounded in lasting peace by embracing the values ​​of forgiveness and love taught by the faith. She noted that the festival, having been registered by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, has elevated the country's image and showcased its cultural wealth.

She remarked that just as the torches circling the *Demera* fill the area with light when they converge, the community becomes an unshakeable force for the nation when it stands united despite its differences.
Highlighting Addis Ababa’s emergence as a global attraction and a model of urban transformation, the Mayor stated that events like *Meskel* provide an opportunity to showcase the city's hospitality and Ethiopian identity to the world.

She expressed her gratitude for the contributions made, noting that the successful and vibrant celebration of such major events in the capital was made possible not only by government efforts but through the coordinated cooperation of the public, religious leaders, choirs, youth, volunteers, and security personnel.

Finally, she extended her best wishes for the New Year, hoping it would be a time when we shine brightly in unity, reconcile past grievances, and establish lasting peace across all parts of Ethiopia through love and collective effort. Happy Holiday
May the Creator bless Ethiopia and its people.
Mayor Adanech Abiebie