A mark after the fireSourced
Meskel’s bonfire leaves charcoal for a cross on the forehead
Meskel is a Christian celebration observed in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Its large Demera bonfire uses flower-decorated wood. A tradition described in the article has believers collect the remaining charcoal to mark a cross on their foreheads.
The celebration continues with what the fire leaves behind.
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Meskel · Wikimedia contributors
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Reviewed: 2026-10-10