Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray

WELKITE, Ethiopia — Millions of Christians in Ethiopia gathered to celebrate Meskel, a religious holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman empress Helena in the 4th century, even as fighting continued in the troubled northern region of Tigray.

Meskel holds added significance in Ethiopia, a largely agrarian society, as it marks, along with the Ethiopian New Year, the end of the rainy season and the beginning of spring.

This year’s celebration comes as Ethiopia is once again facing conflict in its volatile far northern region of Tigray, which has since spilled over into neighboring Amhara and Afar regions. There are fears the fighting could draw in neighboring Eritrea as a proxy actor.

Kibrom Yohannes had traveled from Denmark to mark the holiday in Adigrat in Tigray and celebrate with his extended family. But his flight to the troubled region was suddenly canceled after a conflict he had