Ethiopians from around the Bay Area came to Medhane Alem church in Oakland on Sunday to celebrate Meskel… During the late afternoon celebration, crowds gathered in the soft glow of the afternoon sun to eat injera, recite prayers, and dance around a replica of the True Cross, which was lit on fire soon after sunset….Today, the holiday is as much an occasion for the Ethiopian diaspora to celebrate their roots as it is a community event to raise funds for traditional religious institutions like the Medhane Alem church, and an occasion to spend time with friends and family.
Read the the full story and see a photo slideshow by Mark Anderson at Oakland North.