Ethiopian Families Gather in Oakland to Celebrate Meskel

Oakland North | By: Mariel Waloff and Alex Park

September 30, 2011

Hundreds of Ethiopian immigrants and their families from around the Bay Area gathered at the Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral on Mountain Boulevard Sunday for Meskel, or the finding of the True Cross, one of the most important holidays in the Coptic Christian calendar and a national holiday in Ethiopia.

“In Ethiopia, no one misses Meskel,” said Rebecca Bekele, an Ethiopian immigrant who came for the day from Fremont. “We’re used to gathering and celebrating in this manner, so it really reconnects us to our country and our church.”

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