Meskel
So today is Meskel Celebration in Ethiopia. According to the chronicles, the 27th of September marks the night where Queen Eleni figured the spot where Jesus Christ’s cross was burried. Long story-short, myth, or reality, it is believed that she was able to locate the cross following the smoke from a torch. So basically we are celebrating a day where an archeological advance was made lol. Thus, to commemorate that occasion we light up a torch at dusk with neighbors.
Since I have been away from home due to school, the anticipation to attend one of these parties was immense. However, due to a very awkward and vague regulation put forth by the government, we were not sure if there was going to be one at all. So in the morning, I left home undecided-with a probability that it was not going to happen.
However, that was not the case. By the time I reached home, my neighbors, mainly Messi and Woynua and Emama Abaye, have put up a massive bonfire awaiting our arrival.
A few moments later, we made our way to the gathering. Fresh movers, elders, kids, so many stray dogs kept us company. It was incredible. Time after time, we could hear firecrackers bursting from a distance. The blur reality of finding out if that was a firecracker or a gunshot kept us alert every minute.
Right after I made rounds giving away bread to the people seated in circles, I had a very strong and rather unusual nostalgic moment. I began reminiscing the times with my old-best friend whom I spent most of my childhood with. During holidays that came with a bonfire package, we often beg our parents to let us do it in either of our houses(ofc we would request for a sleepover which was, for the most part, denied lol). Sometimes, when both of our parents were in a good mood, they would come over to celebrate. While the elders were having alcohol and talking politics, we would be playing with the bonfire or pull out our DSs and just play. We had so little to worry about then. Our understanding of reality was very narrow that nothing beyond our little minds mattered.
Even though it has not been so many years since we last did this together (10–12 years) I have a very vague memory of how we used to do things. Of course, a lot has happened ever since; he has moved to the U.S. five-six years ago, our parents have moved to other parts of the city, we both have grown up to be ourselves, we have lost touch of mutual friends…
But massively, I have been having this recurring mental image of Ema(my aunt, my BFFs mom). I see her running lightly, simultaneously pulling her skirts up and when she reaches the bonfire, she would jump quickly- lift then bend her knees up against the fire. And for that moment, she would smile. A smile that is so indulgent that says ‘I have achieved something so great and superstitious that I have conquered the year and all great success is coming my way’. Oh, how I wish if I can recreate that moment. With all of them together, in the purest sense of love and friendship.
It is this feeling that I think I will be stuck for the rest of my life. These bits of memory, recurring blur image of people I love, and would always want to be together. The conundrum of my desire to always have them around and the inevitable reality of death. That is why imaginations would be regarded in the highest form of value. They help us recreate time.
