It’s been a festive couple of weeks at ICS Addis, as our community celebrated two of the biggest Ethiopian holidays.
In events throughout September, our students, employees, and parents have come together for Ethiopian New Year and Meskel with singing, dancing, and the lighting of a large bonfire as part of the demera tradition.
On Monday, the ICS community gathered to take part in a number of traditions on campus. First, in the elementary school, students put on a drama performance in the outdoor amphitheater for parents and their classmates telling the story of Meskel and the finding of the true cross. Later, hundreds from across all of our school sections joined together on the field for the lighting of the demera bonfire
“We are so excited to have been able to welcome our community on to campus to celebrate Meskel. We believe the ICS experience is enhanced when we learn, engage in, and respect our host country cultures and traditions,” Head of School Earl Chamberlin said “As a new parent to ICS and Ethiopia, the opportunity to celebrate with my family and the entire school community is a memory I will cherish.”
At New Year time, high school students in the Ethiopian Studies course dressed in traditional Ethiopian clothing, made cards for employees, and performed traditional dances to raise money to host a holiday meal for the school’s support staff.
You can find photos of the Meskel celebrations of the high school Ethiopian Studies event here.
Teacher Aïda Bekele said she is proud that the school has begun expanding the Ethiopian Studies course from the middle to high school. She said she hopes to continue its growth in future school years, as well – an initiative in line with the school’s vision of being our best with Africa and our world.
“This class gives students the opportunity to learn about and discover the immense cultural and historical facts about their host country, and it brings them closer to each other's cultural beliefs and traditions,” Aida said. “At international schools, engaging with the host country is an integral part of growing, learning, and building community.”