The National Museum of Ethiopia was established in 1944 and began its activities by exhibiting a few archaeological collections as well as some ceremonial costumes and ethnographic objects. The museum gradually improved and developed, in the course of which it transferred to the building where it is located today.

Meskel is one of the major religious celebration/festival, in memory of the finding of the True Cross by the Byzantine Empress Eleni (Helena). This is as colourful an occasion as Timket. However, instead of water, the focus of celebration is a bonfire topped with an image of a cross to which flowers are tied. Priests in full regalia bless the bonfire before it is lit. This festival, which takes place on 27 September, coincides with the mass blooming of the golden yellow ‘Meskel daisies’ called ‘Adey Abeba’ in Amharic.

Originally the Mercato (the old Arada Gebeya) was located south of St. George Church at the City Hall area as an open market with informally employed street vendors where grain, spices, coffee, cotton, home-made garments, salt, jewellery, arms, farm implements, saddles etc.