A method for processing Ethernet ring messages and a corresponding Ethernet ring protection system are provided. The method comprises distinguishing a message to be processed by processors of transit nodes from that not to be processed by the processors of the transit nodes, and setting a distinguishing identifier when constituting a message; after receiving the message, the transit node forwarding the message not to be processed by the processor thereof to other nodes, or sending the message to be processed by the processor of the transit node to other nodes and meanwhile reporting the message to its processor depending on the distinguishing identifier; the system comprises a master node and transit nodes which generates messages with the distinguishing identifier and performs different process for these messages according to the distinguishing identifier.