Ashenda celebrations in Ethiopia's Amhara and Tigray regions.

Ashenda celebrations in Ethiopia's Amhara and Tigray regions. The Amhara region is located in northern Ethiopia and borders Sudan to the west, Tigray to the north, Afar to the east, Benishangul-Gumuz to the southwest, and Oromia to the south. The region's capital is Bahir Dar, located near Lake Tana, Ethiopia's largest body of inland water and the source of the Blue Nile. Tigray is the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia. It is home to the Tigrayan, Irob, and Kunama peoples. Its capital is Mekelle. Tigray is located in the Ethiopian highlands. Ashenda, celebrated exclusively by girls, honors the Assumption of Mary and is named after the Ashenda herb with which they decorate their dresses. This festival is celebrated once a year. The Ashenda celebrations are an annual cultural festival celebrated primarily in northern Ethiopia, particularly in the Tigray and Amhara regions. The festival pays tribute to women, and especially girls, who wear traditional dresses called "tilfi," decorated with beautiful embroidery during the festivities. The girls also wear elaborate braided hairstyles, jewelry, and adorn themselves with Ashenda grass. The festival typically takes place between August and September and lasts from three days to a month, depending on the region. It is shorter in urban areas and longer in rural areas. It is customary for the girls to go from house to house, singing songs and dancing. They receive gifts of money, food, and drink, which are often donated to the church. At the end of the festivities, the women and girls gather at a central location to drum, dance, sing, and celebrate together. The origins of the Ashenda festival are traced back to the Axum region in the Tigray region, and it is believed to have begun around 400 AD. It is closely linked to Orthodox Christian tradition and follows a fasting period called Filseta, which is observed in honor of the Virgin Mary. The name Ashenda comes from a type of tall, green grass that grows in the region and is symbolically part of the festive attire. The festival is celebrated under various names among different ethnic groups, including Ashendeye among the Amhara and Engicha among the Gurage. Similar traditions also exist in Eritrea. In the diaspora, for example, in North Texas, Ashenda is also celebrated to preserve cultural and traditional values, and the celebration provides an opportunity to honor the role of women and bring the community together. Ashenda lasts from three days to a month, depending on the region. Girls pray together in an Orthodox church before visiting homes to sing, dance, and entertain. Residents give them food, drinks, and money, which is then donated to the church or a charity. The festival ends with all the girls gathering in a large field for an afternoon of playing games, singing, and dancing to the rhythm of drums. @https://welcomeethiopiatours.com/de/religious-festivals/ @https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashenda 1https://www.petitfute.de/p50-ethiopie/c1170-manifestation-evenement/c1250-fetes/c251-fete-traditionnelle-folklore-kermesse/2086830-ashenda.html @https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JuXNMK5cTY @https://www.instagram.com/p/DNm6bwKMZ5L/