Ashenda

Ashenda (Tigre: አሸንዳ, romanized: Äšända) is an annual festival celebrating women and girls.^[1] It is believed to have originated in the Axum region of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia; scholars estimate it began around 400 AD. The festival takes place in August and is mainly celebrated in Tigray and has been adopted in neighboring regions.^[2] Tigrayan women living throughout the world try to make it to Mekelle or in their respective village where the Ashenda festival takes place. Only women participate in the celebration while the men mostly play the role of gifters, in some cases protectors from potential harassment, as the younger girls travel door to door singing Ashenda songs and receiving gifts like money and traditional food made for the festival. The festival comes after the two weeks of Filseta. During Filseta, people fast or do not eat throughout the day. Filseta and Ashenda honor Mary, mother of Jesus.^[3]

Ashenda
Ashenda celebration in 1921
Official name	Ashenda
Also called	Girls' Day
Observed by	Tigrayans, Amharas, Agews, Tigrinya of Eritrea
Type	Religious
Begins	16 August
Ends	26 August
Date	After the end of Filseta
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Filseta

Festival

On the first day of the festival, participants gather at local Orthodox Tewahedo churches, often dedicated to St. Mary, to begin the festivities. Groups of women and girls then go from house to house in their communities, singing, dancing, and entertaining families in exchange for small gifts or tokens of appreciation. After visiting homes, they gather in open fields or public spaces to continue their celebrations, which include more dancing, singing, and socializing. Traditionally, the money collected from these performances would be offered to the church in honor of the Virgin Mary, further emphasizing the festival’s connection to faith and charity.

Name

The name Ashenda (Tigrinya: ኣሸንዳ) originates from the Tigrinya word for a type of tall green grass, which grows in the Tigray region. During the festival, girls use this grass as part of their attire, often weaving it into skirts or carrying it as decorative bundles on their backs. The grass symbolizes vitality, growth, and a connection to nature, reflecting the themes of joy and renewal central to the celebration.

The festival is celebrated under different names reflecting the diversity of its practitioners. Among the Amhara people, it is referred to as Ashendeye (Amharic: አሸንድዬ), Shadey (Agew: ሻደይ), or Solel (Amharic: ሶለል), while the Gurage people call it Engicha (Sebat Bet Gurage: እንግቻ). In Eritrea, a similar tradition exists, particularly among Tigrinya-speaking communities, preserving many of the same customs and cultural expressions tied to the festival.

See also

• Filseta