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AFRICAN FESTIVALS ASHENDA
from AFRICAN WHISTLE
The holiday started as a cultural festival, but evolved into a religious one. It's origin can be traced to ancient Israel, a common way the Hebrew women celebrated their Holidays, victory, heroes.
A DISPLAY OF THE UNIQUE TRADITIONAL DRESSES & DANCE
Ashenda
is a national festival celebrated by the Tigray, Amhara, and Agew in Ethiopia & Eritrea. The festival is typically celebrated between 16 and 26 of August every year. Its length varies from three days to one month depending on the locale. It is usually being celebrated over a longer duration in rural areas and a shorter period in urban areas.
The name came from a tall grass known as Ashenda in the local language, this grass is usually tied around the girls waist during the celebration.
After the introduction of Christianity into Ethiopia in the 4th century AD the celebration began to have religious tone and merge with Christian beliefs, those celebrating it now see it as a commemoration of the heavenly ascension of the Virgin Mary.
