To mark the end of a yearly 15-day fast called Filseta, the girls and young women in the northern parts of Ethiopia, notably the Tigray ad Amhara regions celebrate Ashenda.
Ashenden is a Festival uniquely reserved for girls and young women to showcase their elegance and beauty amidst drumming, dancing, and singing. The celebrations last between a period of three days to three weeks depending on the locality, and it is between August and September. Ashenda Mariam, or commonly called Ashenda is a festival celebrated in northern Ethiopia among Orthodox Christianity followers.
The holiday commemorates the heavenly ascension of the Virgin Mary following her Dormition. It is typically celebrated between 16-26 August every year. Its length varies from three days to one month depending on the locale (shorter in urban areas, longer in rural areas). The holiday is mainly celebrated by Tigrayans, but also by Amharas in Lasta and Agaws in Wag Hemra. Ashenda is the name of a tall grass that is used to add to the aesthetics of the gowns adorned by the beauties during the festival.
Every girl wears a ‘tilfi’, a cotton dress embellished with embroidery right from the neckline to the hem of the dress. The girls wear braided styles that have existed over the years. They also add more jewelry together with the Ashenda grass to their outfits. Fathers are known to be the main sponsors for the outfits worn by these girls. They buy special clothes for the festival and even pay for makeup services for them. Some say it is the best time for the single girls ready for possible suitors to notice marriage.
Some girls cannot afford new clothes or ornaments for the festival. It is the norm to borrow clothes from their mothers or even sometimes neighbors for the celebration whether or not it is the best fit because no girl should be exempted from the celebration. Ashenda sometimes referred to as Shadey, Ashendye, Solel, Mariya is mainly held in Mekelle.
At Mikelle the girls divide themselves into smaller groups, but sometimes a group can have 50 girls. The festival has developed over the years to infuse orthodox faith traditions as well. The music sang range from appreciating Ashenda to Christian songs mixed with love songs and songs that appreciate their beauty.
The melodies to the songs have a unique beat that would make anyone move along with the girls. As an appreciation to the girls, they are showered with gifts in the form of money, food, and drinks, and this goes on throughout the festival.
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