---
title: "Ashenda in Ethiopia | Taste of Ethiopia"
description: "Explore Ashenda in Ethiopia: its date, meaning and traditions, with a live countdown and cultural guide from Taste of Ethiopia."
url: "https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/ashenda"
---

Girls' and women's festival of northern Ethiopia

# Ashenda

አሸንዳ

Ashenda centres girls and young women in days of song, dancing, friendship and intricate traditional dress.

22 Aug 2027 - 24 Aug 2027

**\--** days  **\--** hours  **\--** minutes  **\--** seconds

Nehasse 16, 2019 E.C. · Addis Ababa time

![Girls and women in embroidered white dresses singing at Ashenda in Tigray](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/assets/events/ashenda.webp)

Photo: [Unknown author, CC0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ashenda_festival,_Tigray.jpg)

CALENDAR NOTE

Usually celebrated from 22 to 24 August, with local variations in name, timing and length.

[View the full cultural calendar](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events)

01 · MEANING

## What it means.

Celebrated principally in Tigray and Amhara under names including Ashenda, Ashendye, Shadey and Solel, the festival is linked with the end of the Filseta fast and has its own strong social and cultural life.

02 · TRADITION

## How it is marked.

Girls and women dress in embroidered white clothing, braid and decorate their hair, form singing groups and move through streets and neighbourhoods. Drums, dance and gifts accompany the performances.

03 · EXPERIENCE

## What you may see.

The festival can last several days and varies by community. The most important thing to notice is who leads it: young women take the public space, songs and choreography into their own hands.

[Next in the cultural year **Enkutatash**](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/enkutatash)

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