What is "ashenda"

Ashenda or Shadey ( Tigrinya: ኣሸንዳ, Agaw language: ሻደይ) is a festival celebrated in August ( G.C.) in the Tigray and Amhara regions of Ethiopia, and in neighbouring Eritrea. Ashenda marks the end of a two-week-long fast known as Filseta ( Ge'ez: ጾመ-ፍልሰታ) when adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church/ Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church gather to honour the Virgin Mary. The word "Ashenda" is currently used both in Amharic and Tigrigna languages to denote a vertical sewerage channel that passes water down to the ground from the top of a roof. In the Khimra sect of Agew, Ashenda means the "tall green grass", estimated at around 80–90 cm minimum height that girls wear around their waists during the holiday. In the tradition of this religious festival, blades of grass are strewn on the floors of homes and shops as a kind of welcome mat. The festivity of Ashenda has no common name throughout the country. For instance,

• In Enderta, historically it is known as Ashenda ( Tigrinya: ኣሸንዳ), and is colorfully celebrated on August 16–21.
• In Wag Hemra zone it is called Shaday , and in Raya Kobo it's known as Solel . It is celebrated on August 16
• In Adigrat town it is called Mariya . It is celebrated August 15–17
• In Aksum town it is called Ayniwari . It is celebrated August 23–25

This cultural festivity was originated from two historical legends that occurred in different periods. These were;

• The sacrification of Jehphttah's daughter by her own father as cited in the Book of Jedges, the Old Testament
• The ascension of Virgin Mary (mother of Jesus); see Dormition of the Mother of God

The festival of Ashenda has cultural, religious and economic importance, and encourages industriousness. Once traditionally a girls' festival, it has since gained widespread recognition and popularity in the northern part of the country and among communities of the Ethiopian diaspora.