Festivals in Ethiopia

thumb|Wolaytas playing "Leke" at the Gifaataa festival Gifaataa is a cultural festival celebrated by the Wolayta people in the Southern Region of Ethiopia within Wolayita Zone. The festival is celebrated each year in September, where the Wolayta accept the New Year and send off the old one. Gifaataa means "the beginning," and is also considered the bridge from old to new, dark to light. During Gifaataa the Wolayta dance and enjoy cultural foods. The significance of Gifaata is to eliminate issues of the past and start afresh, reconciling past quarrels and strengthening family and community ties

Ashenda () is an annual festival celebrating women and girls. 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. 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 younge