Adwa Victory Day

The Adwa Victory Day is a national holiday in Ethiopia which is celebrated on 2 March in leap year) in commemoration of Ethiopian victory against Italy's colonization effort at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. People pay tribute for Ethiopian army who fought for independence and celebration involves parade in every locales and play dramatic and artistic performance reflecting the Ethiopian culture and similar subjects.

The Adwa Victory Day strongly associated with symbol of Pan-Africanism and aspiration to black people.

Celebration

Celebration involves parades in every places and cultural reflection where people gathered. Artistic and dramatic performance also presented such as kererto, shilela and fukera. All schools, banks, post offices and government offices are closed, with the exceptions of health facilities. Some taxi services and public transports choose not to operate on this day. Shops are normally open but most close earlier than usual. Government officials, patriots, foreign diplomats and the general public gathered at Menelik Square while Ethiopian Police Orchestra plays patriotic songs around it.

Performers wear attire. Men often wear Jodhpurs and various types of vest; they carry the Ethiopian flag and various patriotic banners and placards, as well as traditional Ethiopian shields and swords called Shotel. Women wear traditional dress called Habesha kemis and some wear black gowns over all, while other place royal crowns on their heads. It is used to represent Empress Taytu. The celebration is visible in other cities other than Addis Ababa such as Bahir Dar, Debre Markos and Adwa itself.