Awa Day is an Ethiopian public feast that commemorates the victory of the Ethiopian Empire over the Kingdom of Italy in 1896. It is celebrated on March 2.
On May 2, 1889, King Mennelik II of Shoo, who later became the Emperor of Ethiopia, and Conde Pietro Antonella of Italy signed the treatment of the whale. Ethiopia yielded the part of its territory to Italy, while Italy promised military supplies and financial assistance.
The Italians notified the European powers that the Treaty granted them a protectorate on Ethiopia. The Ethiopians protested, but their protests were ignored. As a result, the first Italian-Ethiopian war exploded in 1895.
The Battle of Adwa was the decisive battle of the war that ensured the sovereignty of Ethiopia. On March 1, 1896, the Italian troops advanced towards the city of Awa in the Ti Gray region. The Ethiopian troops commanded by Emperor Mennelik completely defeated the Italian armed forces on March 2. As a result of battle, Italy recognized Ethiopia as an independent state by signing the Addis Ababa Treaty.
The victory in the battle of Awa is an important milestone in the history of Ethiopia, it is not surprising that its anniversary is celebrated as a public vacation, the victory of Awa's Day.
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