A familiar friend to all Egyptians is the blue-tinted sky: on a breezy summer day, jolly paper kites fine-dot the Egyptian sky. Held by a slender string, children sail their kites and watch as they float, dive, and swim in the air. Kite-flying is not new to Egyptian skies, kites have graced neighborhoods all over Egypt, from Nile bridges to highways and busy streets: young boys and girls can be found on high-rise rooftops flying their kites. The activity became increasingly popular during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. When boredom struck and loneliness prevailed – young Egyptians found a new outlet which became a solace amidst the world shutdown. It quickly grew to become a citizen’s favorite pastime; it drew people of all ages and backgrounds away from their phones. Evening skies became crowded with kites, and to enable visibility at nighttime, kite-flyers often taped tiny, battery-powered light bulbs to the frames. The sale of kites during this time became a profitable business, and street-vendors crowded the country. Prices varied from one seller to another as they largely depended on a kite’s appearance. Kites with colorful motifs and attractive…
