- Title: Egytian family preserve craft of traditional handmade lanterns
- Date: 6th June 2017
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) LANTERN MAKER, HUSSEIN SAYED, SITTING INSIDE WORKSHOP WITH FAMILY VARIOUS OF SAYED AND HIS TWO CHILDREN MAKING LANTERNS FLAME FROM STOVE USED TO MOULD STEEL VARIOUS OF CHILDREN MAKING LANTERNS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LANTERN MAKER, HUSSEIN SAYED, SAYING: "(I taught my children) so the trade doesn't go extinct. Very few people are taught it, usually it is limited to a family, who will become known for the trade. For example, my brother learnt it from my father, I learnt it from my brother, my younger brother learnt it from me, and then I taught my children." VARIOUS OF SAYED'S CHILDREN HAND-MAKING LANTERNS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LANTERN MAKER, HUSSEIN SAYED, SAYING: "We more or less spend the whole year working, we finish for the Ramadan season on the first day of Ramadan, sometimes we can stay up until the 10th of Ramadan, and then we rest for the remainder of the month. We start working again after Eid." VARIOUS OF SAYED MOULDING STEEL LANTERN SAYED AND CHILDREN INSIDE WORKSHOP VARIOUS OF LANTERNS HANGING IN STREET MARKET ON SALE VARIOUS OF SHOPPERS AT MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SHOPPER, NAGLAA AL-YAMAMY, SAYING: "I like these lanterns the most, and I brought my children with me so I can convince them to like them too." Reporter asks: "But why these specifically?" "Because these old lanterns left us with so many memories, we are accustomed to them, but these new ones with these new shapes, those are not what we're used to." VARIOUS OF LANTERNS ON DISPLAY AT MARKET PEOPLE SHOPPING AT MARKET
- Embargoed: 20th June 2017 11:43
- Keywords: Cairo Egypt lanterns Ramadan
- Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
- City: CAIRO, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016K51G0L
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As Cairo's busy street markets and shops fill up with colourful lanterns for Ramadan, one Egyptian family is working to preserve the tradition of handmade lantern-making.
From their small Cairo workshop, Hussein Sayed and his two children make hundreds of traditional steel lanterns with colourful glass panes, which go on sale each year during Ramadan.
The ancient craft was passed down through the generations and Sayed hopes to keep the tradition alive for many more generations to come.
But, while he believes traditional lanterns will always be included in Ramadan festivities, he fears the trade is dwindling.
Sayed said very few craftsmen make lanterns anymore, and even fewer craft them in the technique he inherited from his father.
"(I taught my children) so the trade doesn't go extinct. Very few people are taught it, usually it is limited to a family, who will become known for the trade. For example, my brother learnt it from my father, I learnt it from my brother, my younger brother learnt it from me, and then I taught my children," he said.
Sayed spends most of the year making lanterns with his family, taking a break during Ramadan before resuming work after Eid al-Fitr, at the end of the holy month.
The family makes around ten lanterns a day and sell their products to wholesalers for 15-50 Egyptian pounds (1- 3 USD), depending on size.
At a local market, shoppers browsed the selection of multicoloured lanterns on display, seeking out Ramadan decorations for their homes.
Shopper Naglaa al-Yamamy preferred traditional-shaped lanterns like Sayed's creations to modern designs, as they brought back happy memories of past holiday seasons.
"Because these old lanterns left us with so many memories, we are accustomed to them, but these new ones with these new shapes, those are not what we're used to," she said.
And, as long as the demand for traditional lanterns remains, the Sayed family will continue to spend the year perfecting and preserving their craft. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
