Ramadan lantern sales down 55% as prices double

CAIRO – 29 May 2017: Sales of Ramadan lanterns in Egypt have seen a decline of 55 percent year-on-year this Ramadan, said the head of the Children's Play Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce Barakat Safa.

The reason for this decline is low supply, in addition to the absence of innovation in lantern designs that are available in traditional shapes, Safa told Egypt Today.

Almost 80 percent of lanterns are Egyptian-made, although more than 75 percent of their components are imported, he noted.

Prices of the lanterns have doubled this year Safa said, with wholesale prices ranging from LE 27 ($1.49) to LE 160 ($8.84).

Cairo is famous among Arab and Muslim cities as one of the best destinations for observing an authentic Ramadan experience. In Egypt, the spiritual and religious aspects of the Islamic holy month are combined with entertaining activities and cultural traditions.

One of these unique traditions is Ramadan lanterns, known as fawanees, which have always been very special in Egyptian history. They come in various shapes, light bulbs and colors.

The tradition of decorating homes and neighborhoods with fawanees during Ramadan has passed from generation to generation.

For many Egyptians, Ramadan is not complete without the image of children happily playing with their fawanees in the streets, singing the Egyptian Arabic poem composed by Ahmed Sherif, "Wahawi ya Wahawi."

(Additional reporting by Islam Sa'eed)