There is a habit that does not disappear. The return of traditional lanterns in Egypt

Cairo– "The Lord of Beneficial Harm" is the mouthpiece of the lantern industry in Egypt ahead of the holy month of Ramadan after the dollar's significant rise against the pound and the restriction of imports, leading to the popularity of traditional local lanterns after years of competing with imported Ramadan games with locally manufactured ones.

Traders and workshop owners say that this year's Ramadan season changed any season after the wave of high prices that hit the country without anyone anticipating it, and pushed the prices of raw materials and production supplies to numbers that were difficult to imagine at any time.

The exchange rate of the Egyptian pound against the dollar fell to about 31 pounds, compared to 15.75 pounds last year, and the collapse of the local currency led to a rise in the prices of consumer goods, due to the increase in the cost of imports in foreign exchange and the high cost of production.

Annual core inflation jumped to 40.3% in February from 31.2% in January, according to data from the central bank. The annual inflation rate in Egyptian cities jumped to 31.9% in the same month from 25.8% in January, according to a statement from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

The import stop had a negative and positive impact on the lantern industry at the same time (Al Jazeera)

Lantern industry declines as pound collapses

This jump in inflation rates, which exceeded analysts' expectations, was reflected in the prices of lanterns of all kinds, due to the rise in the prices of local and imported materials, and the price of a traditional 15-centimeter sheet lantern became 50 pounds ($ 1.6).

Like any consumer good, the lantern industry has been negatively affected by the collapse of the pound's exchange rate, says Eid Abdel Salam, a seller of Ramadan lanterns, toys and decorations in a suburb of Giza governorate who used to bring lanterns from his workshop in Old Egypt and display them weeks before Ramadan.

Abdel Salam explains – in his interview with "Al Jazeera Net" – that the economic crisis, the collapse of the pound and the cessation of imports were factors that had a negative and positive impact on the lantern industry. On the one hand, the prices of production supplies, especially stained glass and iron, increased, and on the other hand, the workshops were given an opportunity to exist and produce without crowding out Chinese imports that were invading the markets.

"The traditional shapes of lanterns, which are made of sheet and stained glass with a luminous candle inside, are the best expression of the month of Ramadan and the most famous and closest to souls," Abdel Salam added, and their prices range from 50 pounds for the smallest lantern to 3,31 pounds for the huge lantern (a dollar equals about <> pounds).

Wooden and plastic lanterns are safer for children (Al Jazeera)

"In addition to the sheet, there are other types of wooden and plastic lanterns, which are safer for children, tents (made of red and blue printed fabric), and beads, which are fully handmade and strong, and the price of a medium-length piece (25 cm) ranges between 150 pounds and 400 pounds, depending on the materials used.

"Make way for women"!

Egyptian families are keen to buy "Ramadan lanterns" in a custom that has not been interrupted for more than a thousand years, as it is one of the most famous rituals celebrating the holy month throughout the country, and the joy of lanterns has been associated with many ancient folk songs for decades.

The history of "Ramadan Lantern" dates back to more than a thousand years ago, and there are 3 different narrations that tell us about the origin of the tale that was associated with the Fatimids who ruled Egypt at the time, as the ruler went out to the streets on the night of the vision to explore the crescent of Ramadan, and children went out with him to light the way for him, and in the hands of each one "lantern".

Rejoicing in lanterns has been associated with many old folk songs for decades (Al Jazeera)

The second version goes back to the desire of one of the rulers of the Fatimid state to light the streets of Cairo, the capital of the state, throughout the nights of the Ramadan, so he ordered that lanterns be hung in mosques and lit by placing candles inside them.

The third version also dates back to the Fatimid era, and was associated with allowing women to go out in the month of Ramadan, and they were led while walking in the streets by a boy carrying a lamp (lantern) to alert passers-by to the presence of women walking on the road, so that no one would disturb them or harass them.

Cost challenges and declining footfall

"There is an official decision banning the import of lanterns from abroad (China) in 2015, as part of its decision to ban the import of goods of a folkloric nature and to preserve the local product," said Barakat Safa, vice president of the stationery and children's toys division at the Chamber of Commerce in Cairo, noting that what is currently in the markets are Ramadan games that come with sound, movement and lighting units for children.

Safa explains – in his interview with "Al Jazeera Net" – that the demand for traditional lanterns is a feature of the market after the import ban decision, because of its heritage symbolism and because it reeks of the fragrance of the past, which is associated with memories of the rituals celebrating the month of Ramadan, and it is cheaper than the Chinese lantern, which enters modern technologies.

However, the economic crisis has cast a shadow on the lantern market, Safa said, as production declined due to the high prices of production inputs and raw materials used in manufacturing, and the lack of some complementary parts for the lantern industry, to be imported from abroad and because the feeding industries do not exist in the country.

Traditional heritage pieces highlight Egyptian traditions in Ramadan (Al Jazeera)

Safa estimates the size of the decline in production by more than 50%, as the number of manufactured lanterns ranges between two million lanterns and two and a half million lanterns, instead of about 5 million lanterns, especially with manufacturers sensing that there will be a recession in the markets due to high prices and consumer reluctance to buy, in addition to his desire to buy basic food commodities.

One consumer agrees with Safa's view that some, if not many, are reluctant to buy lanterns or buy only one lantern for the house, instead of several lanterns for all or some family members, due to the high prices and the increase in the requirements of the holy month.

"The situation of many has changed in the past year, and the prices of Ramadan goods that we are keen to buy have not left us much money to buy what we want from lanterns, but it is a habit that we are keen on and cannot be left even by buying a small traditional lantern that brings joy to the hearts of all family members," he said.

He believes that the quality of the local lantern varies according to the price of the lantern, but at the end of the day handmade products are more solid than those manufactured by machines (or factories), and the most important thing is to preserve the Egyptian heritage and pass it on to future generations who are no longer looking for this kind of joy.