It is Ramadan time in Egypt which means the time of thousands and thousands
Ramadan Lanterns all over Egypt.
Kodak Agfa took the camera and decided this year to head one of the famous tradition markets in Cairo : El-Sayida Zeinab Ramadan Market.
"It is quite belated post but I did not have time to post the photos except now"Already it is a hot zone this year for photographers who discovered it too late but for one good reason : The Egyptian traditional lanterns are back to dominate the market.
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| Be ready for more lanterns in this post |
Located directly beside Cairo's
El-Sayida Zeinab Mosque , a seasonal traditional informal market is held on both sides of Al-Sad street to sell mainly Ramadan Lanterns as well other Ramadan supplies from dried fruits ,herbs, pickles and legumes as well toys and Ramadan decorations.
![El-Sayida Zeinab Mosque]() |
| El-Sayida Zeinab Mosque and the market behind it |
That location is turned from a marketplace to a Moulid Place.
The Mosque of Cairo's Islamic Saint Patron is located in the heart of Islamic Cairo , the old Cairo so you can feel that the ambiance here is different as you can feel the Spirit of Ramadan even before it started.
![Another overview for El-Sayida Ramadan market]() |
| A very crowded seasonal market |
My trip there was 48 hours before the start of Ramadan .
It is different than Upper Class or Upper Middle-Class area as here you can feel here the authentic Ramadan ambiance that other more classy areas try to mimic.
![Outside El-Sayida Zeinab's Ramadan Market]() |
Despite the hot weather , many people were there doing their Ramadan
Shopping |
Prior Ramadan by 48 hours and in a very hot weather conditions , the street was extremely crowded with families and mother who were doing their Ramadan shopping buying lanterns for their homes as well their kids.
![Smile to the mobile phone Camera]() |
| A lady taking a photo of her son among hundreds of Egyptian traditional lanterns |
The lanterns of Um Hashim
El-Sayida Zeinab area is considered from the main zones in Cairo where the traditional Egyptian traditional lanterns are manufactured for decades if not for centuries.
![The land of one thousand and one lanterns]() |
| Lanterns from here to eternity |
Two main areas are specifically known for that ongoing industry in El-Sayida Zeinab area : Bab El-Khalk and Berkit El-Fil. Usually, the workshops work for 11 months in manufacturing the lanterns and then take one month off : Ramadan.
![Traditional lanterns everywhere]() |
| Hundreds if not thousands of traditional Egyptian lanterns in that market |
The Egyptian traditional Ramadan lantern is usually handmade from tin and colored glass.
![Lanterns everywhere]() |
| Egyptian traditional lanterns hanged in the market |
![Lanterns colors]() |
| Handmade Lanterns here and lanterns there on the other side |
![Colored glassed Ramadan]() |
| Those lanterns are made of glass and tin |
For three decades , the Egyptian traditional Ramadan lantern seemed to be on the verge of extinction thanks to the Chinese Plastic Ramadan lantern and its market.
For three decades, Children and parents alike preferred the cheap Chinese Plastic Ramadan lantern because of their colored interesting shapes and good prices as well their light weight.
![It is toys time]() |
| Two boys standing at Chinese toys corner |
Yet, thankfully to the current economic and currency crises in Egypt, the Egyptian traditional lantern restored its throne once again.
![Different styles of Egyptian traditional lanterns]() |
| Smaller Egyptian traditional lanterns |
![Ramadan lanterns and more lanterns]() |
| Egyptian traditional lanterns used to be lit by candles |
In April 2015, the ministry of industry and commerce banned the importation of Chinese Ramadan lanterns in an attempt to save foreign currency.
![A stall selling Ramadan lanterns]() |
| lanterns stall at El-Sayida Zeinab |
The importation of Chinese Ramadan lanterns used to cost Egypt nearly USD 10 million during then. The decision's echo was felt this year.
Speaking to one of the Shopkeepers this year, he told me that the market "sucks" as they can not import new Chinese Ramadan lanterns nor they do have dollars in the first place.
![At El-Sayida Zeinab Ramadan market]() |
| There is still demand for Egyptian traditional lantern I saw there |
The Chinese lanterns of last year are still there including the Dora , the explorer Ramadan lantern.
![Chinese Ramadan lanterns]() |
| Chinese lanterns , see how they are different from their Egyptian lanterns |
The man says that there was not high demand on Egyptian traditional lantern because they were expensive. It is true that the Egyptian traditional handmade lantern was more expensive as it may start from LE 30 to 40 to 150 to 250 depending on the size.
![Waiting for customers]() |
| Lanterns seller waits for the customers in his stall |
Bigger size lanterns are usually purchased by restaurants, cafes and hotels.
![A gigantic Traditional Ramadan lanterns]() |
| A gigantic lantern made for hotels and restaurants |
![Egyptian Traditional Ramadan Lanterns]() |
| The bigger lanterns' prices can reach to thousands of pounds |
Still , I believe there was a considerable demand on the Egyptian traditional handmade lanterns in the street itself as people used to buy from other stalls.
![Ramadan lantern photo]() |
| Smiling among the lanterns |
![Strike a pose with Ramadan Lantern]() |
| Strike a pose |
Yes , the shops were actually stalls covered by the famous Red Khayamia pattern fabric.
![The Ramadan lanterns stalls in El-Sayida]() |
| The stalls that were set up |
![A favorite spot for Egyptians]() |
| The stalls are easy to be removed after the end of the holy month of Ramadan |
Khayamia red pattern has become Ramadan's official decoration. People came to the market to buy the Ramadan Khayamia linens as there were much cheaper here than in other areas in Cairo.
They also come to buy Ramadan supplies from dried fruits , herbs and dates as well pickles "Torshi" in much cheaper prices.
![Ramadan dates]() |
| An Upper Egyptian dates seller and his son |
![Egyptian traditional pickles Torshi for Ramadan]() |
| Egyptian traditional pickles "Turshi" at El-Sayida Market |
![Buying Ramadan supplies]() |
| Dried fruits and herbs seller at El-Sayida Market |
Side note : The lanterns of Um Hashim's Subtitle here is inspired from Yahiya Hakki's famous novel
"The Lamp of Umm Hashim"Um Hashim is one of the titles or names the Egyptians called "El-Sayida Zeinab" {Lady Zeinab} the granddaughter of Prophet Mohamed. Most Egyptians believe that she settled down and died in Egypt after the battle at Karbala.
Already there are two shrines for her in the Arab world : One in Damascus and the famous Shrine in Cairo.
Ramadan lanterns Fashion this year
The popular Ramadan lanterns this year are those two :
The Khayamia Ramadan lantern which is made from Khayamia fabric and it comes in different sizes.
![Ramadan Khayamia style lantern فانوس الخيامية]() |
| A big electric Khayamia glass lantern |
![Making a Ramadan Lantern]() |
| A Khayamia lantern in making |
The second popular lantern at least among the Ahly Sports Club fans is the
Ramadan Sobhi wooden lantern.
The Ramadan Sobhi wooden lantern shows his silhouette doing his famous move "standing over the football" that drives Zamalek Sports club fans mad.
![Ramadan Lantern 2016 in Egypt : Ramadan Sobhi's lantern]() |
| The Ramadan Sobhi lantern |
The wooden lanterns are still popular because they are cheap and light.
![Wooden Egyptian Ramadan traditional lanterns]() |
| Wooden traditional lanterns |
It is never late to say Ramadan Kareem again and again :)
