Salameh’s shop is located in Birket El-Fil near Sayeda Zeinab mosque in a street called the ‘Light of Darkness,’ which is famous in Cairo for its lantern manufacture.

When Correspondents asked Salameh what he thinks of the Chinese lanterns that have flooded the Egyptian markets, he said agitated: “China does not make Ramadan lanterns, it makes children’s toys. Traders import these toys and customize them to be in line with Ramadan’s spirit to fool the people.”

Salameh’s shop is located in Birket El-Fil near Sayeda Zeinab mosque in a street called the ‘Light of Darkness,’ which is famous in Cairo for its lantern manufacture.

When Correspondents asked Salameh what he thinks of the Chinese lanterns that have flooded the Egyptian markets, he said agitated: “China does not make Ramadan lanterns, it makes children’s toys. Traders import these toys and customize them to be in line with Ramadan’s spirit to fool the people.”

Salameh says this deterioration of the local lantern market has not only affected the traditional industries, but the Egyptian market as a whole.

In ancient times, lanterns once had names inspired by their manufacturing occasion such as the ‘Parliament Lantern’ made in the 1930s, ‘King’s Crown Lantern’, ‘Prince Farouk Lantern’ made on the birthday of the former king or ‘Abdul Aziz Lantern’ named after the Saudi king and the ‘Victory Lantern’ made after the revolution of July 1952.

Today, the industry has grown so much that lantern shops can be found all over this part of Cairo. Previously it was only possible to make a lantern 40 centimeters in length, but now says Salameh, a four-meter lantern could be easily made.