Kodak Agfa Presents : El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market in morning “Part-1”

It is that blessed time of the year once again, it is time of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

In Egypt, it is always one of the most cheerful times of the year despite all hardships especially economic hardships.

This year, it is not a secret that Egypt is suffering a very hard economic crisis and prices are hitting the ceiling already, yet life goes on.

It is Ramadan for God’s sake!!

"Yup , the prices are high" He said it and smiled to the camera 

So yes, people are trying to be happy as much as they can despite the surge of everything’s prices everywhere.

I went to the famous El-Sayeda Zeinab’s Ramadan Market in the heart of Islamic Cairo as I am used to annually from two weeks ago. “I promise I will go somewhere new inshallah next year”.

The makeshift stands in front of El-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque and Shrine 

I used to go there at night but due to work, I went there for the first time in day, and it was really nice despite I must confess, the lights of thousand lanterns are much better.

Colored Egyptian handmade tin and glass Ramadan lanterns in the market

It was not as crowded as in night as people go to the market after work and schools but it was still crowded and very few like myself wore face masks.

Buying Ramadan lanterns a long Ramadan house items too 

It is a market and a popular one in a very important strategic popular area like in front of one of Cairo's most important Islamic shrines in an important time so it should be crowded.

El-Saad street, the location of the famous El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market 

The annual famous Ramadan market is held once again and this time in full force even bigger than last year’s market with more and new types of tradition lanterns but economic crisis happened.

Colored Egyptian handmade tin and glass Ramadan lanterns in the market

But first you can’t ignore the economic crisis or pretend it is not there because for the first time I see some sellers providing some discounts on Ramadan food supplies in the market.

If you remember, this market is not only for Ramadan lanterns but rather for everything Ramadan including Ramadan food supplies like dried fruits, nuts, drinks, pickles and dates. Many of those items are imported like raisins, almonds and dried apricot sheets.

It is worth to mention that the target customer of this market is from either from the low working class or middle class who is looking for affordable prices.

Ramadan dried fruits and nuts at the market 

I asked one of the sellers about the prices of dates, but he was not that open to speak to me as I told him that I am a reporter.

Dates for sale at the Ramadan market 

One of the stands that presented in the market was a stand made by none other Mostqabal Watan “Homeland’s Future”, the pro-regime majority party in the parliament as an initiative to help citizens during the holy month. Those stands are all over Cairo and Giza already.

Now to the real kings of the market aka the lanterns

From here to eternity Egyptian traditional lanterns 

The prices of lanterns increased by 25% this year according to the sellers.

Grandma and grandpa choose together Ramadan plastic lantern for grandchild 

The prices range from LE 3 to LE 1,500 to big tin, glass electric lanterns used in shops, restaurants and hotels.

The LE 1,500 Egyptian handmade lantern 

Now if you are newcomer then I must tell a little background about the Ramadan tradition of lanterns in Egypt.

According to most historians, the industry of Ramadan lanterns and association with Ramadan started in the Fatimid era in Medieval Egypt. Some say that it began with the arrival of the Fatimid caliphate in Egypt as well as Cairo’s founder Al-Muiz Li Din Allah to the Egyptian capital “Fustat” from North Africa.

Lanterns and customers in front of El-Sayeda Zeinab shrine and Mosque in Cairo 

Allegedly, it was a Ramadan night and completely dark and so the Fatimid soldiers gave the small kids lanterns and sweets to light the way for their new King.

Next Night, the kids kept the lanterns playing with them and the rest is history. The Fatimids were smart as Shiite ruling class in a Sunni majority country, they did not clash with the public but rather won them through those festivities in our religious events.

Customers at El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market 

Now for more than 1,000 years, Egyptian workshops used to handmade Ramadan lanterns using tin or copper, colored glass and candles.

In late 1990s the Egyptian traditional lanterns were on the verge of extinction thanks to the cheap, plastic, light, battery-power and safe Chinese lanterns but then in 2015 a decision was issued to ban the Chinese lanterns to preserve the traditional industry.

Two customers at El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market 

That ban decision revived the whole industry and actually I witnessed in those years I go to the market how the Egyptian lanterns makers modernized their production from lanterns catering to many tastes and ages.

You got the traditional tin and colored glass handmade lanterns.

Lanterns over lanterns over lanterns at El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market 

You got the Khayamia cloth lanterns.

 

Khayamia cloth lanterns at El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan market 

Needless to say, I believe the commercialization of Ramadan in Egypt also gave a huge push for the Khayamia and its patterns as now its famous patterns are associated in Ramadan and sold as table clothes and cushions providing many job opportunities when you think about it.

Khayamia Ramadan textile product for Ramadan decorations 

The Khayamia Ramadan related products are also exported and this is just great.

To the recent handmade wooden lanterns.

Wooden Ramadan lanterns at El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market in Cairo 

Like those smaller lanterns with the faces of Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Boogy and Tamam as well as Doraemon cat interestingly!!

I mean I did not imagine seeing the Doraemon face on Egyptian Ramadan lanterns!!

Wooden Ramadan lanterns at El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market in Cairo 

Those lanterns make sound too. 

There were other shapes of those wooden lanterns too.

Egyptian wooden and tin lanterns besides Chinese lanterns at El-Sayeda 
Zeinab Ramadan lanterns 

There were plastic lanterns that looked to be more local than the usual Chinese lanterns but I am not sure.

Plastic Ramadan lanterns at El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan Market 

Cairo Commerce Chamber announced from three weeks ago that Egypt reached self-sufficiency from Ramadan lanterns, so I do not know they increased the prices when we do not import like before and we are self-sufficient form lanterns.

Egyptian handmade traditional lanterns from all shapes at El-Sayeda Zeinab
Ramadan Market in Cairo 

The Chinese plastic and decorative lanterns are still there despite the ban. They are easy to be spotted.

You can differentiate between them, and the Egyptian handmade tradition lanterns sold in the market.

Chinese Ramadan lanterns , how many characters can you identify ? 

This year aside from the Disney and Marvel characters whom I do not know their relations to Ramadan, Ramadan pop culture puppets and Arab cartoon characters like Boogy and Tamtam as well as MBC Fananees characters are appearing as Chinese plastic Ramadan lanterns.

Boogy , Tamtam , Hulk , and Co. Chinese Ramadan lanterns at El-Sayeda Zeinab 
Ramadan Market 

I was sad that legendary Egyptian puppeteer and director Mahmoud Rahmi could not keep or know that he had the right to preserve the copyrights of Boogy and Tamtam as I see how they are commercially exploited but then I remember that in front of me Mighty Disney’s characters are exploited and sold as on cheap Chinese Ramadan lanterns in Egypt without its knowledge.

Super Mario and Buzz Lightyear, Elsa as Chinese Ramadan lanterns in 
El-Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan market

To overcome the ban order, importers import the Chinese Ramadan lanterns under two categories : children toys “they do look like toys indeed” and western lanterns for house decorations “they are western lanterns for house decoration more than Ramadan lanterns”

Egyptian and Chinese Ramadan lanterns side by side at El-Sayeda Zeinab 
Ramadan Market in Cairo

Okay , I will stop here because there is a second part of this post with more photos and interesting new Ramadan a video tour of the market inshallah coming on the way.

Ramadan Kareem 😁🏮🌜🌜📷🎥