As the holy month of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, draws nearer, signs of festivity are already showing in the Tant el-Rabaa district of Cairo. Tant el-Rabaa is most famous for creating the traditional Ramadan lanterns or 'Fanoos' made of tin and glass. Workshops manufacture the lanterns throughout the year until the start of the season before Ramadan. A lantern is made in several stages. First, the metal is cut. Then, its borders are worked untl they are malleable enough to slide in the glass, which is printed with Quranic verses and decorative designs. Then, the dome at the top is added and finally the bottom, into which geometric patterns are beaten. The core of the industry is Tant el-Rabaa district in Darb al-Ahmar. Eighty percent of the lanterns produced are exported to other Muslim countries such as Kuwait, Jordan or Saudi Arabia. Such exportation helps keep the art form alive. This season, however, was very different. As a result of the uprisings happening across the Arab world, exportation dropped by 80 percent. Majdi Abu Aladb, a member of a the Abu Aladb family who specializes in the manufacture of lanterns, told Youm 7 that manufacturers have to produce the same amount each year. He said the season for lantern purchases began 15 days ago, but the recession has decreased sales by roughly 50 percent. He also said the prices of the raw materials needed for the lanterns have tripled: the price of tin has risen from 80 EGP (U.S. $13.50) to 250 EGP (U.S. $42.30), while the glass has rised from 15 EGP (U.S. $2.50) to 25 EGP (U.S. $4.20). Abu Aladb said that despite the high prices of raw materials, lantern prices have not increased. He added that the recession in tourism will affect the demand for lrge lanterns, as they are mostly bought by hotels. Hany Salah al-Din, one of the manufacturers, said, "The Egyptian lantern or ‘Fanoos' dominates the Arab world, but we import the Chinese product, which tends to be a game more than a lantern. This affects the domestic product by 40 percent. The Chinese lanterns tend to appeal more to children because they are often made in the shape of popular figures such as football's Abu Trika and cartoon character Krombo. Salahuddin added that shipping companies raised their prices as well, which has also affected exports. Arabic here.
