Kites are lightweight framed structures — traditionally bamboo or reed spars covered with paper, silk or thin cloth — designed to be flown at the end of a line by wind pressure. The basic idea has been shared worldwide for over 2,000 years, and each kite-flying culture has developed its own regional forms: diamond, box, dragon, hexagonal, oval, and figurative shapes.
A well-made kite balances weight, wind-catch area and line tension so precisely that it can be flown one-handed and steered by small tugs of the line. Traditional makers season their bamboo, cut it to matched pairs, tie the frame with cotton thread, and paste on hand-decorated paper. Kite-flying seasons — often tied to specific festivals — remain some of the great living folk traditions of the world.
Explore this craft by country
Each country page describes how this tradition is practised there — its own names, materials, workshops and living makers.