The Egyptian Ministry of Environment created fawanees, the household garbage. It showcased a unique Ramadan lantern design constructed from eco-friendly materials. The materials include scrapes or household unused items such as newspaper, fabric, magazines, spoons, cardboard, and plastic bottle caps.
The Unique Culture of Fawanees
Cairo is well-known and considered the best place for Arab and Muslim to observe Ramadan in its purest form. In Egypt, the Islamic holy month’s spiritual and theological features are merged with entertaining events and cultural customs.
Ramadan lanterns are one of these one-of-a-kind traditions, which have long held a special place in Egyptian history. They are available in a variety of designs, light bulbs, and colors making a festive mood all over the place.
During Ramadan, the custom of homes and neighborhoods decoration with fawanees has been passed down from generation to generation.
Many Egyptians associate Ramadan with images of children cheerfully playing in the streets with their fawanees while singing Ahmed Sherif’s Egyptian Arabic poem “Wahawi ya Wahawi.”
The Goal for Designing Fawanees
The repurposed lanterns are intended to raise environmental awareness among people of all ages and backgrounds. Additionally, they can also save some bucks due to the high cost of buying lanterns.