Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Have you ever flown a kite? I have lots of good memories of making and flying kites in my younger years. My Dad was somewhat of a kite connoisseur and taught us the basics of construction and flight. I mostly remember keep it light, make it strong, use a bridle and a tail. From newspaper kites to ones made with plastic garbage bags, we got a lot of strange looking things to fly. It was lots of fun.

Kites were invented in China in the 5th century B.C. They were used for a variety of recreational, scientific and military purposes. Some of these early kites could lift men off the ground and some made music as they flew. From China, kite making made its way east through Asia. Although stories of kites made their way to Europe through Marco Polo in the 13th century, it wasn’t until the 16th and 17th centuries that kites appeared in Europe.

Kite flying and kite festivals are very popular throughout Asia and parts of Europe and South America. Some of these festivals take the form of kite fighting, others are contests and many are a form of celebration. In Bermuda, kites are flown on Good Friday to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

For many years my sister’s family had a kite tradition where they took a small compact kite with them whenever they travelled. They would fly the same kite in the different locations that they visited.

I still love to fly kites. Kite flying can be a fun activity for all ages. Once you get your kite in the air, it can be a very relaxing, enjoyable experience. If you think that you’d like to give kite flying a try, you can buy a kite at a hobby or toy store, or you could order one online. If you’re up to the challenge, you could even try making your own kite.

There are safety considerations when flying a kite. A large open area with no above ground electrical power lines is essential. Your kite could become a dangerous electrical conductor. A space without a lot of trees will ensure that your kite is not “eaten” by a tree, a fate that Charlie Brown often experienced. If you think that you’d like to fly a really big kite, be aware that large kites often lift people off the ground or drag them along, causing injuries. If you live in an urban area, there may be kite flying height restrictions to ensure the safety of low flying aircraft.

Even if you aren’t up to actually flying a kite, just watching a kite in flight can also be an enjoyable experience. Although kite festivals are not so popular in North America, there are still lots of kite enthusiasts around. Keep an eye on the local media for planned events. You might even get lucky and just happen upon a kite in flight on a spring excursion.

The next time that someone tells you to “go fly a kite”, take them up on the suggestion. In fact, why not invite them to join you. A second person is always helpful when getting a kite airborne. You’ll both enjoy the experience.

“Let’s go fly a kite, Up to the highest height!” (from the movie, Mary Poppins)


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