It Must be Spring because Kites are Flying
It’s again time for the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.
This year’s theme is Brushstrokes in the Sky, featuring the history and craftsmanship of Asian kites.
The first kites were invented by the Chinese around 800 BC. Early kitemakers used them for all types of purposes, including measuring the wind, measuring distances, and communication. The Chinese military started to effectively use them for communications and signaling soon thereafter.
Kites first appeared in Europe in the 1600s and was mostly limited to a children’s play activity.
In the U.S. colonies in June of 1750, …read more
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