Do you think kite flying is a fun outdoor activity? Actually, years ago kites were used to transport goods. Kites have been there for many years and also used as a tool for war. Whatever, they are pretty and they are colorful. Only in the United States 50 million kites are sold each year. Do you know kite flying is popular in almost every part of the globe? OK, before you head over to an open field with your kite check out these fun facts about kites.

Are Kites for Kids?  

Well, if you think kite flying is the favorite activity for kids then you are wrong. It is equally favorite for adults. In fact, more adults fly kites as compared to kids.

Originated in China

No one knows exactly where the kites originated. It is said that kites flying were started in China about 3000 years ago. Chinese General Han Hsin of the Han Dynasty was the first to fly a kite. Actually, Han was measuring the distance his army had to cover to reach the defenses.

Where did the word Kite come from?

The word “kite” is actually the name of a bird. There are various species of kite such as white-tailed kite, black-winged-kite and letter-winged kite and black-shouldered kite. These birds are known for their amazing gliding ability when in flight.

When Kite Flying was banned in Japan and China  

In 1760, Japanese thought flying kites was better than work. This made the Japanese government to ban kite flying.

China also banned kite flying during the Cultural Revolution. The Chinese name for kites is Fen Zheng. It means wind harp. Chinese used kites to transport musical instruments, from which the name is derived. Moreover, Chinese people think that looking at kites in the sky is good for eyesight. 

Kites for Catching Fishes

In Indonesia, Kites are used to catch fishe. In fact, this practice has been in use for decades to catch fishes.

Helps in teaching Hawks to hunt

People use kites to train hawks to hunt. The decoy attached to the kite entices the birds to fly. This helps them fly to high altitudes.

Windless Kite Festival

Flying kites without wind is hard outdoors. But in the Windless Kite Festival you can fly kites indoors even if there is no air. This festival is held each year in the Longbeach Peninsula. 

One Sky One World

Each year on the second Sunday of October Kite flyers spread the message of “One Sky One World”.

Kites as a Gift

In some cultures kites are given as a gift to bring happiness and prosperity.

World Records of Kites

The longest kite in the world had a length of 1034 meters. The largest kite in the world is 630sq meters and it is called Megabite. The smallest kite in the world is only 5mm high. The longest kite fly record is 180 hours. A record for flying the largest number of kites (11, 283) in a single row was set by a Japanese kite maker. The highest altitude that a kite has flown is 12, 471 ft.  

Rules for Kite Flying

Thailand has imposed 78 rules for kite flying. This may sound weird but we cannot deny the truth.

Early use of Kites

In the past kites were used to drop newspapers and letters. They were also used in battles and wars for signaling.

Deaths Recorded due to Kite Flying

Kite flying may seem a harmless activity. But some countries have banned it due to the dangerous strings used to fly them. Nearly 12 deaths are recorded each year due to kite flying.  

Kite made of Bark

The Maori tribes in New Zealand made kites from clothes, leaves and bark.

Helped proved a Discovery

With the help of a kite Benjamin Franklin proved that lighting is electricity.

Bonus Fact

Perhaps we think kite making would be impossible without paper. But let me tell you that people flew kites even when the paper was not invented.

Hope you enjoyed reading fun facts about kites. Share your kite flying experiences in the comments below.