Editing Kite (section)

=== South America ===
[[File:Worlds Largest Kite - Aloft - Taken in 2004.jpg|thumb|A kite in the shape of the [[flag of Kuwait]]. The size when flat is {{convert|42|x|25|m|sp=us}}, {{convert|1050|m2|sp=us}}. While flying it becomes a little smaller (about {{convert|900|m2|sp=us}}) due to curvature of the edges when inflated.]]In [[Brazil]], flying a kite is a very popular leisure activity for children, teenagers and even young adults. Mostly these are boys, and it is overwhelmingly [[kite fighting]] a game whose goal is to maneuver their own kites to cut the other persons' kites' strings during flight, and followed by [[kite running]] where participants race through the streets to take the free-drifting kites. As in other countries with similar traditions, injuries are common and motorcyclists in particular need to take precautions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mirantesmt.com/2012/06/11/motorcyclists-worst-nightmare-brazils-deadly-kites/|title=mirantesmt.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827025737/http://www.mirantesmt.com/2012/06/11/motorcyclists-worst-nightmare-brazils-deadly-kites/|archive-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>

In [[Chile]], kites are very popular, especially during Independence Day festivities (September 18).
In Peru, kites are also very popular. There are kite festivals in parks and beaches mostly on August.

In [[Colombia]], kites can be seen flown in parks and recreation areas during August which is calles as windy. It is during this month that most people, especially the young ones would fly kites.

In [[Guyana]], kites are flown at Easter, an activity in which all ethnic and religious groups participate. Kites are generally not flown at any other time of year. Kites start appearing in the sky in the weeks leading up to Easter and school children are taken to parks for the activity. It all culminates in a massive airborne celebration on Easter Monday especially in Georgetown, the capital, and other coastal areas. The history of the practice is not entirely clear but given that Easter is a Christian festival, it is said that kite flying is symbolic of the Risen Lord. Moore<ref>Moore, Brian L. (1995). ''Cultural Power, Resistance, and Pluralism: Colonial Guyana 1838-1900.'' McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, {{ISBN|978-0-7735-1354-9}}</ref> describes the phenomenon in the 19th century as follows:

{{blockquote|A very popular Creole pastime was the flying of kites. Easter Monday, a public holiday, was the great kite-flying day on the sea wall in Georgetown and on open lands in villages. Young and old alike, male and female, appeared to be seized by kite-flying mania. Easter 1885 serves as a good example. "The appearance of the sky all over Georgetown, but especially towards the Sea Wall, was very striking, the air being thick with kites of all shapes and sizes, covered with gaily coloured paper, all riding bravely on the strong wind.|(His quotation is from a letter to The Creole newspaper of December 29, 1858.)}}

The exact origins of the practice of kite flying (exclusively) at Easter are unclear. [[Bridget Brereton]] and Kevin Yelvington<ref>Brereton, Bridget; Yelvington, Kevin A. (1999). ''The Colonial Caribbean in Transition''. University Press of Florida, {{ISBN|978-0-8130-1696-2}}</ref> speculate that kite flying was introduced by Chinese indentured immigrants to the then colony of British Guiana in the mid 19th century. The author of an article in the ''Guyana Chronicle'' newspaper of May 6, 2007 is more certain:

{{blockquote|Kite flying originated as a Chinese tradition to mark the beginning of spring. However, because the plantation owners were suspicious of the planter class (read "plantation workers"), the Chinese claimed that it represented the resurrection of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]].  It was a clever argument, as at that time, Christians celebrated Easter to the glory of the risen Christ. The Chinese came to Guyana from 1853{{ndash}}1879.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%2006-05-07.html|title=Welcome to guyanachronicle.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416173653/http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%2006-05-07.html|access-date=15 December 2021|archive-date=2008-04-16}}</ref>}}