Flying Kites to Remember Loved Ones

Looking for a creative way to honor a loved one? Memorial kites offer a unique and eco-friendly tribute, blending tradition, beauty, and personal expression into one meaningful flight. Whether as part of a kite memorial service or a personal moment of remembrance, these soaring symbols bring comfort and connection.

Kites Bring a ‘Sense of the Ethereal’

“Kites, soaring above our heads, already have a sense of the ethereal,” explains veteran kite builder Robert Brasington about why some choose kite flying to honor the dead. He’s been building and flying kites, teaching workshops, and traveling to events around the world for 30 years. “It is only natural to imagine kites as souls on their way to a ‘heavenly’ place. It is a focused time of reflection,” he explained.

There are nearly limitless memorial ideas to honor a loved one. Many of today’s eco-friendly memorial options look to the sky – a symbolic frontier beyond Earth, whether imagined as heaven or a peaceful next beginning. From sending ashes into space to memorial fireworks to kite flying memorial services, people are finding creative ways to celebrate life.

In the U.S., kite flying is one of the first activities of spring when the warm weather and gentle winds combine for an optimal environment. Globally,other cultures use kites as memorials in other seasons, often combined with religious or cultural holidays and traditions.

Guatemalan Kite Festival for Day of the Dead

In Guatemala, kite flying to honor the dead takes place on All Saints Day (Dia de los Muertos) and draws from both Catholic and Mayan traditions. There is some debate about how long the practice has been taking place, but there’s no question that the events have been growing.

According to Atlas Obscura, the people of Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango, Guatemala, create giant kites using cloth, paper, and bamboo, depicting religious and folkloric themes.

Some participants believe they can communicate with their ancestors through the kites. Kite flying to remember loved ones is deeply rooted in Guatemalan tradition, offering one of the most vivid examples of using kites as a cultural memorial practice.

Chinese Kites on Qingming (Tomb Sweeping) Day

Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is a time to honor ancestors – and for many, kite flying plays an important memorial role. Celebrated in China, people sweep and decorate gravesites, burn paper money and incense, and make food offerings, all to honor and remember the deceased. 

The staff of the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon, write that the word is roughly translated into clear (qing) and bright (ming). The pronunciation of qing also sounds like the character for green, another nod to the spring holiday. 

They go on to explain that kites are flown at night as well as during the day, and sometimes, lanterns are attached. The kites are created in the shapes of heroes and animals and flown to assure fertility, happiness, and success and according to the garden’s authors, the higher the kites fly, the more “peace, prosperity, and blessings” are guaranteed.

Kites as a Safe and Eco-Friendly Alternative

Looking for a meaningful tribute that’s also gentle on the environment? Memorial kites are a beautiful alternative to balloon releases or sky lanterns. Like those traditional gestures, kites symbolize a soul’s journey skyward, but without the environmental risks.

Unlike balloons, which can harm wildlife and contribute to pollution, or lanterns, which pose fire hazards, kite flying memorials offer a safe, sustainable way to honor someone’s memory. They invite reflection, connection, and a sense of release – all with nothing left behind but the echo of love on the wind.

Whether flown solo or during a community event, memorial kites offer a serene, eco-conscious way to say goodbye.

DIY Memorial Kites and Kite Flying Events Near You

Many local areas have clubs for kite enthusiasts and sponsor kite flying days or festivals, sometimes in honor of former members or beloved local residents. Some hospices and other nonprofits also host similar events. You can check with your local funeral provider to see if they know of kite-flying festivals in your area or can help you plan your own kite-themed memorial.

You can make your own DIY memorial kite or purchase one from a craft-oriented retail website like Etsy. For help planning a kite memorial event or finding local festivals, check the American Kitefliers Association website. There is a wealth of information online about kite making and flying and kits that can be purchased that help you skip a couple of steps.

Whether you craft your own DIY memorial kite or join a local kite flying tribute, we hope you find comfort in the peaceful rhythm of flight – and in celebrating your loved one with a meaningful, eco-friendly memorial.

Photo courtesy Robert Brasington

Further Reading:

Looking for more creative and meaningful ways to honor a loved one? You might find these helpful:

• Unique Memorial Ideas That Celebrate a Life
• From Headstones to Gemstones: A Guide to Permanent Memorials
• 8 Creative and Unique Ways to Remember a Loved One with Ashes
• Memorial Trees Give Loved Ones a Green Goodbye