Kites are used as a fishing aid in the Solomon Islands. Kites are used by the Koreans to announce the birth of a child. Kites were used by the Chinese during battles. They were made of bamboo and had the tendency to hum and shriek in the wind which frightened the enemy. Many kite designs that were developed for the military or for scientific purposes can be seen at kite festivals and competitions today.
Windsocks are a Japanese tradition that has caught on elsewhere.
In the Japanese culture the windsocks are made in the shape of a fish called a carp and they are the symbol of strength and strong will, overcoming great obstacles to achieve their goal. Like the Chinese, the Japanese have a special day for flying kites or windsocks. Today, we don't need a special day to fly kites and there are many kite-flying festivals throughout the year. Let's explore the aerodynamics of kites. They weigh more than the volume of the air they displace.