Umbrellas are one of the oldest and most useful inventions, with an interesting and complex history. Umbrellas have been used in the past and present for various purposes, such as protection from the sun and rain, and as fashion accessories.
The word ‘umbrella’ is derived from the Latin word ‘umbra,’ meaning shade or shadow, reflective of its use to provide shade from the sun in ancient times. Modern umbrellas perform this function and, in addition, offer protection from the rain.
Let’s take a look at the origin of umbrellas.
The Origin of Umbrellas
It’s not sure who used the first umbrella or how and why were umbrellas invented, but the umbrella as we know it today has been around for a long time. History of umbrella’s has it that the use of umbrellas dates back over 4,000 years. Western Asia’s ancient Mesopotamia was where it was originally discovered. They were mostly used by the rich and privileged, who hardly went under the rain but occasionally walked under the sun. As a result, umbrellas were initially made to protect from the sun for the more affluent members of the public.
Originally fashioned out of palm leaves and peacock feathers, they were only used by the ruling class in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to shield them from the sun. In medieval China, parasols (light umbrellas) were also used; they were formed of bamboo sticks and covered in leaves and feathers.
Adorned with colored tassels, the parasol was used to shelter women of the upper classes during hot and moist weather. During the 16th century, some umbrellas began to be made of silk or velvet; later, of nylon or cotton.
By the middle of the 19th century, the umbrella became more widespread and was being manufactured worldwide. They still offer protection against rain and shine and serve as fashion statements.
The England Umbrella Revolution
Early in the 1750s, an Englishman named Jonas Hanway, who had recently returned from a vacation to France, started walking about on the streets of London with an umbrella. Before this time, it was unheard of for a man to own and use an umbrella in England as it was only synonymous with women.
People were indignant. As Hanway passed, some onlookers yelled and laughed at him as he moved about with his waterproof umbrella, while others just gawked in disbelief. Who was this odd individual who didn’t seem to mind that he was breaking social norms?
Hanway endured a barrage of insults from British people he crossed up with on the sidewalk throughout the years, along with his umbrella.
By the time Hanway passed away in 1786, more men in England were using umbrellas. Many more people were seen walking through the city and villages on rainy days while proudly holding an umbrella above their heads. People were also losing their self-consciousness about possessing umbrellas, which symbolized the shifting social norms.
The Birth of Pocket Umbrellas
After the first world war, a new type of umbrella was born. Due to his wounds from the war, Hans Haupt could not handle his walking stick and his umbrella at once. This gave him the idea to consider slipping an umbrella into his pocket, and the collapsible umbrella was born.
He gave it a telescoping frame so it could become a foldable umbrella with a manageable shape. He submitted a patent application for his creation in 1928, and manufacturer Fritz Bremshey began mass production four years later.
Fun Facts About Umbrellas
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- The origin of the name umbrella has more to do with the shadow caused by the sun than the rain.
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- The first guy to carry an umbrella in public was an Englishman named Jonas Hanway. Due to his influence, men in England and the rest of the world were eventually introduced to the umbrella soon after.
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- European fashion during the 19th century required that umbrellas be carried in the middle of their shaft with the handle pointing downward.
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- Nobility in England loved silk umbrellas in shades of blue or green.
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- Bradford Philips unveiled the first functional “folding umbrella” in 1969.
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- Each year, more than 33 million umbrellas are sold in the US.
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- Did you know that umbrellas may be used as a weapon and a shield? As part of his security measures, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was the first to use umbrellas covered in Kevlar.
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- Umbrellas have been used as a deadly weapon on a few occasions.
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- Superstitions involving umbrellas have been around for a very long time. One serious superstition was that opening an umbrella indoors is considered bad behavior that can bring about bad luck. This was the view of ancient Egypt because opening an umbrella away from the sun enrages the sun deity Ra.
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- Japan has the most umbrellas per capita in the entire world.
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- A significant shift in the manufacturing process occurred in the 1880s with the invention of Mr. Samuel Fox’s steel umbrella frame. The frame of the umbrella was previously composed of whalebone.
Conclusion
The umbrella will probably never go out of style and will continue to be used for generations. It is used as a feminine accessory and for protection from the elements.
Umbrellas are timeless products that offer protection from rain and shine. People of every age use umbrellas, but certain groups like their umbrellas in different ways.
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