March 13, 2023 – Umbrellas

Today is National Open an Umbrella Indoors Day, a day to test the superstition and see if any bad luck comes your way. Have you ever wondered where that superstition came from? The origin isn’t exactly known but there are a few theories.
One is that it started in 1200 BCE, when ancient Egyptian priests and royalty used umbrellas made from peacock feathers and papyrus for protection against the sun. The superstition may have come from the belief that opening an umbrella indoors away from the sun’s rays would anger the sun god and have negative consequences. Another theory involves the Egyptian sky god. Early umbrellas were thought to mirror and honor the way the sky god protected Earth. Their shade was considered sacred and if anyone with non-noble blood used one, that person would supposedly be cursed with bad luck.
Modern umbrellas gained popularity in the Victorian era with the invention of the steel-ribbed frame, which had a spring mechanism that allowed it to open quickly. A rigid metal spoked umbrella opening suddenly in a small room could injure someone or shatter a fragile object. So the superstition may have been a way to deter the potentially dangerous activity of opening umbrellas inside.
Umbrellas were being used more than 3,000 years ago in Egypt, China, and other ancient civilizations. It was first used as protection from the sun and was only used by royalty and other high-ranking individuals. They were made from materials like feathers, leaves, paper, and silk, and were sometimes oiled or varnished to make them waterproof.
Until the middle of the 18th century, umbrellas were exclusively used by women. But that all changed thanks to Englishman Jonas Hanway. He was the first man who dared to habitually carry one on the streets of London. His influence finally introduced the umbrellas to the men of England and eventually the whole world.
The 1800s was a time of great umbrella innovations. Things like the button that allows umbrellas to automatically open and umbrellas that fold into themselves were invented during this time. Umbrella hats have been around since at least 1880.
Today, most umbrellas are made in China, with the city of Shangyu having more than 1,000 umbrella factories. In the U.S., more than 33 million umbrellas are sold every year. And they continue to be actively developed. There are so many umbrella-related patents that the U.S. Patent Office has 4 full-time examiners who assess them! Learn more here.