National Umbrella Day
Use one of the world's most useful inventions on #NationalUmbrellaDay
National Umbrella Day is celebrated world-wide on 10 February every year.
On this day, one of the most useful inventions – the umbrella – is honoured. Not only does it keep us dry in the rain, it also protects us from the heat of the sun, and can even be used as a fashion accessory.
Umbrellas have been featured in many movies, with the most notable ones being Singing in the Rain (1952) and Mary Poppins (1964).
Here are some interesting facts about umbrellas:
– The word ‘umbrella’ comes from the Latin word umbra – meaning shade or shadow.
– ‘Brolly’ is a slang word for umbrella and is often used in Britain, New Zealand and Australia. ‘Bumbershoot’ is a fanciful Americanism from the late 19th century.
– The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago and there is evidence of them in the ancient art and artefacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece and China.
– The Chinese were the first to waterproof umbrellas by waxing and lacquering their paper parasols.
– The first umbrella shop opened in 1830 in London and was called James Smith and Sons.
– Hans Haupt’s first pocket umbrella made an appearance in 1928, and in 1969, Bradford E Phillips obtained a patent for the first working folding umbrella.
– Umbrellas have also been fashioned into hats from as early as 1880 – with the most recent one appearing in 1987.
– Umbrellas with a reflective inside are used by photographers as a diffusion device when employing artificial lighting, and in most portrait-taking situations,they are used as a glare shield and shade.
To celebrate National Umbrella Day, splurge on a new umbrella and use #NationalUmbrellaDay to post on social media.
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