Joey Saves The Day!: Facts about Umbrellas

Facts About Umbrellas

We are on the letter Uu of the gratitude alphabet.

U is for Umbrella!

What are you thankful for that begins with the letter U?

I'm thankful for umbrellas! When it rains, umbrellas keep me dry. I've noticed that some children have a great time jumping and playing in the mud puddles, all the while holding onto their umbrellas to stay dry.

Did you know that the basic umbrella, also known as the parasol, was invented by the ancient Egyptians around 1000 B.C.? The parasol/umbrella had colored feathers attached to a long pole. The Egyptians would use umbrellas/parasols to keep the sun off of them. Sometime in the 11^th century, the Chinese invented the first waterproof umbrella. Sometime in the 16^th or 17^th century, the rain umbrella reached some European countries. In the early 1750s, an Englishman named Jonas Hanway made the umbrella that we know today popular. He was the first male to carry an umbrella in London!

Facts about the umbrella and parasol:

1. Additional terms for an umbrella include "brolly," which is commonly used in British English, "parapluie," which is the French word for umbrella, "canopy," "rainshade," and "gamp." Parasols, on the other hand, are often referred to as sunshades. In snowy conditions, an umbrella used for protection against the snow is known as a "paraneige."

2. There are two main categories of umbrellas: straight and folding. There are many different types and styles of umbrellas. Here is a list of some of those types:

An automatic umbrella- you can open and close it with one hand.

Bubble umbrella- The umbrella is more rounded.

Classic umbrella- the most common type of umbrella!

Patio umbrella- used to give you shade from the sun

3. Did you know that over 30 million umbrellas are produced annually? That's a whole lot of umbrellas floating around!

4. A sombrero is a wide-brimmed hat of Mexican origin, traditionally worn to provide shade from the intense sun. The word "sombrero" is derived from the Spanish word "sombra," which translates to "shade." The broad brim of the sombrero serves both a practical purpose of shielding the face and neck from the sun's rays and a cultural significance as a symbol of Mexican heritage.

5. China boasts a remarkable number of over 1800 umbrella factories, showcasing the country's significant contribution to the global umbrella manufacturing industry.

6. In 1851, Samuel Fox, an English inventor and industrialist, established the Fox Umbrella Frames company. This innovative company designed and manufactured the paragon umbrella frame, a groundbreaking product that revolutionized the umbrella industry. The superior quality and durability of this frame contributed to its widespread adoption and global distribution.

7. Did you know that the modern umbrella was initially designed for protection from the sun, not the rain?

Get your printable umbrella worksheet here: