Which came first, the umbrella or the parasol? Exploring the history o

When you hear the word "umbrella," what do you imagine? The overwhelming majority of people use "rain umbrellas," and most of them probably associate "long umbrellas" used in the rain with umbrellas used at the beach or Japanese umbrellas. Nowadays, even men use "parasols," which have become more commonplace than in the past. Which came first, the rain umbrella or the parasol? In this article, we'll explore the history of the umbrella.

When did umbrellas first come into use?

Umbrellas are now a common part of everyday life. They are said to have first been used around 4,000 years ago, and their history can be seen in carvings and murals. In Europe, umbrellas were luxury items and symbols of wealth and power. They were not an everyday part of life. It is said that umbrellas with the opening and closing mechanism we know today first appeared in the 13th century, and the ribs (frames) of the umbrellas were made from whalebone or wood.

Which came first, the umbrella or the parasol?

When umbrellas first came into use around 4,000 years ago, they were first used as parasols. Surprisingly, people were not accustomed to using umbrellas on rainy days, and it was commonplace to get wet without an umbrella. They were used by wives of nobles and high priests to protect themselves from the sun when going out, and they were born as a symbol of authority rather than a practical use. The image is of an umbrella held by an attendant, rather than held by the wearer. In Japan, umbrellas were first introduced as "parasols," and after undergoing a structural evolution unique to Japan, they became more commonly used when it rained. Treated as a luxury item, parasols first became commonplace in the Greek era, and their use as rain umbrellas only came much later, in the late 18th century. Their use as rain umbrellas is surprisingly recent.

In the past, I was laughed at for using an umbrella on a rainy day.

As mentioned earlier, when umbrellas first began to be used, they were primarily used as parasols. People rarely considered using them on rainy days, and some even laughed at those who did. While umbrellas were primarily seen as a woman's possession, merchant Jonas Hanway's use of one led to widespread adoption among men. He was so impressed by an umbrella he found while traveling that it was being used as a raincoat that he waterproofed it and walked around London with it. It was common for men to wear hats to protect themselves from the rain, and the sight of a man using an umbrella, which was considered a woman's possession, as rain gear was considered eccentric. However, as he continued to use it for many years, the sight of men using it gradually became commonplace. A parasol, a woman's possession. Without his bold actions in this context, perhaps the value of umbrellas today would be different.

Umbrellas for both sunny and rainy days and for both sunny and rainy days. They look similar but are different.

In recent years, men have also started using parasols for various reasons, such as sunburn and heat protection. As parasols have become more common, there are now also parasols that boast convenience and can be used on rainy days. These are positioned as "parasols that can be used in unexpected rainy weather," and are similar in design and size to parasols. Conversely, there are umbrellas based on rain umbrellas that have the UV protection of a parasol, known as "parasols for both rain and shine." These two words may seem similar, but they have different nuances. [Note: Although they are called "parasols for both rain and shine," they are parasols that can be used in emergencies, such as sudden light rain. Please be careful when using them for long periods of time.]

summary

It's surprising to learn that umbrellas were originally created as parasols, even though today umbrellas are the norm! And it seems strange to think that people would get wet without an umbrella when it rained. By unraveling the history of umbrellas, I was able to get a glimpse of some interesting history that I hadn't known before. In recent years, there are products that are differentiated into rain umbrellas and parasols, but there are also umbrellas that can be used in both rain and shine and are easy to carry and fold up. Choose an umbrella that suits your lifestyle and preferences and add some fun to your daily life♪