It looks like rain!

Often overlooked, except for in movies like Singin’ in the Rain and Mary Poppins, the umbrella is one of the world’s most convenient inventions.

Not only to they keep us dry in rainy weather, they keep us cool on sunny days and can be a quirky fashion accessory. To celebrate National Umbrella Day on 10 February, try splurging on a new umbrella or using the hashtag #NationalUmbrellaDay when posing to social media.

Here are some facts on Umbrellas:

1. The word umbrella comes from the Latin word “umbra” , meaning shade or shadow.

2. “Brolly” is a slang word for umbrella, used often in Britain, New Zealand and Australia.

3. The word “bumbershoot” was used in America in the late 19th century to refer to an umbrella

4. The basic umbrella was invented over 4 000 years ago with evidence of them in ancient art and artifacts from Egypt, Assyria, Greece and China.

5. The Chinese first waterproofed umbrellas for rain by waxing and lacquering their paper parasols.

6. The first umbrella shop was called “James Smith and Sons”, opened in 1830 and still located in London today.

7. Umbrellas have been fashioned into hats from as early as 1880 and as recently as 1987.

8. Umbrellas with a reflective inside are used by photographers as a diffusion device when using artificial lighting. They also use umbrellas as a glare shield and shade in portrait situations.

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