The Versatile Umbrella!

The umbrella is certainly among man's most important and most practical inventions. It is a shield from both rain and sunlight. It can be a defense stick, too. Yet, aside from the obvious, this handy device serves many other functions.

Umbrellas first appeared in China thousands of years before Christ. They soon found their way to Egypt where, in those days, they were used to symbolize social status. They were, in both places, associated with people of importance. The nobility had servants hold umbrellas over their heads to protect them from the sun.

Even among the upper classes, umbrellas were a distinguishing symbol of rank. The umbrellas of the average elite had ornamental leaves for the top covering. For the higher ranks, feathers were often added. The more ornate the umbrellas meant the higher the social standing of their owners.

The Greeks introduced the umbrella to Europe in the beginning of the Christian era. The Romans pioneered in using it also as protection from the rain. For unknown reasons, the use of umbrellas faded out for several centuries. But towards the end of the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church reintroduced the device as marks of distinction for the pope and the clergy.

In early 17th century, Italians wanted their umbrellas to look more elegant. They covered them with leather, which also made the devices more waterproof. At about the same time, in France, oilcloth was used for coverings. The French version was slightly less bulky yet had the same waterproofing and sun-protection capabilities.

By the 18th century umbrellas became popular female fashion accessories. Parasols-small decorative umbrellas-were in vogue in 18th and 19th century Europe. Their tops were mostly made of silk and looked very chic indeed. Still they served the fundamental purpose of shielding women's faces from the sunlight. The original umbrellas had whalebone for their ribs and solid canes for their trunks. It was not until the mid-1800s that lightweight steel was used for their frames. This new material was much sturdier. Thus, umbrellas began to stand better in wind and heavy weather.

Umbrellas soon became popular with men, too. Black was the most preferred color as it was believed to represent toughness and, therefore, masculinity. It was, also, less gaudy and more elegant. After a while, however, umbrellas came in bright colors and elaborate prints and the new look had become the common trend for men and women alike.

Perhaps the greatest improvement to the umbrella is the polyester fabric. This synthetic material, introduced towards the middle part of the last century, is lightweight and has high resistance to moisture. It does not wet easily. Yet even if it eventually gets damp, it allows water to slide to the edges of the umbrella's covering instead of seeping through. Moreover, polyester fabric does not yield easily to wrinkling or to such damages as often caused by mildew and common household chemicals. Its sun-shielding capability is as good as its bulkier counterparts.

Nowadays umbrellas come in slick designs that fold into a compact size when not in use, to fit easily in a small handbag or to clip under the arm. People, especially women, prefer them in colors that drop flattering shades on their faces on sunny days. And umbrellas remain to be a handy equipment in the rain. For reasons of its versatility, umbrellas will certainly continue to be around for a long, long time into the future.