Umbrellas and parasols have been used for thousands of years in various cultures, with the basic design featuring a central axis and support spokes covered in foldable material. The term “umbrella” comes from the Latin for shelter and sun, and materials used to make them vary depending on function and appearance. Parasols were traditionally associated with women and used as a status symbol. Modern parasols come in various forms, including hand-held and table-mounted versions.
An umbrella is a device designed to keep the user out of sunlight, and variations have been used for thousands of years, especially in hot countries. The term “umbrella” is also technically correct for a parasol, although in common usage a parasol has come to imply protection from the sun, while an umbrella protects someone from the rain. Both devices are built on a similar principle, with a long central axis containing support spokes, which are covered in a mesh of material that can be easily folded for portability.
The term “umbrella” comes from the Latin for shelter or shield and sol, meaning sun. Archaeological evidence indicates that parasols have been around for thousands of years in places ranging from ancient Egypt to China, and that the basic design may have developed simultaneously in several areas. Umbrellas appear in bas-reliefs, paintings, and writings in places such as ancient Greece and Rome, China, Mesoamerica, the Middle East, and North Africa. In many cases, the parasol was considered a status symbol and carried by someone else for a high-ranking member of society.
Depending on the culture, the parasol is often associated with women: men who used parasols were sometimes considered effeminate or suspicious. In both ancient Greece and Rome, parasols were used exclusively by women, and this tradition has continued in many European cultures, including Victorian England, where upper-class women wore parasols to keep their pale skin in order to differentiate themselves from field workers. .
Various materials can be used to make an umbrella, including paper, silk, cotton, linen, canvas, and plastic. The materials used depend on the function of the shade, the crop and the desired appearance. Hand-painted silk and paper tend to be associated with Asian umbrellas, which are often very delicate and will not survive wet conditions or high winds. The most durable umbrellas are made of plastic and canvas, and can withstand moisture much better.
The parasol is produced in a number of modern incarnations, including the traditional hand-held variety. Many parasols are designed to be mounted on tables or planted in the sand, providing hands-free shade for multiple people along with food and drink. A more elaborate umbrella might be better classified as an awning or shade structure, especially as it more closely resembles a tent, but as long as you retain the basic collapsible design, it’s safe to call a shade structure an umbrella. The range of materials, sizes, and designs means that parasols are seasonally available at a variety of costs.
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