Umbrella

Hello there. My name is Umbrella, and I am your very own portable roof. When raindrops start to fall, whoosh, I pop open to keep you dry. When the sun is shining too brightly, pop, I open up to give you your own little spot of shade. I love my job. I get to see fluffy clouds and bright sunshine, all while keeping you cozy and safe. You might think you know all about me, but my story started a long, long time ago, even before your grandparents' grandparents were born. I've been helping people for thousands of years, and I have quite a tale to tell about my journey from a sunny day helper to a rainy day hero.

From Sunshine to Showers

A very long time ago, I wasn't called an umbrella. I was a parasol, which means 'for the sun'. In warm, sunny places like ancient Egypt and China, I was very important. I was made of beautiful silks and decorated with bright colors, and my job was to keep kings and queens cool under the hot sun. Only very special people got to use me back then. I felt so fancy, like a crown for the sky. For many years, I was only a sun-shader. People didn't think to use me in the rain. They thought I was too delicate for that.

Then, one day in a country called England, where it rains quite a lot, a man named Jonas Hanway had a brilliant idea. It was around the 1750s. Jonas thought, 'If this can block the sun, why can't it block the rain?'. So, he started carrying me on rainy days. At first, people laughed at him. They pointed and said it looked silly to carry a 'parasol' in the rain. But Jonas was brave. He didn't mind what they said. He knew I was useful. Day after day, he walked through the drizzly streets, staying perfectly dry while everyone else got wet. Soon, people stopped laughing and started thinking. They realized Jonas was clever, and I was a great friend to have when the clouds turned grey.

Your Colorful, Rainy-Day Friend

After Jonas Hanway showed everyone how helpful I could be, more and more people wanted a rainy-day friend like me. But I needed to get stronger to handle windy, stormy weather. In 1852, a clever man named Samuel Fox gave me strong steel bones, which you call ribs. These new ribs made me much sturdier and more reliable. I could now stand up to big gusts of wind without breaking. I was so proud.

From that day on, I started changing in all sorts of fun ways. Now, I come in every color of the rainbow. I can have polka dots, stripes, or even pictures of your favorite cartoon characters. There are big ones for grown-ups and small ones just for you. I love being your colorful companion on a grey day. I help you have adventures, splash in puddles without getting your hair wet, and listen to the pitter-patter of raindrops on my roof. I am here to help you stay cozy and happy, no matter what the weather decides to do.