When the umbrella was first invented, it wasn’t meant to be used for rain. The umbrella got its start over 4,000 years ago in Egypt, eventually spreading to Asian countries such as China. Initially, it was used to provide shade from the sun.
In Egypt, the umbrella was used for royalty and to keep women’s skin pale, which was seen as a sign of wealth and notability at that time.
When umbrellas spread to China, the color and size of an umbrella could tell a story about its owner, and red and yellow umbrellas were reserved for the imperial family, .
