Main Street
Bethlehem PA
2020

'Umbrella' was borrowed from the Italian word 'ombrella,' a modification of the Latin 'umbella,' which came from 'umbra,' meaning "shade, shadow."

How interesting it is to know that the ordinary things we use in our monotonous life can hold such a rich and intriguing process of creation from time immemorable. One such trivial accessory that we use almost every day is an umbrella. You will be stunned and fascinated by finding out how important invention was an umbrella in the past centuries.

The umbrella was invented over 4,000 years ago and used in early civilizations in Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China. They were initially employed as parasols to provide shade from the sun. The term comes from the Latin root word umbra that means shadow. The Chinese invented the first waterproof umbrella as protection from rain when they waxed and lacquered their paper parasol. Umbrellas became a feminine accessory beginning in the 16th century in Europe. The Persian traveler and writer Jonas Hanway changed all that when he publicly used an umbrella in England for 30 years. The English gentlemen eventually followed suit and called their umbrellas as a Hanway. Furthermore, the chronicle order of umbrellas is long and eventful. From the earliest appearances of simple palm leaf umbrella, long age of being a synonym to wealth, to the modern time when is regarded as an item of prevailing, therefore, umbrellas managed to intersect with our past in many distinguishing ways.

An umbrella is an essential household item as it can protect you from exposure to sunlight and heat in hot weather as well as rain. A perfect chosen umbrella can go a long way in keeping you safe and healthy. Did you know that there are numerous umbrella types to choose for use? In a nutshell, different sorts of umbrellas come in varying designs, materials and serve different needs. Hence, you need to understand what each exquisite design has to offer.


Come to Downtown Bethlehem and explore 20 historic sites and the 18-th century architecture. A National Historic Landmark District, Bethlehem boasts a history in rich culture and tradition.