The umbrella has been around for thousands of years protecting people from both rain and shine. The word umbrella comes from the Latin word "umbra" which means shade or shadow. Umbrellas were originally intended to protect people from the sun. Evidence of this exists in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt, Greece, China and Assyria. The Chinese are credited with the use of umbrellas designed specifically for rain protection. There are many advantages and disadvantages of the umbrella.

More Disadvantages

• Sooner or later the rain will stop and you will find yourself stuck holding the umbrella. Coming in out of the rain, the umbrella will need to be stowed away wet. The puddle it creates could potentially become a health and safety risk. You had best be careful where you store a wet umbrella.

  Theres nothing worse than having someones umbrella obstruct your view. Spectators will often use the umbrella as a shade during a sporting event such as a tennis match or soccer game. This works to the owner`s advantage but is annoying for the other spectators.

  If you are the superstitious sort, you may believe it to be bad luck if you open an umbrella up indoors. Better have the salt shaker ready.