Americana the Beautiful - One state and wacky festival at a time

I ask because as it turns out, parasols were frilly and meant to protect from the sun, while umbrellas were given the duty of rain defense. But somehow we’ve mixed the terms up when it comes to the beach – or maybe it’s just that no one uses “parasol” anymore.

If you’re curious, the concept of a parasol is indeed ancient–depicted in sculptures and paintings of Egypt.

And if you’re curious as to why I’m writing about umbrellas and parasols…it’s because their color caught my eye while on the beaches of the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

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