 Hi everyone and welcome to my YouTube channel. Today I'm going to be talking about the practice of using umbrellas during sunny weather as a form of sun protection. I've been seeing a lot of people in Jerusalem using umbrellas as sun protection this summer and it seems to be a trend that's catching on quickly. So I thought I'd do a little research and find out more about this intriguing practice. When and where did this practice start? The practice of using umbrellas as sun protection actually dates back to ancient China. In fact the Chinese word for umbrella, san, literally means shade. The practice of using umbrellas as sun protection eventually spread to other parts of the world including Japan, Korea and India. In these cultures umbrellas were often seen as a symbol of status and wealth. Our umbrellas effective means are protecting against the sun. Umbrellas can be an effective means of protecting against the sun. In fact they can block up to 95% of the sun's UV rays which can help to prevent sunburn, premature aging and skin cancer. However it's important to choose an umbrella that is specifically designed for sun protection. These umbrellas will have a UPF, ultraviolet and protection factor, rating of 30 or higher. UPF ratings measure how well fabric blocks UV rays with the rating of 30 meaning that the fabric blocks 97% of UV rays. Is a specific type of umbrella more effective than others? There are a few different types of umbrellas that are designed specifically for sun protection. These include sun umbrellas. These umbrellas are typically made of a tightly woven fabric that blocks UV rays. They often have a UPF rating of 30 or higher. Gough umbrellas. Gough umbrellas are also a good option for sun protection. They're large and they provide a lot of shade, however they can be bulky and difficult to carry. Picnic umbrellas are another good form of sun protection, they're typically made of a lightweight fabric that blocks UV rays, they're also easy to carry and set up. And why are sun umbrellas catching on particularly in Jerusalem at the moment? Well the average temperature in Jerusalem during the summer months is between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius. The climate in Jerusalem is Mediterranean which means that it's hot and dry in the summer and relatively cool and wet in the winter. So there you have it, umbrellas can be an effective way to protect yourself from the sun's horrible rays. So next time you're out in the sunny day in Jerusalem, don't forget to bring your sun umbrella. Thanks for watching, I hope you found this video informative. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below and be sure to subscribe to my channel for more videos like this one.