Oil paper umbrellas hung up for New Year cultural festival

Colorful oil paper umbrellas are hanging up above Yuewu Square as decoration for a folk culture festival in Huaibei, Anhui Province, China. The history of oil paper umbrella can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty. Being in Chinese culture for more than 1,000 years, the umbrella works not only for protecting people from rain and the sun, but also as an essential item in traditional Chinese weddings. When the bride gets off the sedan as she arrives at the wedding venue, a matchmaker will open a red oil paper umbrella for her to exorcise. Oil paper umbrellas are also popular among other Asian countries, like Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. [Photo: VCG]