The Story of the Umbrella dates back to around 1830, when the black community sang slow spirituals behind a funeral. After the burial the umbrellas were brought out and twirled to lively music, signaling that the soul of the deceased was now in heaven and happiness prevailed.\nTraditional Black (JAZ) funerals treated death as a home coming for the believing departed, so it was and still is in many traditions a celebration\n\nThe umbrella is now a cente4eral theme in most celebrations in Mew Orleans even sporting event etc.
The leader of a musical procession in New Orleans carries an umbrella-Why?