Rain on you.

I opened an umbrella in a store the other day. I just wanted to see how big it was. Because I did that, are all the people who were in the store at that time cursed? Does this superstition only pertain to umbrellas being opened in a house? After doing some research, I found that the superstition pertains to an umbrella being opened indoors, so I apologize to anyone who was in Eagle Rock’s Target on April 28, 2008 at around 6 p.m…it looks like we’re all in for quite a bit of bad luck!

The most common explanation of this superstition that I found was that back when umbrellas were used mainly as protection against the sun, opening one indoors would be to insult the local sun god and invite his wrath on everyone in your household (or in my case, Target).

Apparently it isn’t always bad luck to open an umbrella inside. According to some, it’s only considered bad if any of the following apply:
-The umbrella was a gift.
-The umbrella is black.
-The umbrella has never been used outdoors.
-There is a sick person in the house.

Again, my apologies to those unfortunate Target shoppers (and workers)!