The word for umbrella is almost identical in sound to the word for "avoid" used in the context of avoiding evil and evil spirits, so in most parades on festive occasions umbrellas are often carried for this very purpose.
「在宗教儀式和慶典遊行中，紙傘也是主角哩。」從十幾歲就開始做傘的林義雄解釋道：「傘與『閃』同音，眾妖魔鬼怪見傘則『閃』，百姓便能趨吉避凶保平安。」過去美濃紙傘因製作慢、手工貴、攜帶不便，難敵新式洋傘的競爭，而一度中落。