Spain and Portugal for Visitors

Posted by : John Ross on Jul 17, 2008 - 12:46 PM Shopping

The previous article, about combating the heat, reminded me of one of Spain's most emblematic customs, the use of the fan, still an indispensable accessory for many Spanish girls and ladies at this time of year (it's a handy gift or souvenir for visitors to take back, as well). Which reminded me of something I had been meaning to find out about for ages: the "language of the fan," used by young and not-so-young ladies to communicate with suitors or prospective suitors without their family or chaperone finding out. It's not exclusive to Spain, of course, but was used wherever the fan was, being most popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In fact, I have found, it is not so much a language as a system, a code, based on common-sense, easy-to-follow gestures (for example, touching your nose with the fan means "something smells, here," i.e., you, the fan user, are suspicious), so I suspect that the ladies must have had to ensure that their escorts were looking in a different direction, as well.

Here are some more examples of fan-talk - what you do with the fan and what you are saying:

Moving the fan very slowly over your chest		I am single and unattached
Moving the fan quickly with short movements over your chest		I have a partner or boyfriend, so move on
Opening and closing your fan, then touching your cheek with it,		I like you!
Placing the fan on your temple and looking upwards		I think of you day and night!
Touching the tip of your nose with your fan		Something doesn't smell good here (because the man is doing something you don’t like, such as flirting with another girl)
Walking sideways, hitting the palm of your hand with your fan		Be careful, my chaperone is approaching
Opening and closing your fan then pointing somewhere with it		Wait for me there and I will join you soon
Covering your mouth with the open fan and putting on a suggestive expression		Sending a kiss
Carrying your fan closed and dangling from your left hand		I am looking for a boyfriend
Carrying it closed and dangling from your right hand		I'm engaged
Fanning very rapidly		I have doubts about you
Closing it very quickly		Talk to my father. .
Placing it closed over your heart		I love you dearly
Placing it closed over your forehead		I am ignoring you
Putting the closed fan away		I'm not going out today
Taking it out of your purse		I'll be out today.
Placing it open over your lips		Don't doubt me
Placing it open over your heart		I want to get married
Giving the fan to the man		My heart belongs only to you
Taking the fan from the man		I don't want anything else from you
Covering part of your face with the open fan		We have finished
Letting the fan drop		I'm suffering, but I love you
Hitting your left hand with the fan		I like you
Looking outside		I'm thinking about whether it is good for me
Hitting your right hand with the fan		I hate you
Hitting your dress with the fan		I'm jealous
Resting it closed on your left cheek: I'm yours
Resting it closed on your right cheek		Be careful, my family is watching
Pretending to count the blades of the fan		I want to talk to you
Playing with the fan		I'm in a hurry
Holding the fan open, upside down		Without your love, I prefer to die