Fans in Spain go back a long way - probably about five centuries, when they took over from feathers and large leaves as cooling systems. They are still widely used today whenever air conditioning is not available, and you won’t often see a Spanish woman without one in summer. To celebrate the annual fair in Malaga this year, our sister paper SUR has asked local artists to decorate a series of fans, and these will be available with the Sunday copies of SUR from now until August, for a mere 2.95 euros - any profits going to the “Canastillas” charity, which helps new mothers in need at the Malaga maternity hospital. The fans are sure to be put to good use - they are definitely not just for decoration.
However, few people nowadays understand the symbolism behind the way they are used. Different movements express different sentiments: for example, fanning oneself rapidly doesn’t mean that it is unbearably hot, it means “I love you intensely”. On the other hand, if you fan yourself slowly it means “I am a married woman and not interested in you”. Closing the fan slowly means “yes”, but snapping it shut means “no!”. Dropping it means “I belong to you”, lending it to someone brings bad luck, and giving one to a man’s mother means “It’s over, goodbye!” If the lady you are with uses her fan as a sunshade, she finds you ugly and doesn’t like you, but if she covers her face with it, it means “Be careful, they’re watching us”....
| The language of fans | |
|---|---|
| Doce artistas malagueños han pintado doce abanicos | Twelve Malaga artists have painted twelve fans |
| Los beneficios irán a la organización sin ánimo de lucro ‘Canastillas sin fronteras’ | The profits will go the non-profit making organisation ‘Canastillas (layettes) without frontiers’ |
| Una canastilla lleva ropa, biberones, mantas y pañales | A layette has clothes, bottles, blankets and nappies |
| Abanicarse lentamente significa “soy casada y me eres indiferente” | Fanning oneself slowly means “I am married and am indifferent to you” |
| Dejarlo caer significa “Te pertenezco” | Dropping it means “I belong to you” |
| Si la ves contar las varillas o pasar los dedos por ellas, es que quiere hablar contigo | If you see her counting the ribs or running her fingers over them, it’s because she wants to talk to you |
| Un golpe de abanico sobre algo significa impaciencia | Striking something with the fan denotes impatience |
| Si lo apoya en la mejilla derecha está diciendo “sí” | If she rests it on her right cheek, she is saying “yes” |
| En la mejilla izquierda significa “no” | On her left cheek means “no” |
| ¿Se cubre del sol con el abanico? Eres feo, no le gustas | Is she protecting herself from the sun with the fan? You are ugly, she doesn’t like you |
| Cubrirse la cara quiere decir “Sígueme cuando me vaya” | Covering the face means “Follow me when I leave” |
