The Language of the Hand Fan

It seems hand fans have a language all their own. At one time this language was the language of love - and the means of communication with the object of your affection. I've included a list below.

More than just for cooling you!

As far back as I can remember a fan was used for cooling yourself - if you had to sit in a hot room for any length of time - it was quite common to see a woman pull out a simple flat hand fan and start fanning - at which time you would hope to be near her.

When my cousins, Roger and Bryan, visited "Attingham Park" in England, they picked up a brochure to share with me. Among other items of interest in that brochure was the language of the fan.

For me, a pretty fan is no more than pretty decoration on a pretty wall (see photo below of my fan on my colorwashed wall*). I recently visited a friend who wanted to show me something in her bedroom. When she turned on the red (yes, red!) light to show me - what, I don't remember - behind her bed was a wall filled with beautiful fans from all over the world - every kind and every shape - lovely!

The language may be lost but certainly not the beauty of the fans. I must say, I was quite surprised to see the amount of pretty hand fans for sale on the internet as well as the many beautiful books.

Why is this a lost art?

This lost art is forgotten because...some say it is because women carry too much these days to have an extra hand to play with a fan. I think it is mostly due to having A/C everywhere.

When this very pretty Korean hand fan (below) was given to me as a gift I did find it to be quite cooling. Much more so than the flat fans you were once given in a church or funeral home, etc. And, I did not have to turn on the A/C when all I needed was just a bit of cooling.

Well, just in case you decide to turn off your A/C, or get on a hot train or are forced to sit in a hot room, you may decide to open a beautiful fan and start fanning - but just know that you may be sending one of the following messages:

With handle of fan to lips - Kiss me

Twirling it in the left hand - I wish to get rid of you

Drawing it across the right cheek - I love you

Closing it - I wish to speak to you

Fanning slowly - I am married

Letting it rest on right cheek - Yes

Letting it rest on left cheek - No

Open wide - Wait for me

Half opened over face - We are being watched

Fanning fast - I am engaged (one website says fanning fast means 'I love you so much' - perhaps it is the speed, or the body language to go with it)

Resting fan on lips - I don't trust you

Dropping the fan - I belong to you

I was quite surprised to find so much more information about the language of the fan on the internet. It made for fun reading.

*If you'd like to color wash your walls, it can be done beautifully and quite cheaply. See link below!