Fanning the flames of romance

I love fans, hand fans that is. They are pretty, they keep you cool on a hot day, and I’ve discovered, they are perfect for fanning the flames of romance.

I read that fans were used as a form of nonverbal communication by the ladies and gentlemen of the sixteenth century — to communicate discreet messages of love.

Myth?

I don’t know.

But it intrigued me enough to investigate further. I also went looking for my own beautiful fan, a present from my daughter a few years ago.

It seems that the way you hold the fan, how much it is opened or the direction you place it, has a significance in the language of romance.

A fashion accessory with it’s own flirtation language . . . fascinating, don’t you agree?

For you coquettes, here’s a few gestures and meanings to get you started:

Placing your fan near your heart  ❧  I love you
Letting the fan rest on the right cheek  ❧  Yes
Letting the fan rest on the left cheek  ❧  No
Dropping the fan  ❧  We will be friends
Fanning slowly  ❧  I am married
Fanning quickly  ❧  I am engaged
Drawing the fan across the eyes  ❧  I am sorry
To open a fan wide  ❧  Wait for me
A half closed fan pressed to the lips  ❧  You may kiss me
Twirling the fan in the right hand  ❧  I love another
Twirling the fan in the left hand  ❧  We are being watched
Shutting a fully open fan slowly  ❧  I promise to marry you
A closed fan resting on the right eye  ❧  When can I see you
Carrying a open fan in the left hand  ❧  come and talk to me
Touching the tip of the fan with a finger  ❧  I wish to speak to you

From www.avictorian.com   which has a comprehensive list of fan flirtation rules and meanings. It’s also a wonderful resource if you’d like to know more about the history and language of the fan.

I hope this has prompted you to find a fan and educate your friends (male and female) on the fantabulous language of the fan.

Do you have a beautiful fan? Send me a photo and I’ll share it here!