The History of Fans in Spain

西班牙扇子的歷史

Fans have been around for a very long time. Indeed they were popular with the Egyptians， Greeks and Romans， not only to keep cool but as a way of fighting off insects. The first reference to the fan being used in Spain is in the 14th century in the Chronicles of Pedro the First of Aragon.

扇子在西班牙有著悠久的歷史。事實上，扇子在埃及、希臘和羅馬也廣受歡迎。它不僅能夠帶來涼爽，還能趕走蚊蟲。最早提及扇子使用的是14世紀(jì)的《阿拉貢國王佩德羅一世統(tǒng)治時期編年史》。

A feather fan was included in the gifts from Christopher Columbus to Queen Elizabeth after his first trip to America. As time passed by， fans became not just a practical item but an object of beauty with distinctive meanings. All kinds of materials have been used in the making of fans， from rich linen and lace to feathers， palm fronds， other leaves and fine silks. Nowadays there is a mass market for fans and not only can you still buy hand-made fans but mass produced， cheaper versions too. The cheaper fans are often made of cardboard or paper with a plastic framework. They make a great souvenir and you will find them all over Spain.

克里斯托弗·哥倫布首次訪問美洲后，送給伊麗莎白女王的禮物中就包含有一把羽毛扇。隨著時間的推移，扇子除了具有實用功能，還是一件具有獨特含義的精美物件。從昂貴的亞麻布和蕾絲到羽毛、棕櫚葉、其他樹葉和精致絲綢，各種各樣的材料都曾被用來制作扇子。如今，扇子有著廣闊的市場，人們不僅仍然可以買到手工制作的扇子，還可以購買大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)、價格更實惠的扇子。便宜的扇子通常由帶塑料邊框的硬紙板或紙張制成。扇子在西班牙是極好的紀(jì)念品，隨處可見。

The Design of Spanish Fans

西班牙扇子的款式設(shè)計

The design of the average fan is a complicated one yet most fans are made on the same principle. Most folding fans are made of lightweight materials. Spanish fans can be plain in colour， mixed colours， fancy lace with cut-outs or printed with fancy images.

即使是普通的西班牙扇子，它們的設(shè)計都很復(fù)雜，不過大多數(shù)扇子的制作原理是相同的。大部分的折扇都是用輕質(zhì)的材料制成。西班牙扇子色彩或單一或絢麗，或裝飾有鏤空設(shè)計的精美蕾絲花邊，或印有美麗圖案。

There are few Spanish women who do not own at least one fan and they are still widely used， mainly to keep cool. Most will have a collection of fans， each to match a different outfit or mood. The fan is also still used as a method of communication between lovers.

幾乎每個西班牙女人都至少擁有一把扇子，扇子如今仍然被廣泛使用，主要是為了驅(qū)暑。大多數(shù)西班牙女人擁有許多扇子，用來搭配不同的衣服或心情。同時，扇子仍然被當(dāng)作情人之間傳情達(dá)意的一種媒介。

The Secret Language of Fans

神秘的“扇語”

During the 19th century， when single ladies went out dancing， they were not allowed to meet boys on their own. They would be accompanied by a chaperone who would stay by their side and observe their behavior. In order to communicate with the young men， a secret language was started， using their fans.

19世紀(jì)，西班牙未婚女子外出參加聚會時，不得單獨會見男子。 她們身邊必須伴有年長女伴以監(jiān)督她們的舉止。為了和年輕男子交流，一種用扇子傳達(dá)的神秘的“扇語”應(yīng)需而生。

Depending on how they held or moved their fans， the boys would understand what they were trying to say yet the chaperones didnt. For example， opening the fan and touching her cheek meant “I like you”； moving the fan slowly over her chest meant “I am free and available—I dont have a boyfriend”.

根據(jù)她們持扇或搖扇方式的不同，男子可以在年長女伴不知情的情況下明白女孩的心意。比如：撐開扇子，用扇子撫臉意味著“我喜歡你”；在胸前慢慢搖扇意味著“我沒有男朋友”。