Ah, the Victorian Era. A fascinating time. The Victorians lived in a time of great change, as social structures shifted, exploration, discovery, and invention flourished, and etiquette was raised to a whole new level (a level not matched since in Western culture). The elaborate etiquette rules did not allow for the type of emotional vomiting that is so in vogue today. However, being an ingenious people, they possessed a myriad of hidden languages to convey their affections and intentions. These languages are to be the subject of a series of posts here at Penultimate Grooviness. Over the next week or so, we will cover the languages of flowers, calling cards, postage stamps, gloves, parasols, handkerchiefs, and, today, fans.
You see, even the most well brought up Victorian girl was likely to fall in love at some point in her life. Regretable, but true. Being well brought up, she naturally could not speak of her feelings directly to the object of her affection. She could indirectly, however, "speak" through a variety of means, the most fascinating and telling of which is the fan. Below you see a list of what different gestures really meant.
Holding the handle to the lips - Kiss me (and you thought the Victorians were prudes!)
Letting fan rest on right cheek - Yes
Letting fan rest on left cheek - No
Drawing across cheek - I love you
Drawing across forehead - We are being watched
Carrying in left hand - Desires your acquaintance
Carrying in right hand - You are too willing
Carrying in right hand in front of face - Follow me
Closing fan - I wish to speak to you
Fan open wide - Wait for me
Drawing across eyes - I am sorry
Open and shut - You are cruel
Placing fan on left ear - You have changed
Twirling in left hand - I wish to get rid of you
Twirling in right hand - I love another
Drawing through hand - I dislike you
Dropping the fan - We are friends
Fanning slowly - I'm married
Fanning fast - I love you very much
Closing an open fan very slowly - I promise to marry you
Gently touching one finger to the edge of the fan - I need to speak to you
Covering left ear with open fan - Don't betray our secret
Fanning with left hand - Stop flirting with other women, you idiot.
Closed fan dangling from left wrist - I'm engaged
Closed fan dangling from right wrist - I want to be engaged
And the list goes on and on. This list is by no means comprehensive, but gives you a slightish idea of the amount of things that could be "said" at a typical evening party. Can you imagine having to remember all of this? What if you were really just overheated? Fanning yourself very fast would send a message of true love to some loathsome young tarantula! Or if you were talking to someone you really liked and started absently twirling the fan in your left hand - the poor boy would think you wish him gone and far away! A system frought with potential of disaster! Oh dear...
4 comments:
Sweet fancy Moses! I suppose it's good that ladies don't carry fans anymore. I think it would be quite difficult to remember all of these things. And of course, we wouldn't want the lower middle class to find out about any of this. Why they might start to think their simply middle class.
How can a guy kiss her if her hand is in the way?
I think it's safe to say that I'm not a fan of that system.
lol SA...thats the question of the hour!! 'twould be difficult i'd imagine.
Post a Comment