As we have mentioned, a fan is basically considered a suitable gift item because it is a lucky charm. On the other hand, there are some festive occasions in which a fan is not considered a suitable gift. There are many theories and varying ideas regarding the following gifts and auspiciousness. Let's check out some of the cases where fans are considered unsuitable.
At weddings
Although there are various theories, some people believe that a fan should not be chosen as a wedding gift. The reason for this is said to be that a fan has the element of "spreading," and thus evokes the idea of the distance between the bride and groom widening. However, this is just one way of thinking. When choosing a fan as a gift, it is best to consider the feelings of the gift recipient.
Folding fans are also used as accessories for Japanese-style attire at weddings. For example, it is common for the bride and groom to wear fans when they are dressed in kimono. Brides wearing white kimono or colored Uchikake, the first formal attire for women, are known to carry Suehiro along with other personal belongings such as Hakoseko and Kaiken. The bridegroom, who wears the men's first formal attire of black habutae with five crests, also holds a "hakusen," a fan with a white fan face.
At weddings, not only the bride and groom, but also guests attending in kimono usually wear fans. For example, women in the bride's and groom's families wear black or colored tomesode, the first formal attire, with a suehiro inserted into the obi sash for greeting and other occasions. The men of the bride's family, like the groom, wear the first formal attire of black hanae five-piece crested kimono and hold a white fan in their hands.
Thus, the fan is considered auspicious and is an item used at weddings for the head of the family and attendants. Although some people believe that it should not be chosen as a wedding gift, it is basically known as a lucky charm.
When giving a fan to your sweetheart in Chinese culture
When celebrating in the Chinese cultural sphere, in Basic Chinese, a fan is the best gift to give to a friend, as it is a homonym for "good deeds (shansu)," meaning "kindness" or "good deeds. They are also sometimes used as gifts at weddings and courtships. In folklore, fans are also used as lucky charms to ward off evil spirits and establish love.
However, it is not very popular to give a fan as a gift between lovers. The reason for this is that the Chinese pronunciation of the word for fan (shanzu) is reminiscent of the word for "dispersal (shan) hua. This is also because fans are used in the summer and thrown away in the winter, which evokes the image of parting.
In China, fans are also given as gifts for good luck and are valued as works of art. Calligraphy fans are considered elegant art gifts that give the enjoyment of beauty. Today, giving a fan is a good choice for anyone interested in traditional Chinese culture.
As you can see, depending on the various customs in different parts of the world, the actual symbolic meanings also vary greatly from country to country and region to region. In gift-giving situations for people from different cultures, select appropriate items, taking into consideration even the cultural background of the recipient.
