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A hand fan is an instrument and a fashion accessory designed to move air with a rhythmic and variable wrist movement and facilitate cooling in a hot environment. It is considered to originate from the Orient, and its manufacture is delicate, especially when it presents artistic designs and quality materials. With antecedents in the Egyptian labels, its structure evolved from the fixed circular type to the folding model. Its Latin etymology comes from the diminutive of "abano," from "vannus." The name is given in Roman agricultural culture to a utensil used to winnow the husks of cereal grains and in kitchens to stoke the fire.

Types of Hand Fans

Battery hand fans are trending modern options for fans. Similar to traditional hand fans, these battery-powered hand fans can create strong air flow, reducing body temperature accordingly. These devices are usually of sizes fit for grabbing and holding in hand, and users can adjust the strength, direction, and position of airflow as they prefer.

Paper fans are a direct continuation of the traditional fans. It is very common to find paper fans with flatter service. A handle of varying dimensions usually holds such flat models. Some are symmetrical and have a round blade attached to one end. Others have a rectangular sheet of cardboard attached on one side to a rod that serves as a handle. They are made with various types of materials, such as cardboard, palm leaves, fabric, or feathers. A typical example is the Japanese "uchiwa."

As fans are getting increasingly popular, another rising trend is custom hand fans. Usually, these are paper hand fans with flat surfaces on which users can paint, write or decorate at their will. As a result, the fan is a personal statement piece and can be used to state one's personality. More than a functional object, custom hand fans are decorative items given as gifts to others like friends and family. Hence, the quality of the custom hand fans, the flexibility they have for creativity, and the aesthetics of the fans are top criteria for users.

Hand Fans for Wedding

Besides their function as cooling devices and as presents for self or others, hand fans are also largely adopted in weddings. For example, in Asian culture, brides would usually hold a hand fan before the main ceremony to partly cover their faces -- entailing that the brides are happy but shy at the same time -- perfect emotions for the special occasion. As for wedding guests, hand fans can be great props for photo shooting. Therefore, for Western-style weddings, using hand fans for pictures is getting popular as well.