Almost every woman in Tarragona carries a simple fan in their handbag. It's an essential item when you live in this heat; lightweight, inexpensive, and of course cooling! Fans are important in both Catalan and Spanish culture; used in regional dances and traditional costumes. I love them, and curiously, I always wondered why Spanish men don't use them! My father says that men can tolerate the heat more easily; my brother says he doesn't carry a handbag so has nowhere to put one. But things are changing. You can see young men using fans on the streets of Tarragona on the hottest days, and fathers fanning their babies and themselves! Fans are essential during outdoor summer festivals, not only to make a pleasant breeze but to protect you from the sun. You can see their bright colours fluttering amongst the crowds.