One hot day in 1893, the story goes, the elderly President of the Chamber of Deputies, Zanardelli, joked to reporters who were packed into the cramped press tribune: “At least you lot have a fan that I see you waving about all the time!" In response, the parliamentary reporters paid him a symbolic tribute by folding up a piece of paper in the form of a fan, which they all signed and presented to him. Ever since, the so-called "gift of the fan" has become a traditional ceremony that each year marks the close of parliamentary work before the summer recess. Over the years, the original modest piece of paper has been replaced by other fans of ancient or artistic provenance.