18. SEGURAR VELA

This one is a bit sad, a tad uncomfortable, and most of the times, extremely boring.

“Segurar vela”, at its literal translation, means to hold a candle. The actual meaning isn’t that, of course, but no so far from that.

So, let’s say I go out with my best friend and her husband, we pick a good restaurant, great food, nice talk. But still, they’re a couple and I’m alone, it’s hard not to feel like you’re a spare part. In their defence, they always tried to make me comfortable, and before Mr. Fiancé I didn’t bring anyone to the table, literally.

So, the actual meaning of the expression is to be between a couple in a date situation, to be the third wheel. Now, you notice that there is a saying in English for it too, and as much as we Brazilian folks love the idiomatic expressions, we are not alone, I suppose it’s a human thing.

Although it’s an uncomfortable situation for the person holding the candle – usually called just the vela –, they are usually the ones to blame for being in the way of the romantic mood of the lovebirds. And there’s a recent and fairly modern Brazilian expression that would say: the single person doesn’t have a day of peace, and I couldn’t agree more. I’m just happy that

I have Mr. Fiancé now and don’t have to hold the candle anymore.

The expression comes from the French saying “tenir la chandelle” (see what I mean?), that originated in medieval France, when there was no electrical lights and the servants were supposed to hold the candles so their masters could do their shenanigans.

Not really far from reality, right? It has something to do with the candle.

Now, dear foreign, no candles or wheels around here, you’re not the spare part, on the contrary, you are the most important part of this project.

Till tomorrow,

expressionada