This week we have one misunderstood expression with two different meanings:

When we have no money, Spaniards sometimes say ‘estamos a dos velas’, which means our pockets are empty.

This expression came up at secret card games in which in addition to the players was a banker in charge of the money who was ‘lit by two candles’.

When one of the players was really lucky and won one round after round, this could leave the banker without a note or coin – in fact only with the two candles – so literally leaving the banker ‘under two candle lights’.

Another meaning of this phrase is to be unlucky in love. Its origins go back to the 17^th Century in Madrid and a game called ‘Juego de las 10 velas’ (10 candle game).

It became famous in romantic dates when ladies would have ten candles at the beginning of the dinner. As they became more confident and relaxed they would blow out the candles one by one.

There were some respectful tricks the men would play to impress, like pulling out a chair for the lady and sitting down after her (which could count for one candle) and a good wine could count for three candles.

The aim of this game was to finish under one candle light which meant the lady was ready to be kissed and after this and if the last candle blew out then another game would start, ‘el felic gustar de Cupido’ (Happy Cupid taste), but that’s another blog!

Obviously if the evening ended with two burning candles then the lady would go home alone and that’s the reason the expression refers to someone who is not lucky in matters of love.

I hope you enjoy these two misunderstood expressions and their curious origins.

Conchi

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