Students of folk lore traced the origins of the handshake back to primitive magic: The physical contact of the hand symbolised that each of the parties yielded himself up to the power of the other and united with him in peace and friendship. Later symbolisation of the gesture, apart from a greeting, was the ratification of a contract or pledge. Even today, we still clinch on a contract or business deal by the 'shaking of hands on it'.
Archaeological ruins and texts show the handshake was in use as a means of greeting as far back as the 2nd century BC. And coins have been unearthed from the reign of Marcus Cocceius Nerva, a Roman emperor who reigned from AD 96 - AD98, depicting 2 hands clasped in a handshake.
This element of physical contact is clearly seen in the Roman marriage ceremony when the hands of the bride and groom were joined by the pronuba, a matron who had been married only once and still lived with her husband. This can also be seen in the Hindu marriage ceremony when the bride and groom clasp their hands together and pray to God.
The Modern Handshake
The modern handshake probably developed several hundred years ago in England as a method of communicating that you were empty handed and unarmed. Weapons were often concealed in the sleeves of garments so the shaking was done with the left hand. As it became less common to carry hand weapons, the handshake was conducted using the right hand.
Usually a handshake takes place with bare hands. However, in traditional American etiquette a gentleman should never shake the hand of a lady without first removing his right glove, unless at the opera or a ball, or if an usher at a wedding, when the glove may be kept on.
George Washington, President of the United States of America from April 30th 1789 to March 4th 1797, decided that shaking hands was for common people so he took to bowing when greeting people in public.
Throughout the 1800's New Years Day was marked in the White House by a tradition started by John Adams, president from March 4th 1797 - March 4th 1801. On January 1st the President would host an open house and would shake hands with foreign diplomats, members of the U.S. government and citizens who arrived at the White House and were prepared to stand in line and wait to greet him.
Greetings Around the World
Traditional greetings vary around the world. The Anjali Mudra is a hand gesture found throughout Asia. It is a sign of respect and greeting performed by pressing the hands together. The fingers are touching with the finger tips pointing upwards.
Bowing is the act of lowering the torso and head as a social gesture most prominent in Asian cultures. It is also a typical way of greeting nobility and aristocracy as a sign of respect to someone of a higher class or status.
The Kowtow is a traditional Chinese gesture of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing as low as possible so that the head touches the floor.
The Eskimo kiss is loosely based on the Inuit greeting called a kunit. The nose and upper lip is pressed against the skin, usually the cheeks or forehead of a loved one and breathing in causes the skin of the loved on to be sucked against the nose and upper lip. This differs to the Hongi, which is the traditional greeting of the Maori people. The Maoris' believe that when 2 people press noses, the breath of life is exchanged between them.
A hat tip or doff is a western gesture. A simple salutation or non verbal greeting where by the hat is lifted when passing.
The Wai is a Thai greeting consisting of a slight bow with the palms of the hands pressed together in a prayer like fashion. The higher the hands are held in respect to the face and the lower the bow, the more respectful is the gesture.
Hand kissing is a greeting of respect usually between a man and a woman. The person receiving the greeting holds their hand, palm down. The person 'kissing' the hand bows over the hand as if to touch it with their lips but no contact takes place.
The Hitler or Nazi salute was thought to be a variation of the Roman salute. The right arm is raised at an angle of approximately 45 degrees above the horizontal and slightly to the right. It was adopted by the Nazi party of Germany as a sign of loyalty to Adolf Hitler. However, this is not the case, the gesture is similar to that which was described by Francis Bellamy (1855 -1931).
Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, described a hand gesture where by the right hand is lifted in line with the forehead to accompany the American Pledge of Allegiance. The Bellamy salute, also known as the Flag Salute and first used in 1892.
This small sample of greetings and gestures show that speech isn't always necessary to say hello.
Sources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Dictionary.com
- New Zealand.com
- ThailandsWorld.com
- WIkipedia
- Thanks to unknown commentator who pointed me in the right direction as to the origins of the Bellamy Salute
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