Should it be the Western Handshake?

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This is a contact greeting. It is a little less friendly than a hug. It’s formal, but it produces a connection.

It also is known in western cultures as a sign of mutual respect. The hand is offered to show there is no weapon in the hand. We see the person offers no threat by offering our right hand (This was the hand that traditionally carried swords or other weapons). We do not expect weapons nowadays, but it still shows a certain level of respect.

Also, we can perhaps guage  a person from their handshake. When you hold a person’s hand, it’s time to assess the persons attitude. If they are shaking or feel like a damp fish, their character could be brought into question. Everyone likes a strong handshake. Then again, too strong and the person may appear to be overcompensating.

The East Asian Bow.

This is very commonly produced in Japan. It is a greeting that offers a lot of hierarchical information in it’s act. The lower person (in the hierarchy) is obliged to bow lower and longer than their superior. This can be used to show deference, but also asserts a certain rule of inequality.

The bow is similar to the handshake, since it offers a sign that the person is unarmed. The bow was meant to show the neck, as if you were offering your execution if you were rude. Nowadays the idea has been lost in obscurity, but initial idea of the bow was this.

Also, it can be seen as a ‘clean’ greeting’ since it avoids human contact. In this world of global pandemics, we should be careful of passing on diseases. By bowing, we show respect but also alleviate any germ fears.

Who wins?

Well, neither wins. They are entirely subjective. However, by being aware of their significance can help us understand why they are done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handshake

In some parts of the world, some cultural groups don’t do the same as we do. Instead they have a unique way of greeting one another. Let’s find out how they greet each other.

The Tibetan Traditional Greeting

In Tibet, it is a courtesy that when Tibetan people meeting and greeting you, they will put their hands palm to palm near the chest and stretch out their tongue to show their respect. In return, you may put your hands near the chest and say “Tashidele” or good luck.

The Maori Traditional Greeting

Hongi

In New Zealand, hongi is the Maori form of welcome greeting expressed by the rubbing or touching of noses, something akin to the Western custom of kissing someone by way of greeting. The literal meaning of “hongi” is the “sharing of breath.”

The Nepalese and Hindu Traditional Greeting

Namaste

In Nepal and in India, namaste is the popular greeting performed by pressing the hands together and holding them near the heart. The whole act communicates to the world “You and I are one. I salute and worship the God within you.”

The Eskimo Traditional Greeting

Kunik

In Alaska, Siberia and others, kunik is the traditional Eskimo greeting based on a traditional Inuit greeting. It is a form of expressing affection, usually between family members and loved ones, that involves pressing the nose and upper lip against the skin (commonly the cheeks or forehead) and breathing in, causing the loved one’s skin or hair to be suctioned against the nose and upper lip.

The Mende Traditional Greeting

In Sierra Leone, the Mende are one of the two largest ethnic groups along with the Temne. The Mende traditional greeting is done by rubbing other’s chin.

The Japanese Traditional Greeting

Bowing

And in Japan, bowing is probably the feature of Japanese etiquette that is best-known all over the world. Bowing is considered extremely important in Japan. Basic bows are performed with the back straight and the hands at the sides (boys and men) or clasped in the lap (girls and women), and with the eyes down. Generally, the longer and deeper the bow, the stronger the emotion and the respect expressed.

If you have an idea or knowledge about other unique or traditional greetings please feel free to share it with us. Thank you.

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