History of greeting

Greeting one another differs strongly from culture to culture and from era to era. Each greeting form has a social or political origin. When Romans clasped each others arms, it was to see if there were no concealed daggers. Today again, a social phenomenon may cause us to change our habits. The kiss and the handshake are being put under pressure by the measures taking against the Mexican flu. Maybe a new way of greeting will emerge? Maybe this will be the airshake.

The Handshake

The modern handshake probably developed in medieval times, where knights shook hands to make sure there were no hidden weapons. Soon this way of greeting spread among the population and became part of the European way of greeting. The handshake was born.

Indian salutation

Namasté litterarly means "I bow for you". In India and other Asian countries it is a Hindu way of greeting each other and showing respect. Hands are clasped together, fingers pointing towards the sky and slightly bent towards yourself. While performing the Namasté, you can make a gentle bow.

The cheek kiss

While the kiss has its origins in catholic cermonies, it has not always been accepted as a form of greeting. Probably because the kiss also has a sexual connotation. Nowadays however the kiss on the cheek is a symbol of friendship and respect. Depending on country and situation, the number of kisses is usually one, two, three or four. The more kisses, however, the greater the risk to get the Mexican flu.

The hand kiss

The gesture was common in European upper class throughout the 18th and 19th century. It originated at the Spanish court where the gesture probably originated as a formal submission or plead of allegiance of man to man. The man would show his submission by kissing the signet ring, the symbol of authority of the dominant person. Later it was also used to show one’s submission to a woman. The hand kiss started to disappear in the 20th century.

Eskimo kissing

The act known as Eskimo kissing in modern western culture is loosely based on a traditional Inuit greeting, usually between family members and loved ones, that involves pressing the nose and upper lip against the skin. A common misconception is that the practice arose so that Inuit could kiss without their mouths freezing together. In fact, it is a non-erotic form of greeting that serves as an intimate way of greeting one another for people who, when they meet, often have little except their nose and eyes exposed. In its western form Eskimo kissing consists of rubbing their noses together.

The roman arm grasp

It was common to place a knife in the sleeve of the tunic; the arm grasp was a symbolic gesture and a sign of good faith. It showed you had no hidden arms.

Bowing

Bowing is the act of lowering the torso and head as a social gesture in direction to another person or symbol. It is most prominent in Asian cultures but it is also typical of nobility and aristocracy in many countries. Sometimes the gesture may be limited to lowering the head.