Though we know much currently about the importance of hand hygiene and hand shaking in transmission of flu and other infections, still one of humans most used greetings gestures is handshaking.
Why?
Shaking hands is a symbolic tradition that comes from very old times. When two people had met, they shook hands to indicate that they were unarmed and approached for peaceful reasons. In the progress of time, shaking hands has become the beginning part of the communication between people in society.
The history of the handshake dates back to the 5th century B.C. in Greece. It was a symbol of peace, showing that neither person was carrying a weapon. During the Roman era, the handshake was actually more of an arm grab. It involved grabbing each other’s forearms to check that neither man had a knife hidden up his sleeve
A handshake is a globally widespread, brief greeting or parting tradition in which two people grasp one of each other's like hands, in most cases accompanied by a brief up-and-down movement of the grasped hands.
The handshake says: “I want you to stay about *this* distance away from me. In fact, the only part of *my* body that I want to come in contact with yours is the palm of my hand here.”
Shaking hands is a symbolic tradition that comes from very old times. When two people had met, they shook hands to indicate that they were unarmed and approached for peaceful reasons. In the progress of time, shaking hands has become the beginning part of the communication between people in society.
I never liked this habit and when I could not avoid it immediately after the handshaking I had to rush and wash my hand. This habit has to be stopped. There are better ways to show your appreciation to the others, like avoiding to insult them in any way.
Shaking hands is a universal greeting symbol of appreciation, respect, and love.
The habit of shaking hands at the meeting really comes from ancient centuries as an attempt to check friendly intentions, as to whether one has a weapon in the hands.
However, later as human civilization was growing, this habit of handshaking had outgrown to be just a friendly touch of a man when meeting. Something similar happens now, when people just clap each other on the shoulders, or lightly hug each other (heart-to-heart) by touching each other breasts.
Despite the acerbic comments regarding handshaking. I think handshaking is very important due to its perceived significance in the society. It is symbolic of congratulations, gratitude, and showing that you're in agreement with someone . It portrays peace, trust, respect, balance, and equality.
Shaking hands, which is traditionally done with your right hand, became a friendly greeting because it was proof that you came in peace and weren't holding a weapon. ... It's not just in politics where we see people shaking hands with each other as a sign of respect
Thanks @Kanapathipillai Vijayaratnam for your comments. Can you please elaborate more on what cultures don't use handshaking as a greeting gesture?
While hand shaking energy transfer is taking place in both .In India healthy tradition is namaskar without touching from distance and hand shaking is not practiced
One addition to the previous answers. The style of the handshake - from sluggish touch, to trying to tear off your hand, says a lot about the character of the interlocutor.
Touching means a lot. It gives a sense of safety. Gives a sense of sincerity. It gives a sense of dominance. Indicates that you care, etc...
Thanks @Soner Çetinkaya for your enlightening answer.
While humans appreciate the touch as a gesture of friendship and care since early infancy, I think the social habits of handshake came later as a gesture of "no bad intentions are hidden in my shaking hands"
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