Greetings generally in the modern world is common- Handshake with a smile and a Hello. But when it comes to a country’s custom of greeting, it differs variably from a handshake, smile and Hello. It may be similar, but there are variants in handshake as well. So here we present various Greeting Gestures from around the world.
1. Albania: Handshake, Kiss
In Albania, men shake hands and depending on how close the men are with each other, a kiss on each cheek is typical. When a man meets a female relative, a kiss on each cheek, or two per cheek, with friends or colleagues, normally a light handshake will do. Women may shake hands or kiss each other on both cheeks.
2. Armenia: Handshake, Light hug
In Armenia, a woman needs to wait for the man to offer his hand for the handshake. Between good friends and family members, a kiss on the cheek and a light hug are also common.
3. Belgium: Kissing on One Cheek
In Belgium, people kiss on one cheek when they meet, regardless of the gender or how well they know each other.
4. British: Saying Hello, Shaking hands and a small peck
The British simply say ‘hello’ and usually shake hands only when they meet for the first time. Social kissing- just a peck on the cheek, is common in an informal situation between men and women and also between women who know each other very well.
5. China: Nodding Heads & Smiling
Chinese would usually nod their heads and smile, or shake hands if in a formal situation. Alternatively, they would fist right palm and cover it with the left palm and nod their heads.
6. French: Shaking Hands and kissing
French shake hands with their friends and often kiss on both cheeks, both upon meeting and leaving.
7. Hungary: Kissing
Hungarians use the friendly greeting form of kissing each other on the cheeks. When men meet for the first time, the casual norm is a firm handshake.
8. In Russia: Handshake
A very firm handshake is the typical greeting. When men shake hands with women, the handshake is less industrial. It is considered gallant to kiss women three times while alternating cheeks, and even to kiss hands.
9. India: Namaste, Touching the feet of elders
India is a diversified Nation, there are different greeting gestures in every state, nook and corner. But the most commonly accepted greeting is folding both the palms in the form of praying and Namaste while bowing the head a little in a mark of respect and young touch the feet of elders to get blessings.
10. Japan: Bowing
In Japan, the common greeting is to bow when they greet someone.
11. Maori: Rubbing noses
People of New Zealand’s Maori tribe rub their noses when they meet each other.
12. Middle East & Arab: Hug & Shake Hands (Males Only)
In Arabian countries, close male friends or colleagues hug and kiss both cheeks. They shake hands with the right hand only. Contact between the opposite genders in public is considered obscene.
13. Nigeria: Waving fists
The natives of Nigeria’s Kanouri tribe shake their fists close to their heads and say `wooshay!’
14. Philippines: Placing knuckles on the forehead
The greeting gesture of Philippines is called `mano’. People show respect to their elders by gently pressing the knuckles of the older person’s hand on their forehead.
15. Tibet: Sticking the tongue out
In Tibet, people greet each other by sticking their tongues out. Apparently, this means that one is not guilty of any evil deeds.
16. USA: Handshake & Kiss on cheeks (For Women)
In the USA, it is normal for men to shake hands when they meet and women either hug or kiss on the cheeks if they know the person quite well; but it is quite unusual for men to kiss when they greet each other. Greetings are casual – a handshake, a smile and a ‘hello’ will do just fine.
17. Zambia: Squeezing thumbs
The people of Zambia clap hands and gently squeezing thumbs.
By: Archa Dave
