Did you know? Why do we shake hands
Will we ever shake hands again? Since the corona virus outbreak, there's a renewed interest in hand shaking. Articles have appeared in publications including "The Guardian '' as whether the tradition of hand shake is dead. Speaking on Wall Street podcast, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases said " i don't think we [...] should ever shake hands gin, to be honest with you... it probably would decrease the incidence of influenza dramatically in the country (US)". But when did we start shaking hands in the first place and when did it become such a widespread cultural practice?
One of the earliest known images of a handshake was found in Iraq. It depicts the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III shaking a Babylonian ruler's hand to seal an alliance. In book fourteen of the Iliad, Neptune takes Agamemnon's right hand in his own as he assures him that " the blessed gods are not yet so angry with you". In the final book of the Odyssey, Odysseus returns home and his servant is described as "seizing his master's hand and kissing it at the wrist" In ancient Rome, handshakes appeared on coins as a symbol of alliance and friendship.
But why do we usually shake with our right hand? There may be a few reasons. The most popular explanation has to do with weaponry, for thousands of years, people have likely been right-handed. So taking the right hand takes away a potential weapon. Then we've the religious angle. Hand shaking is part of both Islamic and Christian Traditions. In Islam, the right hand is associated with honour and is used for some clean tasks such as eating while the left hand is use for life's dirtiest functions. Some Muslims believe it is inappropriate for men and women to shake hands at all. In Christianity, extending one's right hand is considered to be a benevolent gesture. As Christianity entered into European courts, it became a formality to greet others with a hand shake. This idea migrated to the European colonies in Africa, Asia and the Americas. In Africa, bowing one's head or prostrating oneself on the ground was a form of greeting reversed for the elite. These forms of greeting and many others were replaced with handshakes. So the white man did not invent a handshake as some of us might think. Handshakes were invented in Arabia.
So why is this handy custom too difficult to shake? On one level, handshakes are tools to communicate power dynamics. The book 'Don't Look, Don't Touch' by Valerie Curtis suggests " handshake signifies trusting another person enough to share their germs" If I am being honest, I have learnt so much by just greeting a person in the hand. The way they grip your hand, the texture of their palm, and what they do with their hand after we shake hands tells a lot about the person. Today, there are different forms of greetings invented by young people of the century. Some of these are, sticking out your tongue, bump noses, air kisses on the cheek, nose rubbing, putting your hands on your chest and others.
If I have to guess, shaking hands might come back if scientists find a cure to covid-19. So until next time, please keep your hands to yourself 😋 and stay safe.
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Thanks we will adhere to the protocols PS/ASC/18/0057