when we meet people why do we shake hands?

Answer 1

becasue it would be rude to have sex straight away

Answer 2

handshake is a short ritual in which two people grasp their right or left hands, often accompanied by a brief shake of the grasped hands. It is commonly done upon meeting, departing, offering congratulations, or completing an agreement. Its purpose is to demonstrate good will, and possibly originated as a gesture showing that the hand holds no weapon. Men are more likely to shake hands than women, however in business situations it is considered the standard greeting for both sexes.


I have heard that it was an old way (probably centuries ago) to ensure the person you meet didn't have weapon in his hands but I can't find any references to back that one up.

Answer 3

There are some really great answers here!
Shaking hands can tell u a lot of a person u're meeting with. Is his grip firm or loose, which hand it is, how long the shake lasts, etc. All this can tell u all u need to know about that someone to make ur first impression.

Answer 4

The handshake goes back many many years. It is meant to show that you hold no weapons and or grudges against the person whoms hand you are shaking. I think that now - days it is more of respect than anything. Even tho, I will NOT shake someone's hand whom I do not like and or care for. NOT that I am holding a weapon, but more for the fact that I do not like this person and don't cover the fact up.

Answer 5

It was originally thought that shaking the right hand was proof that there was no knife in it, but if you think back on the middle ages would you want to hug someone who hadn't washed for a year? Also, men in armour would find it difficult to do much more than touch fingers with someone similarly attired. An other thought would be that many people had fleas and nits so touching hands would hopefully stop them passing them on.

Answer 6

A handshake is a short ritual in which two people grasp their right or left hands, often accompanied by a brief shake of the grasped hands. It is commonly done upon meeting, departing, offering congratulations, or completing an agreement. Its purpose is to demonstrate good will, and possibly originated as a gesture showing that the hand holds no weapon. Men are more likely to shake hands than women, however in business situations it is considered the standard greeting for both sexes.

>> Generally it is considered inappropriate to reject a handshake, and in most social circles it is expected that the one with higher social status will initiate it.
>> In some cultures people shake both hands, but in most cultures people shake the right hand.
>> In Islam, shaking hands, along with the greeting Assalamu alaikum (peace be upon you), is a regular greeting.
>> In American culture, there is a "Soul Brother Handshake," also called a "Power" or "Unity" shake, dating to the 1960s, begun among African-American men, and still widely practised between men of various races and paticularly among teenage boys as a gesture of close friendship. This is usually a three move procedure, beginning with a traditional, palm-to-palm clasp, followed in quick succession by a clasping at the hilt of the thumbs, and finally, by a hooked clasp of only the fingers, in the manner of railroad couplers. Variations include the above, followed by an exchange of facing palm slaps, as in "Gimme Five," or fist bumping, tops-to-bottoms, "the face slap", or knuckles-to-knuckles.
>> In some Asian cultures, it is appropriate to slightly bow and to hold your left hand crossed under your right when shaking hands.

Answer 7

People want to express their love/affection to the one they know by hugging each other. Some may have bad body odour, in which case the hugging is not suitable. So, they shake hands.

Answer 8

Way of Greeting.You can not shake your legs any how.Japanese and Chinese bow their heads,for Indians folded hands is greetings.Hugging is popular in some places.Different methods of communication ,That is all.

Answer 9

It goes back to the middle ages, and is to show the person, who you've just met, that you're not baring arms. It's a gesture of confidence.

Answer 10

so we can measure them up quickly for chucking them over our shoulders and pinning them by the throat, with our foot to the floor.

In japan they Bow, this is the same, but they are sizing up for a head butt contest.

Answer 11

It goes back to ancient times when people shook hands to prove they didn't have a weapon in their hand.