why is it customary to shake with the right hand? Why is it customary to shake with our hands at all?

Answer 1

The story goes that during the earlier, more warlike times, to show that you held no weapons (and thus was not about to attack), you shook hands with someone.

You do the right hand because most people are right-handed; therefore they would use the right hand for attacking.

Dunno if it's true, but that's what I've heard.

Answer 2

Most of what everyone else has answered so far is true. But beyond that, I can tell a lot about a person by their hand shake. If they only shake with their fingers instead of grabbing your whole hand their most likely either too busy to be bothered with you, or insecure, or apprehensive about meeting you for some reason.

Other things to look for in a handshake are, is strong and vigorous. their grip is complete. It lasts three to four seconds. They make eye contact while doing it.

If they grab your hand and pull you towards them a bit while shaking it means they are genuinely glad to meet you.

If the handshake is full and with a few quick jerks it's most likely a business meeting. If the hand shake has a weak grip and they hold long after your release and give a little tickle with their middle finger their queer.

Beyond that there is much to be said about the unseen energy or spiritual feeling I can get out of a hand shake.

There is also a lot to be said about perceptions I can make regarding the condition of the hand I'm shaking. Other things I look for is weather the hand is warm and dry or cold and clammy. dirty or clean, ruff or smooth. I can tell a lot about a person by shaking their hand.
Here are a few handshaking tips that may grab approval:

* Men and women should stand when receiving an introduction (unless standing would be prohibitively difficult).
* Keep drinks in your left hand in situations where you are repeatedly being introduced. No one likes a wet or cold handshake.
* Don't offer your hand for a shake if the other person has his or hers full.
* Removes gloves (except when it's painfully cold).

Other factors contribute to the effectiveness of the first handshake. This is not the moment when you want to forget a person's name; it conveys lack of interest.
Some tips to keep you on track:

* As soon a person says her name, picture it on her forehead.
* Throw the name into that first conversation: "Nice to meet you, Lucy."
* Rhyme the name with a physical characteristic of your new acquaintance, "Pale Cale." Or create alliteration with the person's profession, "Mary the Musician," for instance.

Whether you're aware of it or not, body language adds a lot to the encounter. Use it to your advantage. A UCLA study finds that about 93 percent of a person's effectiveness in communication shines through body language. To keep those odds in your corner:
* Stand up straight, keep your shoulders back and lift your head
* Maintain eye contact
* Keep your body squared to the other person's to convey that you are receptive and unafraid

Last but not least, a stony face would nullify all your efforts. When you put out your firm hand, smile and show that you're open and harmless.

So if you ever meet me and have something to hide, don't shake my hand.

Answer 3

I remember reading once that Native Americans were puzzled by this tradition too. They finally came to the conclusion that it was to shake all the weapons out of the other person's sleeve. As for why it is the right hand, the vast majority of people in the world are right handed. It is just more natural and convenient.

Answer 4

Shaking hands with the right hand dates back to the middle ages. Most people are right handed, so a knight would offer his sword hand (right hand) to show that he was unarmed. At least that's what I've always been told.

Answer 5

Hand is the only thing with which humans can catch or grab . That is why the humans mostely use the hands in greeting , whether they shake hands of salute or fold them in worship in sayinf namasthe , or ecxchanging towels or hugging or waving hands etc. Animals have diferent modes of greetings . thewags its tail or greets allways at the back and not at the friend , the monkeys grin, the cats purr, the birds chirp , the wikld animals growl etc.The shaking of hands is not a custome tutored or taught by any specific school of etiquett as a principle or standard of etiquette.. It seems to have developed out of the spontaneous urge to use the hands to touch the individual whom we want to greet .

Answer 6

When warriors used to meet in peace, they would grab each other by the right forearm as proof that they did not have a wapon concealed in their hand. Right hand because most people are right-handed. Grow from their into the hand shake

Answer 7

Most people are right handed. When one offers his hand, it used to be based on his showing he did not have a weapon. And shaking hands just became a cultural thing.

Answer 8

In ancient times it was to show that each party was unarmed--you can't shake someone's hand if there's a knife in it. Of course, us lefties sure had the edge, there....

Answer 9

The answers above are all correct BUT there's one more reason.

In many Middle Eastern cultures.....they wiped their behinds with their left hands. (no toilet paper). Showing anyone your left hand was and still IS considered by many cultures to be extremely rude.

No...I'm not making this up.

Answer 10

Because the left hand was used to clean ones backside after defecating. The left side is also associated with evil. In Latin, the word 'left' is 'Sinister', and the devil is invariably depicted on the left side of man in sculptures and paintings.