Why do we shake hands when we meet/see someone we know?

Answer 1

The reason we do this now is to show some type of affection or acknowledgement that we remember the person or hold them in some type of regard.

Answer 2

this is a custom that is very very old. the earliest time it was done was when people men carried swords. the idea back then was to demonstrate to the other man that you did not hold a weapon in your hand and that this meeting was to be a friendly one.
the custom carried on after we stopped with the swords and we still do it now.
what we are doing now is to still show that this meeting is too be a friendly one. the same goes for when we reach an agreement that point it is a matter of honor . we will continue to honor each other by not bringing weapons to bear after we part as this is an
agreement
when we just talk and part no agreement have been made just a regular talk or visit we shake hands to show that each is in agreement that the next time they meet they will not bring weapons to surprise attack the other.
so it has changed very little shake hands friendly intentions for the meeting
shake hands on a deal proceed with honor
shake hands at parting we have met i agree that this went well and next time we met you need not fear me.
so lets shake on this i get max points for this answer shake.

Answer 3

I'm not sure, but I think I heard the custom was started by Thomas jefferson, or Benjamin Franklin. I personally do not like shaking hands, and wash my hands the first chance I get after a handshake

Answer 4

historically - shaking hands showed the other person you weren't armed and meant them no harm.

today - it's a piece of etiquette showing how pleased you are to meet the other person.

when a male is being introduced to a female or visa versa, it is the woman who must present her hand to be shaken. give a firm handshake, don't break the other persons hand, just firm. no dead fish hand shakes either.

Answer 5

I know that in a town in Suuthern France called Montianeua in the early 13th century people did not shake hands. they placed their hands in each other's palm. we know this because people in the town weere accussed of heresy and the church kept a record of their everyday habits - a very useful source

so they didn't do it in this part of france then so it may have come from elsewhere, or have been an evolution of this original gesture

Answer 6

The traditional greeting of shaking hands dates back to the days when people fought with daggers and swords.

In order to show that you mean the other person no harm, you extended your arm in greeting showing that there is no weapon in it, and thus you are greeting them without hostility or malice in mind.

Answer 7

We shake hands as a sign of respect and friendship.

Answer 8

It's an old tradition. The hands were extended in greeting to show there were no weapons to harm the other person.

Answer 9

It comes from the cowboy & indian days when they would shake hands in greeting to show the other has no weapon.

Answer 10

It goes back to ancient times where shaking hands showed you were unarmed.