why do people shake hands when they meet?

Answer 1

It's a centuries old custom born out of the desire to show no harm. If your hand is empty, you do not have a weapon. Clutching hands represents the mutual desire to be friends.
Mooning someone means you've had too much to drink!

Answer 2

Hands are very expressive. Not all societies recognise the shaking of hands, but most (all?) use hands in some form of greeting.
Showing that you have not weapons is part of it, but hand gestures of greeting have a more general meaning to indicate that you are not threatening. (You don't wave a clenched fist at someone as a cheery hello.)
When sumo wrestlers first enter the dohyo, they show their hands outstretched to show that they have no weapons.
Romans used to shake by holding all the way to the elbow, apparently. Perhaps this proved that you had nothing up your sleeve.
Hands in prayer probably have a similar meaning, that you are not threatening or are opening up to.

Answer 3

It is a simple, common method of courtesy to say hello. It shows empty hands and no violence intended.

History Generally seems to indicate that as the bow went out of style in the 1700's the hand shake became the common method of introduction.

It would seem to be a method of human contact that helps people know and accept each other.

Answer 4

India Eng Student ... Yes, your 2nd answer is correct. The origins of shaking hands goes back to a time when the gesture of showing your hands verified you had no weapons/stones hidden in your hand. The meaning has expanded, of course. See my link below.

Answer 5

this goes back to the days of kings, and castles, and knights in armor on horseback. when 2 knights would ride by each other, if they didnt have a problem with each other, they would lift the shield over their faces, to identify each other as a friend or enemy. eventually, this evolved into just raising their right hands to each other, to show that they were holding no weapons. after so much time, i'm not sure how much, it finally turned into shaking hands, as this apparently was more civilised, in modern societies. we learned about this in basic training, when i was in the army.

Answer 6

I don't know but i DON'T LIKE IT. Its nothing personal I just don't like being touched by strange people. I was raised in a society where you got to do it, then if you don't shake hands like a man you are considered some kind of sissy or something. And then they want you to look them in the eye, but they don't know I have an ESP abiltiy and that I don't like to look people in the eye because I don't want to know anything about them.

Answer 7

It's just another way of saying, "nice to meet you." I guess.

Answer 8

It's introducing themselves.

Answer 9

to show there is no weapon in the hand.

Answer 10

this is a proper gestures showing them you are respected and trustworthy being.