Since I have been wearing a mask while walking, it is more difficult to greet people as I pass by. The sound from my mask is often muffled, so they can’t hear me say “Hi” or “Hello.” So, I have started holding up my hand and nodding, like a stereotypical Native American saying “How.” According to Wikipedia, the word "How" is a pop culture Anglicization of the Lakota word “hau,” a Lakota language greeting by men to men. The term “how” is often found in stereotypical and outdated depictions of Native Americans, made by non-Natives in some Hollywood movies and various novels, e.g. those of James Fenimore Cooper or Karl May.
From Chris Ciolli’s article “Beyond the Handshake: How People Greet Each Other Around the World” in AFAR, below are 10 different ways people greet each other, including the handshake. Maybe we should consider some of them during the coronavirus crisis.
1. Stick out your tongue Tibet
Blame this greeting tradition on a really bad king. It all began with monks, who would stick out their tongues to show that they came in peace — and weren’t the reincarnation of a cruel ninth century king named Lang Darma, who was known for having a black tongue. Needless to say, the greeting caught on.
2. Bump noses Qatar, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates
Want to demonstrate that you view a potential business contact as a peer? Forget shaking hands; instead, bring your nose in for a few friendly taps. Just remember: Sniffing isn’t part of the equation.
3. Air kiss on the cheek France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latin America, Ukraine, and Québec, Canada
In Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, São Paulo (Brazil) and Colombia, one air kiss is standard, whereas in Spain, Portugal, Paraguay, Italy and cities like Paris and Québec, it’s two. In Russia and Ukraine, three is the norm, and in some parts of France, it’s up to four air kisses on alternating cheeks. To add a little more confusion to the mix, there are some tricky gender and relationship rules, too. In all the countries mentioned, women air kiss women, and in most of them, men air kiss women, but only in Argentina do men routinely brush cheeks with other men who aren’t relatives or romantic partners.
4. Rub noses (and sometimes foreheads) New Zealand
If air kisses sound too intimate for your taste, try on “hongi” for size. This pressing together of forehead and nose is what New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people call a “sharing of breath.” The greeting signifies the sacred welcoming of a visitor into Māori culture and is used at pōwhiri (Māori welcoming ceremonies) — although the honor requires an invitation and isn’t extended to everyone.
5. Shake hands Botswana, China, Germany, Zambia, Rwanda and the Middle East
A handshake isn’t as simple as it seems when you take it on the road. In Middle Eastern countries, for example, handshakes involve the right hand only, where the left hand is considered unclean. Visitors to China will want to lighten their grip, while folks introducing themselves to Germans should know to stop after one firm downward yank.
Not sure what to do if your hand is dirty or wet? There are country-specific procedures in place for that, too. In Morocco, touch the back of your right hand to the back of the other person’s right hand to complete the gesture. In Rwanda, grasp the other person’s wrist, unless, of course, their hands are muddy too, in which case, just touch wrists to convey “hello.”
In Botswana, things are more complicated, even when hands are clean. The local handshake between two people entails multiple steps: Clasp right hands, shake up and down once, interlock thumbs, raise your arms to a right angle, grasp hands again, then release to a relaxed “shake” position before letting the other person’s hand go.
6. Clap your hands Zimbabwe and Mozambique
There’s something kind of nice about applause as part of a hello, isn’t there? In Zimbabwe, the clapping of hands comes after folks shake in a call-and-answer style — the first person claps once, and the second person twice, in response. Just be careful how you slap those palms together. Men clap with fingers and palms aligned, and women with their hands at an angle. In northern Mozambique, people also clap, but three times before they say “moni” (hello).
7. Put your hand on your heart Malaysia
It’s very formal, but this traditional Malaysian greeting has a particularly lovely sentiment behind it. Take the opposite person’s hands lightly in yours. Then, release the other person’s hands and bring your own hands to your chest and nod slightly to symbolize goodwill and an open heart. It’s polite for the other person to return the gesture. Note that men should wait for local women to extend a hand, and if they don’t, a man should put a hand on his chest and give a slight nod.
8. Bow
Cambodia, India, Nepal, Laos, Thailand and Japan
When it comes to bowing, the question isn’t just when to take a bow, it’s how to do it. In India, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, press your palms together in an upward-pointing prayer position at heart level or higher, then bend your head slightly forward to take a bow. In India and Nepal, you might hear the phrase "namaste" uttered during this greeting; the Sanskrit term translates to “bend or bow to you,” and is considered a sign of respect and gratitude.
In Thailand, taking a bow is referred to as the wai, and the higher you place your hands, the more respect you’re showing.
In Japan, on the other hand, a deeper bow indicates a higher level of respect (90 degrees is the max) and prayer hands aren’t used. Men bow with their hands at their sides and women with their hands on their thighs. Among the younger generations, a head bow (like a nod, but more pronounced) is becoming the new norm.
9. Sniff faces Greenland and Tuvalu (Oceania)
There’s nothing quite like the smell of someone you love . . . or someone you’ve just met. In Greenland, "kunik," the Inuit tradition of placing your nose and upper lip against someone’s cheek or forehead and sniffing, is limited to very close relationships. But on the South Pacific island of Tuvalu, pressing cheeks together and taking a deep breath is still part of a traditional Polynesian welcome for visitors.
10. Revere your elders Asia and Africa
Throughout Asia and Africa, honoring your elders is a given. This means greeting seniors and older folks before younger people and always using culture-specific titles and terms of respect upon first meeting.
In the Philippines, locals have a particularly unique way of showing their reverence. They take an older person’s hand and press it gently to their foreheads. They call this gesture “Mano” (which means “hand” in Spanish), and it’s used to show respect.
In India, locals touch older people’s feet as a show of respect.
In Liberia, as well as among members of the Yoruba people in Nigeria, young people drop to one or both knees to honor their elders.
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