WAYS PEOPLE GREET EACH OTHER AROUND THE WORLD.

WHY DO PEOPLE GREET EACH OTHER?

DOES EVERYBODY DO IT THE SAME WAY ALL AROUND THE WORLD?THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GREET A PERSON IN EACH COUNTRY.

FRANCEIF TWO PEOPLE ABOUT TO GREET ONE ANOTHER ARE RATHER FAMILIAR, IT IS CUSTOMARY IN FRANCE (AS WELL IN OTHER COUNTRIES) TO KISS CHEEKS- WHAT’S CALLED “ FAIRE LA BISE”. BUT CHEEKS DON’T HAVE LIPS, YOU MIGHT SAY. THAT’S TRUE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LIPS DO NOT HAVE CHEEKS.

INDIATHE AÑJALI MUDRÁ IS A SALUTE IN INDIA, OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE GREETING “NAMASTE” TO PERFORM IT, PRESS YOUR PALMS TOGUETHER OVER YOUR HEART, AND UTTER THE WORD NAMASTE.

THAILANDIN THAILAND, IT IS CUSTOMARY TO PRESS THE HANDS TOGETHER, HOLD THEM IN PRAYER FASHION, SLIGHTLY BOW TO YOUR ACQUAINTANCE. THIS IS CALLED “WAI”

JAPANIN JAPAN, PEOPLE WILL GREET EACH OTHER WITH A “BOW” BOWAS DIFFER IN DURATION AND IN ANGLE OF DECLINE ACCORDING TO FORMALITIES. MEN TYPICALLY BOW WITH THEIR HANDS AND THEIR SIDES, WHEREAS WOMEN WILL BOW WITH THEIR HANDS TOUCHING ON THEIR THIGHS.

NEW ZEALANDTHE MAORÍ PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND WILL GREET VISITORR WITH A BEAUTIFUL GESTURE CALLED “ HONGI” ( PRESSING FOREHEADS AND NOSES TOGUETHER, WITH EYES CLOSED)MAORI WILL PERFORM THIS MOVE TO INITIATE NEWCOMERS, AND EXCHANGE THE BREATH OF LIFE WITH THEM.

TIBET

IN TIBET IT IS CONVENTIONAL TO, UPON GREETING SOMEONE, STICK YOUR TONGUE OUR JUST A BIT. THIS PRACTICE COMES FROM THE BELIEF IN REINCARNATION: A CRUEL 9TH CENTURY TIBETAN KING HAD A TRADEMARK BLACK TONGUE.WHEN YOU STICK YOUR TONGUE OUT TO OTHERS, IT SIGNALS THAT YOU’RE NOT A REINCARNATION OF THE KING.

MONGOLIAUPON RECEIVING A NEW GUEST IN THEIR HOME, A MONGOLIAN WILL OFFER THE NEWCOMER A HADA (A CUT OF COTTON OR SILK) . TO RECEIVE THIS GIFT APPROPRIATELY, TAKE IT UP WITH BOTH HANDS AND BOW SLIGHTLY.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAIN AMERICA A COMMON GREETING PRACTICE FOR NEWLY ACQUAINTANCE INDIVIDUALS TO MERGE HANDS IN WHAT IS COLLOQUIALY KNOW AS A “ HANDSHAKE” . CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS O THIS SALUTATION IS IF THE HANDS OF EACH PARTY ARE MATCHED: RIGHT FOR RIGHT, OR LEFT FOR LEFT.ONCE CLASPED, THE HANDS-NOW AS ONE- CAN OSCILLATE UP AND DOWN FOR AS LONG AS FEELS APPROPRIATE.