By Oula Mahfouz
Greetings are an expression of culture and can provide insights into the treatment of the body and respect for privacy. As such, forms of greeting vary from country to country and from region to region. It is helpful to be aware of a country’s greeting traditions to avoid misunderstandings or inappropriate situations. Some cultures favor physical closeness such as hugs and kisses, while others avoid physical contact and just bow or put their hand over their heart.
Hugs and kisses
In Latin America, people often greet each other with a hug and a pat on the back. This was formerly used to check whether someone had hidden weapons on their back. In Japan, India, Germany and some Asian regions and tribes, kissing is considered inappropriate because it is also understood as a sexual sign. In other countries, such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil or Argentina, kissing is the most important form of greeting. In some countries, such as the United States, kissing between men is not accepted, but it is between men and women. In this case, men greet each other either by shaking hands, punching each other, hugging or waving.
Greeting with the nose
In some cultures, the nose is used for greeting. For example, the Maori people of New Zealand greet each other by rubbing their noses together and placing their foreheads together. This signifies a spiritual connection.
In Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, it is traditional for men to press their noses together in greeting, which is meant to show respect.
Greeting without physical contact
In Korea, a wink and a smile are used to greet someone, without physical contact or long eye contact. In India, the head is slightly inclined and the hands are brought together. In Japan, you bow, keeping your feet together; the deeper the bow, the more important the person being greeted is. In Thailand, hands are pressed together and the upper body is bent slightly. In Singapore, palms are placed together and drawn closer to the heart. In China, a formal bow is common, but shaking hands has also become more widespread in recent years.
Shaking hands
Shaking hands is the most common greeting worldwide and is used in many cultures and on official occasions between heads of state. Originally, shaking hands began as a peace gesture, with raised fingers showing that no weapons were held. Later, shaking hands with a swinging hand replaced this gesture to assure that you had nothing hidden. This tradition can also be seen in ancient artworks, such as a stone relief from the 9th century BC showing the Assyrian king Shalmansar III shaking hands with a Babylonian.
In Great Britain and Germany, for example, shaking hands has become the most important form of greeting, while friends often hug each other regardless of gender.
In the Arab world, placing the right hand on the heart and bowing the head is a way of expressing gratitude and sincerity. In Indonesia and Turkey, after shaking hands, people bow their heads and place their hand on their chest. In these countries, the hand of an older person, such as a parent or grandparent, is also kissed and placed on the forehead.
Shaking hands with Muslims
Religion plays a central role in culture, and Islam has its own perspective on greetings, promoting them as having positive effects on social relations. However, Islam has clear rules about the way people greet each other, particularly with regard to contact between the sexes.
There are different opinions regarding handshakes between different genders. Most Islamic scholars believe that handshakes between men and women who are not married to or closely related to each other are not allowed. This prohibition comes from respect for the religious rules that serve to maintain personal and gender distance.
Some scholars allow shaking hands under certain circumstances, for example in very formal or professionally important situations, to avoid misunderstandings or disadvantages, but this is not widespread. In more conservative Islamic communities, shaking hands between men and women is often considered inappropriate as it could violate a woman’s privacy.
Cultural significance of greetings
The forms of greeting mentioned are common examples in countries or parts of the world, but that does not mean that all citizens of these countries use them regularly or that they are known to everyone.
The way we greet each other shows not only the culture of a country, but also the values and beliefs of its people. Greetings often reflect the degree of openness, religious beliefs and personal attitudes. A greeting is more than just a simple “hello” – it says a lot about the person and the society.
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