Interesting facts about greetings

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

A very unusual holiday is celebrated on November 21 - World Greetings Day. It was invented by brothers Michael and Brian McComack in 1973. At the height of the Cold War between Egypt and Israel, this day was needed as a means of reducing international tensions.

A greeting is a simple expression of positive emotions, every conversation begins with it, and it is the greeting that shows the disposition of the interlocutor.

On this day, we decided to remember vivid and interesting facts about greetings.

The tradition of greetings dates back to ancient times

The removal of the headdress as a sign of greeting came from the knights. They took off their helmets, showing that they trust their companion and are not afraid of getting hit in the head. Later, the gesture became a greeting. Its simplified form - putting a hand on the headdress - as if with the intention of taking it off.

The ancient Greeks greeted each other with the word "Hail!"

The ancient Greeks greeted each other with the word "Hail!"

The Navajo Indians said, "It's okay!"

The Zulus greeted: "I see you."

And the Egyptians asked, "How do you sweat?"

The inhabitants of ancient Mongolia asked: "Are your cattle healthy?"

Different countries have different ways of greeting

When Tibetans meet, they tilt their heads a little and stick out their tongues.

The Maori aborigines have a whole ritual: first you need to shout out a greeting in a fierce and intermittent manner, pat your thighs, then stomp your feet, stick out your tongue, bulge your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

In the Kenyan Akamba tribe, it is customary to spit on oneself as a sign of greeting and deep respect.

Masai also spit, but on their hands, and then shake them to each other.

In some Native American tribes, squatting awaits greetings.

The main way to greet is by shaking hands

However, in Malaysia, greeting includes first shaking hands, then pulling the hand to the chest and asking "Where are you going?"

In ancient India, the handshake was part of the marriage ceremony.

In Benin, after a handshake, they ask: "How did you wake up?"

In ancient India, the handshake was part of the marriage ceremony.

A handshake can be life-saving. So, the Englishman Mark Gurieri shook hands with a new acquaintance, who turned out to be an experienced doctor. Due to the too loose state of the hand, he suspected the man had a brain tumor and advised him to promptly consult a specialist.

A few words about welcome phrases

The famous saying Memento More ("Remember to die") was a greeting. This is how the members of the medieval Trappist order greeted each other, reminding each other that one must live with dignity in order to avoid punishment after death.

The informal "High-five" greeting came from the more serious phrase, "Give me a pastern." The metacarpus is the palm.