Just Why Do We???

Well then you better get your butt in order and get them answered now..lol.. We shake hands cause we can't shake our booties at eachother..

I'm actually taking a guess here, but I feel like it's something that was started ages ago whenever you meet someone as a way to show them that you were not armed and that you came in peace or at least on neutral ground for the time being. However, that's just a guess and it could be completely false!

People in the west held out their right hand to show it was empty, and that they were coming in peace and friendship. The other person responded the same way to show that their right hand was also empty and clasped the first's hand to show they were excepting the offer of peace and friendship (or peace anyway.)

I think it's just a good will gesture, no?, haha. I will have to do some googling for this answer. I always shake hands though, isn't that funny, and I'm usually the first to put my hand out. I hope no one ever thinks I'm "looking" for a hand out, haha. You're pretty good at responding there pye, don't worry about it. You always come through. See ya later.

Hey, Pye. You're not the only one who is behind here. I just deleted a lot of discussion notifications, not because they weren't worthy, but I just wasn't going to be able to go through them all, so I kind of randomly picked some to keep and deleted the rest. It's definitely not because I don't think highly of those friends, but I have just been overwhelmed lately with so many things. I just can't get some things caught up, so I had to prioritize. Anyway, I've always been of the understanding that the reason we shake hands dates back to the Medieval period when people were either friend or foe. Friends didn't have weapons in their hands, so if you shook their right hand (most often the hand to wield a weapon), then they were friend. Enemies would be bearing a weapon instead. That's just a theory, as I understand it, but it does kind of make sense - when the somewhat barbaric behaviors were beginning to give way to chivalry and civility. But, I haven't looked it up in a while and new info might have be found on it. I hope your decision to depart turns out to only be temporary, even though you said otherwise.

Hi pye, At least we don't have to rub noses like the Eskimos, I cannot remeber shaking hands with anyone normally we just hug, I suppose with women is different, you can't see men hugging each other when they first met, but in working place yes I have shook hands with meeting a new boss or directors. Bright Blessings. Tamara

I actually had a discussion explaining that at: http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1249281.aspx Uh - with the right hands ... also traditionally the sword hand. Have you ever tried shaking hands with someone while you have your fist tightly gripped around the handle of a sword?

As I recall, I was taught that we shake hands as a leftover tradition from the days of knighthood, or maybe the middle ages, whatever. The point was that you extended your hand and let the other person grasp it to show that you had no weapons in your hand. It was done with the right hand because most people are right handed and would be likely to wield a weapon in their right hand and not their left. It is also interesting that your right hand is called "dexter" and the left "sinister" in Latin. Your right hand is dextrous, and your left hand, if you had a weapon in it and were being deceptive you were Sinister.

Shaking hand is all about an agreement or finishing good deal. It is more for business but it was adopted by general public in personal relationships. I don't like shaking hands. I can feel the bad person when shaking hands and I run to wash my hands, not because of germs, but because of bad energy....

Interesting topic and to be honest, I never really thought of why or where it came from...It is just common place and taught and as I said done without even by me...It is either that or a hug...Just my up bringing! However, you made me think here, and I just had to look it up! http://soc302.tripod.com/soc_302rocks/id8.html A link to explain the origin of the handshake, NOT a Referral) ~Heavens~

i had always heard the hand was extended to show you didn't have a weapon in it.. of course,that doesn't count for the other hand,but at least you know they don't have two

This is a good question Pye, it would be really good to know the answer to it!! I have never thought why we shake hands before, it will be interesting to see if anyone has a clue as to why we do LOL bb littleowl

I think it started back when people carried weapons. It was a way to show that you werent armed. The right hand tends to be the hand we shake with and it also tends to be the weapon/sword hand so one with approach and offer the empty sword hand to indicate no ill intentions. I think also its seen as rude or insulting in alot of places not to remove your gloves before a handshake.

I like people who automatically put their hand out to shake hands. I have always believed that the custom origininated many moons ago and it was a way of showing you didin't have a weapon in your hand. I don't know if this is actually correct but I think shaking hands is a nice thing to do.

DOnt know how It started . But I notice in old westerns the Indians didnt really shake hands either. and wehn they learned they pumped the hand and arm untill ya made them stop. FOr me a hand shake tells me alot a bout a person if I dont like the way they shake hands I might not even talk to them.

I have no idea why but personally I'm not big on shaking hands. So many times I get introduced to someone and I'm carrying three things and have to readjust. Or ever shake a hand of someone who's never heard of lotion??? What about people who sneeze in their hand right before?? Yikes! I don't usually shake hands when meeting people in my personal life, it's more of a nod and a hello! But in business it's expected so I do but I don't always see why it's necessary to walk around a room shaking hands, especially when we are all going to sit at a conference table and introduce ourselves formerly anyway.

I was taught that the tradition started during ancient times of knights and such. It was suppose to be common to hide weapons in one's sleeves which could to be used to kinfe the other guy in the back while greeting them with a traditional hug; so when foes met face-to-face they would grab their opponent's forearm and shake it very hard in order to reveal hidden weapons instead of risking being harmed while embraced in a bear hug. Their weapons sometimes fell out as the limb was being shaken. Over time the tradition was modified to a handshake with a lot less shaking. It turned into a polite form of greeting rather than a means of self-defense. Really don't know how true that is but it is what we were taught in school on the subject. Be interested to hear what others were taught.

I believe people grasp right hands when they meet to prevent the right hand from going for a sword. Most people are right handed and this tactic worked for years.

I found this reply on a web site and I believe that I have heard i before.. It is an old custom to show that you don't carry a weapon, you extend the open hand as a gesture of welcome..

Probably so the caveman would drop his spear and he couldn't use it, lol. I don't know. I suppose it had something to do with trust at one time. "Gee, you won't kill me if i shake your hand, will you?" "Uh, I guess not. I forgot why I was going to kill you." "Won't you come into my cave for some brontosaurus stew, then?"