A history of the handshake

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There’s an amazing diversity of greeting customs around the world.

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In Tibet, sticking out your tongue can be a way of welcoming people.

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In New Zealand, Maori greet each other by touching noses.

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Ethiopian men touch shoulders, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, male friends touch foreheads.

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In many Asian countries, people bow to each other when meeting.

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And in some European countries, as well as Arab countries, hugs or kisses on the cheek are more the norm.

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While this wasn’t always true, the most common physical way to greet people around the world is now the handshake.

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It’s become so ubiquitous that you may never have thought about why people shake hands.

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The history of the handshake dates back to the 5th century B.C. in Greece.

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It was a symbol of peace, showing that neither person was carrying a weapon.