Handshake
A handshake is when two people hold hands for a few seconds and move them up and down before letting go. It is often used like a greeting (like saying "Hello, Hi" or "goodbye" when people meet) or to say that two people have agreed on something. Handshakes are also used between romantic partners.
The action is ancient, and occurs (or occurred) in many cultures. There are, however, many slight differences. In some cultures, the handshake is firm, in others it is gentle. In some cultures the senior person leads the handshake. The length of time also varies between cultures. One thing is almost universal: hand shaking is done with bare hands.
Another aspect is: do men shake hands with women? In the past, in many societies, they did not. Today, in western society, handshakes are allowed if the female offers her hand. It is not done between family members, when hugs and kisses are more usual.
Some secret societies have secret handshakes to show they are part of the group.
Handshake Media
Assyrian king Shalmaneser III (right) shakes the hand of Babylonian king Marduk-zakir-shumi I (left), 9th century BCE
Handshake depicted on a Roman coin, with the name of the goddess Concordia (AD 97)
M K Mishra, IOFS General Manager, Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli
Shaking with the right hand while delivering a certificate with the left
Tennis players shaking hands after match
Leaders welcome a boy into Scouting, March 2010, Mexico City, Mexico. Note the left-handed handshake.
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, U.S. President Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat at the Oslo Accords signing ceremony on 13 September 1993
Silhouette of hand reaching to make a handshake, labeled "HANDSHAKE" and covered by a circle "do not" symbol. For greentings, use instead "Namaste" Greeting.png:
