The handshake has become a common form of communication all around the world. A handshake between two people expresses a willingness for balance and equality. Especially in Western cultures, it is common to shake hands with someone who is introduced to us. Now it is treated as the norm for a business greeting, offering congratulations & for expressing gratitude.

Why do you think we shake hands?

There are many conflicting reports of the possible source of the common handshake gesture. One of them says, Handshakes were originally meant to make sure that the person you were meeting wasn’t carrying a concealed weapon. The hand clasp proved that your hand was empty and shaking was meant to dislodge any weapons hiding up the sleeve.

How did it originate?

The tradition of the handshake began in Egypt before the time of Christ. It originated as a gesture of peace; indicating that the handheld no weapon. In the present days, all athletes including boxers shake hands before and after the match to show that they bear no ill will towards each other.

Why do people always shake with right hands?

People always shake their right hands because, in the older days, weapons were used primarily with the right hand as most people were right handed, so shaking with the right hand signaled that a person was weapon free.

When two men met and displayed empty right hands, this presumably meant a basic level of trust existed and that neither would stab the other.

Who introduced handshake to the Western world?

Some researchers have suggested the handshake is thought to have been introduced in the Western world by Sir Walter Raleigh, in British Court during the late 16th century. It can be used for meeting and greeting people, offering congratulations or closing business deals. And now the handshake became an internationally accepted business greeting.