A Custom and a Philosophy

 A) Teach you a little more about an important custom that we take for granted every day.  B) Introduce you to a few ideas regarding proper etiquette

 The handshake is initiated when two hands touch, immediately.  It is commonly done upon a meeting, as a greeting, before parting, when offering congratulations, to express gratitude, or when completing an agreement.  It’s purpose is more commonly to convey trust, balance, equality.

 Archeological ruins and ancient texts show that handshaking was practiced in ancient Greece as far back as the 5 th century.  Some researchers suggest that the handshake was introduced to the Western World by Sir Walter Raleigh who served the British Court during the late 16 th century.

The handshake was thought by some to have been a gesture of peace and as a demonstration that the hand held no weapon.

 Owing to its association with African- American culture, the jive shake is performed by each person clutching the base of the others thumb.  In some European countries people shake hands every time they meet.  In certain Muslim countries a grip that is too firm will be considered rude.  In china a weak handshake is preferred and people will often continue to hold hands for an extended period after the initial shake.  Arabic speaking people accompany handshakes with the saying As-Salamu Alaykum (Peace be with you).

 In turkey, outside business, shaking hands is not the standard at all. Kissing each other twice on the cheek is a more common practice shared by Moroccans as well. In some countries the hand palm is simply placed over the heart.  In religions such as Orthodox Judaism and Islam the prohibition against physical contact between members of the opposite sex precludes shaking hands. Instead, a short nod or bow is given.

In Atlantic City, New Jersey Mayor Jospeh Lazarow was recognized by the Guiness Book for a July 1977 publicity stunt in which he shook more than a 11,000 hands in a single day. This broke the record previously held by President Theodore Roosevelt who shook 513 hands at a White House reception on January 1 st 1907.

 On september Jack Tonis and Lindsay Morrison broke the world record for longest handshake at 12 hours, 34 minutes, and 56 seconds.  In November of that year Matthew Rosen and Joe Ackerman beat their time with a new record of 15 hours, 30 minutes, and 45 seconds.  On Friday January 14 th 2011 the record was again broken in New York by Alastair Galpin and Don Purdin from New Zealand who shook hands with the Nepalese brothers Rohit and Santosh Timilsina for 33 hours and 3 minutes.

 A handshake should always be made using your bare hand.  Make eye contact.  Grip firmly with your whole hand.  Position yourself at a proper distance (approx 2 cubits).  Use a smooth fluid motion. Shake 2-3 times over 1-3 seconds.  Warm or wipe your hands as necessary.  It is considered insulting to reject a handshake without good reason.  Never attempt a shake with your hands full.  Do not shake hands from across a table, from behind a desk, or while sitting.  Do not try to assert your dominance. The person who extends their hand first has the power.

 The handshake is an important part of our history and our culture.  When done with proper etiquette it is a powerful symbol of who we are and where we come from.