Types of greetings in different countries. How is it customary to say hello in different countries? How to say hello around the world

The most familiar gesture of greeting for us is a handshake. But even in this there are differences: in Russia, for example, it is supposed to greet the first man, and extend the hand to the woman (if she deems it necessary), and in England - the reverse order. But in any case, He takes off the glove from the hand, and She doesn’t have to (but in this case, you shouldn’t realize the intention to kiss the lady’s hand instead of shaking hands).

In a Tajik family, the owner of the house, receiving a guest, shakes the hand extended to him with his two as a sign of respect.

In Saudi Arabia, on such occasions, after shaking hands, the head of the host puts his left hand on the guest's right shoulder and kisses him on both cheeks.

Iranians, shaking each other's hands, then press their own right hand to their hearts.

In the Congo, as a sign of greeting, people who meet stretch out both hands towards each other and at the same time blow on them.

Peculiar handshakes are common among the African Maasai: before giving a hand, they spit on it.

And the Kenyan Akamba don't bother to hold out their hands: they just spit at each other as a sign of greeting.

The widespread handshake, which initially demonstrated that there were no weapons in the hands of those who met, in the traditions different cultures there is an alternative.

For example, Hindus fold their hands in "anjali": they press their palms to each other in a position with their fingers up, so that their tips rise to the level of the eyebrows. Hugs at a meeting with them are allowed after a long separation and look special in men and women. The representatives of the stronger sex hug each other tightly, patting each other on the back; representatives of the beautiful - holding each other by the forearms, are applied once by cheeks - to the right and left.

The Japanese prefer bows to handshakes, which are the lower and longer they are performed, the more important the person to whom they are addressed.

Saikerei is the lowest, but there is also a medium one when inclined at an angle of 30 degrees and an easy one - only 15 degrees of declination.

Koreans also bowed at a meeting since ancient times.

The Chinese, who are also traditionally more comfortable with bows, nevertheless quite easily switch to greeting through handshakes, and when a group of inhabitants of the Celestial Empire meets a new face, they can applaud - this is supposed to be answered in the same way. And the primordial tradition here was shaking hands ... with oneself.

By the way, in Rus' it was also customary to bow, but during the period of building socialism, this was recognized as a relic of the past.

In the Middle East, a bow with a lowered head, with hands lowered and pressed to the body, when the palm of the right covers the left hand, is a sign of respectful greeting.

And how beautiful the greeting ritual is in some North African states! There they bring the right hand first to the forehead, then to the lips, and then to the chest. Translated from sign language, this means: I think about you, I talk about you, I respect you.

In Zambezi - clap your hands, crouching.

In Thailand, joined palms are applied to the head or chest, and the higher the status of the welcomed person, the higher. This gesture is accompanied by the exclamation "wai".

Tibetans generally do the unbelievable: they take pictures right hand a hat from the head, and the left one is laid behind the ear and at the same time sticks out the tongue. - This proves the absence of bad intentions from the greeting.

The natives of New Zealand also stick out their tongues and also bulge their eyes, but before that they clap their hands on their thighs, stomp their feet and bend their knees. Only “one’s own” can understand this, so the ritual is designed, first of all, to recognize a stranger.

Even more exotic (of course, only in our opinion) are the male Eskimos: they hit each other with their fists on the head and back. Not much, of course, but it is difficult for the uninitiated to understand... However, they can rub their noses, just like the inhabitants of Lapland.

Polynesians also greet each other “gentlely affectionately”: sniffing, rubbing their noses and stroking each other on the back.

In Caribbean Belize, the local population also preserves the originality of the welcoming tradition: there it is supposed to put clenched fists to the chest. Who would have thought that this is a gesture of peacefulness? Fists also participate in the greeting on Easter Island: they are pulled out in front of you at chest level, then raised above your head, unclenched and “thrown” your hands down.

A traditional greeting posture in a number of Native American tribes is squatting at the sight of a stranger. She shows the peacefulness of the greeter, and the counter must pay attention to this, otherwise the Indian will be doomed to a long sitting, because he needs to note for himself that he was understood. According to the laws of hospitality of the African Zulus, at the entrance to the house, you must immediately sit down, without waiting for any invitation and without saying hello - this will be done by the hosts, but only after the person who has entered has taken a sitting posture.

It is curious that in New Guinea this mimic movement is also used, but to greet foreigners. However, not in all tribes.

Thus, it is customary among koiri to greet each other with a tickling touch of the chins.

The Tuareg living in the Sahara greet no less than half an hour, starting to jump, gallop, bow and sometimes take very strange poses at a distance of a hundred meters from the oncoming one. It is believed that in the process of body movements they recognize the intentions of this oncoming person.

In Egypt and Yemen, the salutation gesture is reminiscent of saluting in Russian army, only the Egyptians, putting their palm to their forehead, turn it in the direction of the one they greet.

A Australian aborigines greet each other with a dance.

How people say hello depends a lot on where they live. It's a way to show respect for others, so oh unusual customs other countries are worth learning before traveling, so locals will treat you with more sympathy. In addition, it is always useful to understand the traditions and customs of different cultures. So, how do people from different countries behave when meeting? Let's find out!

Philippines

The people of the Philippines use a beautiful gesture called mano to show respect for elders. They take the older man's hand and press their forehead against it in a gentle motion. Considering that many Asians practice Confucianism, where the elders have great value, the essence of such a greeting becomes quite clear.

Japan

The Japanese greet each other with a bow. Depending on the situation, the duration and angle of the bow may be different. For Japanese culture ceremonies are of great importance, so you should definitely understand all the intricacies of bowing if you have to communicate with the Japanese.

India

People in India say the word "namaste" and raise their hands in front of their chest, clasping their palms and pointing their fingers up. If you have ever practiced yoga, you are probably familiar with this position of the hands and this phrase.

Thailand

The greeting in Thailand is similar to the Indian one, it is called wai. This is a gesture reminiscent of a prayer, which is accompanied by a slight bow. Bow allows you to emphasize respectful attitude to the interlocutor.

France

In France, people prefer to kiss on the cheeks when they meet. Of course, this applies to cases when people have not seen each other for a long time and are going to talk, when meeting with a neighbor, it is enough just to say hello, as in other European countries.

New Zealand

Maori from New Zealand greet each other with the traditional hongi gesture, for which two people need to press their noses and foreheads together. It turns out a very cute and unusual gesture.

Botswana

In Botswana, you need to complete a series simple movements to properly greet a friend. Extend your right hand forward and place your left on your right elbow. Touch another person's hand while reaching out thumb, and then return to the starting position. After that, you should say “lae kae”, this is a way to ask about business.

Mongolia

Guests in Mongolia are given a special ceremonial khada scarf. It should be received gently, extending both hands and bowing slightly to show respect.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, people use the handshake and the words "as-salamu alaikum", which means "peace be upon you." Usually after that they touch noses, putting one hand on the opposite shoulder of another person. This is how men greet men muslim women of course, they do not enter into such close contact with the interlocutor.

Tuvalu

The traditional greeting among the inhabitants of the Polynesian island involves a deep breath with cheeks pressed to the gums.

Greece

A common Greek greeting is a pat on the back or shoulder of a familiar person.

Kenya

Maasai warriors from Kenya greet newcomers with a dance ceremony in which they stand in a circle and compete to see who can jump the highest.

Malaysia

Residents of Malaysia touch the fingers of both hands, and then put their palms on their hearts.

Tibet

Tibetans stick out their tongues slightly when greeting to show that they are not the reincarnation of a ruthless Tibetan king who lived in the ninth century. He was rumored to have a black tongue.

Tell me how you say hello and I'll guess where you're from. Greetings Reflect Features national character. Let's see how people in other countries greet each other.

Pedantic Germans until 12 days wish each other good morning, from 12 to 17 - good day. Then a good evening begins.

Career-obsessed British and Americans are first and foremost interested in: “How are you?” Acceptable response: "good" or "normal". Saying "bad" is considered indecent.

In France, even unfamiliar people when meeting and parting, they kiss, touching each other with their cheeks.

In Europe and New Guinea, it is common to say hello without words, simply by raising your eyebrows. Only on the mainland, this gesture is used when greeting friends and family. And on the Pacific island - foreigners.

Emotional Latin Americans are sure to climb to hug.

Laplanders rub their noses against each other. Probably to warm up a bit.

Indians ask the question in the morning: “Did the mosquitoes bother you too much last night?”

Curious Samoans sniff each other.

The mysterious Tibetans take off their headdress with their right hand, and put their left hand behind their ear and stick out their tongue.

The Zulus exclaim in surprise: "I see you!"

The Japanese are very responsible for greetings. They use three types of bows - saikerei (lowest, for the most respected people), medium (at a 30 degree angle) and light (at a 15 degree angle).

Jews and Arabs at a meeting say: "Peace be with you!"

Greenlanders always exclaim "Good weather" even if it's not true.

In Malaysia, they often greet with the question: “Where are you going?” The on-duty answer is a vague one: "To take a walk."

The traditional greeting in Thailand is called wai. The palms are folded together and pressed against the forehead, nose or chest. The position of the hands is determined by the status of the counter. The more significant the person, the higher the palms and the longer the wai lasts.

Representatives of the Tuareg tribe living in the Sahara begin to greet each other from a distance of one hundred meters. They jump, bow, grimace - and so on for half an hour. Vigilant Africans are trying to recognize if a stranger is approaching them. In case of danger, they have enough time to prepare for defense.

The Akamba tribe of Kenya spit at each other as a sign of deep respect.

In the neighborhood of Akamba live Maasai, who also love to drool. They first spit on the hand, and then they stretch out their palm to the oncoming one.

The natives of New Zealand do not greet very friendly. First they shout fearsome words, then they slap their hands on their thighs, stomp their feet, and bend their knees. Finally, they bulge their eyes and stick out their tongues. Who is not afraid, he is most likely his own!

The handshake says "hello" in America, but the gesture is puzzling in other parts of the world. Each country has its own traditions. Here are a few unusual ways that people around the world greet:

In some African countries young people should do more than say "yes sir" or "yes ma'am" when addressing elders. According to tradition, when talking to an older person, you should fall on your knees. It speaks of respect for them. And male children should actually lie in front of their elders and parents and wait until they are allowed to stand up.
And there's one thing you should never do, and that's shaking hands.

Americans don't really like to invade the privacy of others, but in France it's different. It is customary to kiss each other when they meet. Even strangers.

“These kisses look very funny, because very often the French don’t even know how many kisses to give,” says blogger Samson Adepoy. It all depends on the region or holiday. For example, on New Year's Eve, you can give an infinite number of kisses.

When Susan Eckert, owner travel company Adventure Woman, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone, she learned that when shaking hands, you must move your right hand to the left hand of a person of higher rank.

“This handshake implies that you respect who you are shaking hands with,” she said. People, after shaking hands, can also touch their right hand to the heart, enhancing the effect.

“When visiting someone's home in Costa Rica, don't knock. Instead, you need to shout "Ooooooooope!" says James Kaiser, author of Costa Rica: The Complete Guide.

This greeting, which you will not hear anywhere else in Latin America, is derived from the longer expression "Ave Maria Santecima nuestra Madre la Virgen de Guadalupe."

In New Zealand, you can say "hello" by rubbing your noses or foreheads. This tradition, called Hongi, comes from ancient tribe Maori from New Zealand. Others call this greeting "the breath of life." Even Princess Kate Middleton carried out this very personal tradition when she visited the country in 2014.

When Doug Fodeman of Brookwood School in Manchester arrived to work as a teacher exchange at an all-girls school in Rwanda in 2012, he was taken aback by the local cheer. Here, to shake someone's hand, the person makes a fist, flips it down, and offers their wrist. Fodeman soon learned that if a person dirty hands, he presents his wrist instead of his palm. And if both people have dirty hands, they will touch their wrists together.

If you're going to Fiji, get ready for a whole welcome ceremony. It's called "kava". During the ritual, you will have to drink a special brew from half a coconut, clap your hands and shout "Bula!" The drink tastes terrible, but it's part of the daily lifestyle here.

The greeting is a bit like Namaste in yoga and Sanskrit. The Thai Wai is a traditional greeting that involves pressing the palms together and then bowing the head forward. "Greeting each other with Wai is a sign of respect," says Jenny Shute, a Thai-American scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The deeper the bow, the greater the mark of respect.”

Traveler Katie Reese, who visited the Masai tribe in Kenya in 2012 while on vacation, discovered a touching way to greet local children. Children bow their heads in respect to visitors to touch their heads and expect a return touch with the palm of their hand.

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Do you know that different nations they greet each other differently when they meet. For example, an ordinary handshake, in addition to that adopted by us, can be found in Central Africa.

Knowledge traditional culture behavior not only makes it possible to communicate normally with representatives of other nationalities, but also teaches respect for other people's customs, no matter how strange and absurd they may seem at first glance.

In Africa, the handshake is most common, but you should not squeeze your friend's hand. The handshake should be looser than is customary in the US and Europe. This conveys special respect for the interlocutor. If the handshake is done with both hands (the left hand supports the right one), it means the absence of aggressive intentions, disposition towards the interlocutor, emphasizing social closeness with him.

In the Akamba tribe in Kenya, as a sign of deep respect, imagine spitting on the oncoming one. Also spitting greet in the Maasai tribe. True, they spit on their own hands, and then shake hands with another.

A resident of the Gambia will be mortally offended if he is given a left hand instead of his right hand. Such a gesture of greeting is unacceptable.

In the Congo River basin, there is a custom to give each other both hands and, bending down, blow on them. The inhabitants of Easter Island, to say hello, stand absolutely straight, clench their hands into fists, stretch them out in front of them, then raise them up above their heads, open their fists and finally let their hands fall freely.

The people of New Zealand do not need hands at all to greet someone. When greeting, they lightly rub their noses, moving their heads up and down or from side to side.

New Zealand Aboriginal greeting, Maori. Get ready for a little gymnastics. When meeting Maori, they first shout out the words in a fierce and abrupt manner, then slap their thighs with their hands, then stomp their feet with all their might and bend their knees, and finally inflate chest, bulging eyes and sticking out tongues from time to time.

Some Malays, when greeting, put their fingers together and lightly clap each other, first on one and then on the other side of the hands. After that, they put their hands to their lips or forehead.

Among the tribes living on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the greeting begins with the meeting clapping each other on the stomach, then clapping their hands and shaking hands.

The Egyptians and Yemenis greet each other with the same gesture, reminiscent of the salute of the Soviet military, with the only difference being that in the Arabic gesture, the palm is applied to the forehead and turns to the one who is being greeted.

The Chinese in the old days, when meeting another, shook hands with himself, in modern times he makes a slight bow or nod of his head, or shakes hands if he greets a foreigner (according to the Western model).

In Japan, when meeting, a verbal greeting is accompanied by a ceremonial bow, the depth of which depends on the age and position of both parties. Three types of bows are used - saikerei (the lowest), medium bow - with an angle of thirty degrees and light - with an angle of fifteen. The most respected and wealthy people are greeted with the lowest bow.

Ainu ( ancient population Japanese islands) at a meeting, they fold their hands, raise them to their foreheads, turn their palms up and slap themselves - men on their beards, and women on their upper lip, after which they shake hands.

The famous phrase "Memento more", it turns out, was also a greeting: this is how members of the Trappist order greeted in the Middle Ages. The monks reminded each other that a person must live with dignity in order to avoid punishment for sins in the next world.

In Korea, the greeting is often accompanied by a ceremonial bow. The depth of the bow is determined by the social and age status of the person greeting and being greeted. Now the handshake is becoming more common (especially in the North). Moreover, the elder gives his hand first, the man - to the woman.

Iranians shake hands at a meeting, then put their right hand to their hearts (moreover, the youngest or lower standing on the social ladder, if he was not greeted with a handshake, only puts his hand to his heart) - a sign of greeting and deep respect.

In the Middle East, respect and deep respect for a high-ranking person is expressed as follows: the palm of the right hand covers the left hand, both hands are lowered and pressed to the body, which is slightly tilted forward, the head is lowered.

In some Indian tribes, it is customary to squat at the sight of a stranger until the stranger approaches and notices you.

In most countries Latin America in addition to a handshake at a meeting, one can observe a stormy expression of joy, hugs, especially among acquaintances. Women exchange kisses on the cheeks, but at the first meeting - only a handshake.
Latinos embrace.

Greetings from the inhabitants of Easter Island: stand straight, clench your hands into fists, stretch them out in front of you, raise them above your head, open your fists and let your hands fall quietly.

Residents of Tibet, when meeting, take off their headdress with their right hand, put their left hand behind their ear and stick out their tongue.

Representatives of the New Guinean Koiri tribe tickle each other with their chins when they meet.

In Samoa, you will be misunderstood if you do not sniff your friend when you meet.

The Eskimos, as a sign of greeting, strike a familiar fist on the head and shoulders.

In France, when meeting and parting in an informal setting, it is customary to kiss, touching each other's cheeks in turn and sending one to five kisses into the air.

Samoans sniff each other.

A resident of the Andaman Islands sits on the knees of another, hugs his neck and cries.

In Singapore, the greeting can be in the Western manner - a handshake, and typical for China - a slight bow. In Thailand, it is not customary to shake hands when meeting: the hands are folded in a “house” in front of the chest, and the person bows slightly. But in the Philippines, shaking hands is traditional. The handshake is typical among men and in Malaysia; but when greeting a woman, especially an elderly one, they make a slight bow.

In Saudi Arabia, if a guest is invited home, then after shaking hands, the host puts the guest's left hand on the right shoulder and kisses on both cheeks. If the owner’s wife is at home at this moment, then you will be introduced to her, you need to be friendly with her, but restrainedly, it is not customary to shake hands with a woman.

In Australia, the handshake is quite energetic.

In India, when greeting and parting, men often shake hands. Women do not shake hands. When greeting a Hindu woman, you should bow slightly with your hands clasped in front of your chest in a “house”. The traditional gesture of greeting in India is the exchange of bows and the folding of the hands with the palms up on the chest.

It is customary for Europeans to shake hands when greeting (today it is also a sign of respect), but even here there are some nuances. The British, unlike Russians, very rarely give each other a hand when they meet (they limit themselves to a slight nod of their heads forward) and almost never do this when they say goodbye. Hugging is generally not accepted in England. English police officers do not welcome people who turn to them for information or help.

In Spain, a greeting, in addition to the traditional handshake typical of business meetings, is often accompanied by hugs and a loud expression of joy (among friends and good acquaintances); women kiss each other on the cheek. Italians love to shake hands and gesticulate. The French greet each other with a light handshake or a kiss.

In the US, the handshake is more common on formal occasions than on Everyday life, and is also used as a greeting when meeting. Usually, a handshake is not observed between people who see each other often or know each other on business. Women shake hands if they meet for the first time, and one of the interlocutors is an honored guest. If a man meets a woman, they may or may not shake hands, but the woman extends her hand first. Sometimes there is an awkward pause due to the fact that people of the opposite sex do not know whether they should shake hands.
If two Americans meet who know each other, then they have such a moment of greeting as a “flash of eyebrows”; this movement is, as it were, a signal to approach each other, and not just to look and pass by. Usually the greeting starts at a distance of about 12 feet (but may be more in deserted areas). Typical behavior of an American at a distance: he waves, turns, greets, and the greeters go towards each other, then extend their hands for a handshake (if they are friends or acquaintances), some men and women kiss, close acquaintances or relatives who have not seen each other for a long time hugging. An American can smile to a stranger who accidentally met his eyes, wink at a friend (in the cities and towns of the South and West, where people in more connected to each other), nod your head (in rural areas). IN American culture a kiss as a sign of greeting is accepted only among family or very close friends (but not between men), you can kiss a woman who is older.

Russians greet each other by the hand and say “hello” or “good afternoon”.

Arab countries. When meeting, people cross their arms over their chests.

Mongolia. When meeting people say to each other "Are your cattle healthy?".

And in ancient times, the Tuareg tribe living in the deserts had a very complex and long greeting. It started when two more people were about a hundred meters from each other and could last as long as half an hour! The Tuareg bowed, jumped, grimaced...

Russian peacekeepers in Yugoslavia were greeted in a very original way: during the NATO bombing, the locals said to ours instead of “Hello” - “S-300”, hinting that it was time to start retaliatory strikes.

By the way, in the thirties in Germany, some, risking their freedom and life, shouted at rallies instead of Heil Hitler "Halb liter", that is, half a liter.