Page 115 - ENGLISH 9

The way people greet one another reflects their custom. It gives insight
into their history and values. There is a wide range of greetings around the
world. These range from the common handshake to other strange rituals
found in some countries. Let’s observe how the simple action of greeting
someone differs greatly from place to place.
In some Eastern countries, including Korea and Japan, bowing is the
traditional greeting. In Japan, it is accepted that the deeper the bow,
the deeper the respect shown. In Nepal and India, people bend or nod
and say Namaste or Namaskar joining palms together as if praying.
Handshakes are also popular in these countries. In Tibet, people opt to
stick out their tongue to greet others which may seem strange to us.
Curriculum Development Centre
In the United States, people shake hands firmly and make direct eye
contact. It means a simple handshake is the normal greeting there.
Shaking a person’s right hand while looking him or her in his or her eyes
is the usual method. Handshakes are also common in other parts of the
world, including Canada, Britain and Russia. When Canadians first meet,
they often shake hands and introduce themselves by stating their name. In
Russia, males grasp other men’s hands very strongly during the handshake.
Similarly, most people in New Zealand greet each other by shaking hands.
However, the native Maori people of that country display more physical
contact: they press their noses together in a sign of trust and closeness.

In other countries, such as France and Belgium, hugging and kissing
are more common when two people meet. In those cultures, people kiss
each other on the cheeks. The number of times varies depending on the
particular country. In Saudi Arabia, men might hug and kiss each other
(but not a woman), on the cheek. Men also shake hands with other men
there.
Thus, greetings vary from culture to culture and the place to place where
they live. These cultures teach us how to assimilate in a society. It also
helps us to know each other’s way of life. Moreover, learning about other’s
culture can be a reliable tool for keeping peace and social harmony.

110 English class 9