SHAKING HANDS -
People shake hands more frequently today than they did a few hundred years ago. In ancient times, the hand was considered as a symbol of power and strength. Primitive man used it to kill animals or fight against his enemies. The extended hands were taken to be a gesture of goodwill and friendship by ancient people.
The practice of shaking hands probably originated in ancient Greece. Greeks prayed before their gods with raised hands - a gesture of devotional acts in honor of the deity.
Nowadays, the handshake has become the most accepted form of greetings and occurs in the most varied cultural areas of the world with a few exceptions The Japanese, for instance, normally do not shake hands; they bow and the degree of bending is related to the amount of respect due to the person being greeted. In India, the traditional form of greeting is namaste with folded hands. In the Middle East, people exchange greetings by kissing gently on each other's extended hands.
However, with the passage of time and the influx of Western culture, these forms of greetings are not a rule everywhere although these traditions are still in existence among a large number of people in different regions.
A handshake can reveal one's hidden personality. A firm but smooth grip is considered the best handshake. It sends a message of warmth and friendliness. Handshaking usually accompanies all acts like an introduction, farewell, gratitude and congratulation. It is customary to shake every individual hand when formally joining or departing from groups.
The record number of hands shaken by a public figure at an official function was 8513 by president Theodore Roosevelt of U.S.A. at a New Year's day function on January 1, 1907. However, Scottkillon of Canada holds a handshaking record with over 25000 visitors in just 8 hours at the Exhibition of Expo-92 in Seville.
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