Greeting the old way for new times

Who would have thought that one day a friendly handshake or a loving hug would be termed hazardous? With the changed definition of travelling and socialising due to COVID-19, it is time to add variety to our ways of salutation with these no-contact greetings from around the world.

Going Asian

Starting with India’s very own greeting – Namaste or namaskar. Dating back thousands of years and originating from the Sanskrit word ‘namas’ meaning bowing or obeisance, it is considered an ultimate in humility, respect, and gratitude.

Thailand’s wai is akin to namaste. A sign of Hindu and Buddhist influence on Thai culture, the wai, however, has variations. For a standard greeting, a slight bow with hands pressed together at chest level, the bow becomes deeper and hands higher with an increasing show of respect. The hands are at face level when greeting a superior or an elder, almost at hairline or forehead level for monks, and at the top of the head with the deepest bow in the presence of the king.

In the Japanese way of life, the angle of your bow (with hands at sides) depends on how much respect you want to show, 15 degrees for a casual hello, 30 to greet a superior or a client, and 45 degrees showing your deepest respect, sorrow, and apologies. Some bows date back to the time of the samurai. The goshu-rei, for example, is used to pay respect to the gods. You sit with your knees to the ground, place your palms on the ground with elbows out and bow down with the spine parallel to the ground.

The traditional Chinese greeting, bao quan li is derived from tai-chi. It involves wrapping one fist in another palm before one’s chest and bowing slightly. Similarly, fist and palm salute has its origins in the Chinese martial arts and is widely seen in kung fu movies. Simply bring your right fist on the straight left palm before the chest and bow a bit.

The salaam and adaab, wherein one raises their right hand close to the face with fingertips almost touching the forehead, are already recognised around the world. But the Turkish people are reviving the centuries-old eyvallah greeting that is said to have been used by the Ottomans. You place your hand over the heart and bow slightly as a symbol of both respect and endearment.

This gesture, mostly used among South Asian Muslim people, is a non-contact gesture. It requires one to raise one’s hands towards the face, fingers almost touching the forehead and a slight bow.

Westward ho!

The women were historically seen epitomising grace with their curtsies, bending the knees with one foot in front of another holding the skirts out from their bodies, while men bowed. Younger girls did a variation called bob curtsy, a slight bend. The performers took it a step further by thanking their audience by bending forward with an outstretched hand while taking off the hat.

In England, many young girls are still taught how to curtsy, though, the greeting is now more or less performed in the presence of top royalty only. If these times should provide a reason enough to bring back the theatrical greeting, they could perhaps bring back the hats too. Just like in North America of the past, where men could just tip their hats to acknowledge each other.

Ethnic ethos

In Zambia, home to many ethnic groups, the traditional gestures are not only passed down through generations but are understood well by both the rural population and the city-dwelling savvy business class. Their cup and clap, in which you cup your hands together and clap a couple of times while bowing over slightly, is perfect for these days. To add some more flavour to it, accompany it with mulibwanji (meaning hello). In parts of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the first one to greet smacks their hands together, and the other reciprocates with two claps. In Mozambique, there are even three claps.

Another new cool street-smart way to acknowledge someone from a virally-safe distance would be borrowing the east coast wave from the Maoris of New Zealand. Famous for their hugs and hongis which took a beating in the pandemic, the Maoris’ east coast wave is nothing close to a wave. It is a split-second chin lifting accompanied with raised eyebrows.

Modern touch

Named after the city where Covid-19 started, is a new style of greeting called Wuhan shake. A pun on a now forbidden handshake, it involves people tapping the insoles of their feet and has found admirers all over the world.

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