Unusual Ways to Greet Across the Globe

Handshake, fist bump, hi-five or the “perfunctory chin jut of recognition, Sup?” (quoting Sheldon Cooper) - Are these the only ways to greet? Of course not! From sticking your tongue out to pressing noses together, there’s more than one way to say hello around the world.

Every culture has its own traditions and legends that give rise to unique ways of greeting people that others may find unusual. But if you wouldn’t greet your prospective employer in a job interview with a fist bump, why would you go for a boring hand shake while travelling abroad? It’s always amazing to learn the traditional greeting gestures of people from another culture and when you use them you feel like you’re a part of their community.

So, here’s a list of 7 most unusual welcoming customs practiced in different parts of the world.

1. Rubbing Noses - New Zealand

It’s called ‘Hongi’- a traditional gesture of greeting by the aborigine Maori tribe of New Zealand. It is an ancient tradition and involves the rubbing or touching of noses when two people meet. A symbolic act, hongi is referred to as the ‘ha’ or the ‘breath of life’, which is believed to come directly from the gods.

Earlier this year whenThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their son Prince George, visited New Zealand, they were greeted by the Maori leaders with the traditional Hongi.

2. Sticking out Tongues - Tibet

Sticking your tongue out will only mean that you are teasing someone, being rude, gone bonkers like Miley Cyrus or you’re a scientific genius like Albert Einstein, right? Wrong, in Tibet it’s a way to say hello. It’s considered as a sweet and humble gesture which means that they are welcoming you.

Back in 9^th century, Tibet was ruled by an evil king called Lang Darma. He had a black tongue and was very unpopular among his subjects. After his death, the people would show their tongues to each other to prove that they’re not the king reincarnated. Ever since then the tradition has been followed and today it’s more of a gesture to show that they have no evil in their hearts.

3. Pressing Forehead to Knuckles - Philippines

In Filipino culture respecting the elderly, related to you or not, is considered very important. So, usually when a younger person meets an elderly, they would bow down and take the hand of the elder and press it to their forehead. It has to be the right hand and the person showing respect may say “Mano po”.

“Mano” in Spanish means ‘hand’ and “po” means ‘please’. So, basically it is a request by the younger person asking for the hand of the elder, seeking blessings. The origin of this form of greeting is said to be derived from the Catholic friars. At the time, the Pope who was held in high esteem extended his hand to priests, nuns & lay people as he gave his blessings while they kissed his signet ring.

4. Eskimo Kissing - Greenland

‘Kunik’ is the traditional way of greeting each other in Greenland. Westerners call it eskimo kissing and it is normally used among family members or loved ones. It involves pressing the nose and upper lip against the other person’s skin - then breathing on them.

It seems quite similar to ‘hongi’ at times, only difference is that an eskimo kiss can be planted on cheek or forehead and doesn’t necessarily require the rubbing of noses. A common misconception about the origins of Kunik is that since Inuit people couldn’t kiss without their mouths freezing together, they resorted to this nuzzy way of expressing love.

5. Sniffing Cheeks - Tuvalu

In the Polynesian island of Tuvalu, relatives greet each other by pressing their cheeks together and taking a deep sniff. That’s how they get to know what cologne the other person is using! Well, on a more serious note this is their common a way of showing affection.

6. Clapping and Squeezing Thumbs - Zambia

People in the Luapula, Western, and Northwestern provinces of Zambia frequently use a greeting that involves clapping hands and squeezing thumbs.

7. Sniffing the Snuff Bottle - Mongolia

In Mongolia when two people greet one another during a ceremony, festival or special occasion they offer their snuff bottles on their right hand with the lid slightly open. Snuff is an aromatic, smokeless tobacco made from ground up leaves. The person receiving the snuff bottle takes a pinch out of it and place the snuff on the back of their hand before snorting it up their nose.

If you are unaccustomed to snorting snuff up your nose or you don’t want to do it for whatever reason, it is polite to hold the bottle close to your nose and smell the fragrance before passing it back to the one who offered it. Snuff bottles are gorgeously decorated and very beautiful to look at. They are considered as a valued collectible item.

In my country the traditional greeting is ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar’. The gesture is to press the palms of both hands and bow in respect. The meaning is even more profound and if translated from Sanskrit it means- “I bow to the divine in you”.

We would like to know if you have come across any such unusual or unique way of greeting. If so, do mention in the comments section below.