What is the meaning behind shaking hands with the right hand?

A handshake is a short ritual in which two people grasp their right or left hands, often accompanied by a brief shake of the grasped hands. Its origins are unclear, although Philip A. Busterson's seminal 1978 work Social Rituals of the British traces its roots back to Sir Walter Raleigh, claiming he introduced the custom into the British Court during the late 16th Century.

The handshake is initiated when the two hands touch, immediately. It is commonly done upon meeting, greeting, parting, offering congratulations, or completing an agreement. Its purpose is to convey trust, balance, and equality.[1] Handshakes possibly originated as a gesture showing that the hand holds no weapon.

In Anglophone countries, shaking hands is considered the standard greeting in business situations. In casual non-business situations, men are more likely to shake hands than women. It is considered to be in poor taste to show dominance with too strong a handshake[2]; conversely, too weak a handshake (sometimes referred to as a "limp fish" or "dead fish" handshake) is also considered unseemly[3].

the original gesture was the clasping of the hands on the inner forearms. The was to show that the person did not have a concealed weapon. This was usually done with the right hand because most people were right handed and would have had their weapon concealed on that arm. This began with the medeval knights. There was also the same custom in the orient that developed independantly but for the same reason. Of course with the oriental gesture, the left hand is usually moved under the right arm in a motion from the wrist toward the body. This was to move back the large full sleeves of the traditional robes they wore, again to reveal that they had no weapon concealed unon them.

I'm assuming its because the military saluted with their left hand and shook with their right. So they could do it together at the same time. It only makes sense but I could be wrong. I was just guessing.

but i looked it up and this is what i found.

Historians agree that the handshake was most likely developed several hundred years ago in England as a method to communicate that you were empty-handed and unarmed during a meeting. Weapons were often concealed in the left sleeve so shaking was done with the left hand. As more people began to travel without weapons it became common to shake with the right hand. Certain historical figures took liberty with shaking hands and created their own custom. George Washington decided that shaking hands was for the common people so he bowed when greeting people in public.

by Lydia Ramsey

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What is the meaning behind shaking hands with the right hand?

there is a genuine reason for people to shake hands with their right hands.. it was a custom created hundreds of years ago.. do you know the answer.. first one with the correct answer gets the 10..

Definition Of Shaking

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The handshake is thought by some to have originated as a gesture of peace by demonstrating that the hand holds no weapon. The handsake is commonly done upon meeting, greeting, parting, offering congratulations, or completing an agreement. In sports or other competitive activities, it is also done as a sign of good sportsmanship. Its purpose is to convey trust, balance, and equality.

In Christendom, Latin was a common language. In Latin, Dexter, and Sinister where the terms used for right and left. No gentleman would offer a sinister hand...

If you look a currency from Europe, you will notice a lot of eagles. If the eagle's head is over it's left ( sinister ) shoulder, then the currency was issued during war. Handshakes, imply peace.

Muslims shake hands with their right hand because their left was considered "unclean", but I was unaware that any other cultures practiced the same custom with right hand only.

Knights and other assorted armed men used their right hand to brandish their weapons, so when you shake hands with your right hand you're demonstrating that you are unarmed or that you have no intent to cause harm.

It might be to show the person you're greeting that you have no weapon in your right hand. Or it could be because most people use their left hand to wipe their rear.