When do you shake hands?

Answer 1

You can shake hands for a variety of different occasions. You can shake upon greeting someone you are meeting for the first time, you can shake at the beginning and end of business meetings. You can shake to close a deal on a non-verbal agreement. These are all methods we use here in the west. There may be other customary handshaking gestures in other parts of the world.

When being introduced to a lady , and man should wait for the lady to offer her hand first. This is an old custom left over from when ladies were considered delicate little flowers, and men weren't seriously in to handwashing. Although out-moded in everydaylife, it is still proper for more formal ocassions.

Answer 2

Back in cave man days, when two people would meet, at a distance they'd hold up their empty hands to show they had no weapons. This evolved throughout history to where it is today with the hand shake. It is a greeting that indicates peace or friendship and respect.

Answer 3

In polite society, a man will only shake a woman's hand when she first offers it. If following proper etiquette, a man should never initiate a handshake with a woman... but in the world in which most of us live, a handshake is a proper greeting to people with whom you are meeting in a business environment.