Does the pandemic mean we’ll never shake hands again?

Does the pandemic(panˈdemik) mean we’ll never shake(SHāk) hands again?

By Allan MacDonald

How many people have you shaken hands with over the course(kôrs) of your life? It’s one of our oldest and most revered(rəˈvir) customs. Two people clasping(klasp) hands is a cornerstone(ˈkôrnərˌstōn) of civilization(ˌsivələˈzāSHən), of human interaction and social order. It’s a gesture(ˈjesCHər) that predates(prēˈdāt) recorded history. With the rise(rīz) of COVID-19, however, the handshake may be done for. We’re going to miss it.

We’ve been encouraging each other to “put ‘er there” for a long time. Some scholars(ˈskälər) trace(trās) the handshake back to ancient(ˈānCHənt) Rome(rōm), circa(ˈsərkə) eighth century BC. Others date it back even farther(ˈfärT͟Hər) – and place it elsewhere – to 12th century BC and ancient Greece. Like fire and the wheel((h)wēl), no one is certain when or where the handshake originated(əˈrijəˌnāt), but we do know a bit about why.

In ancient times, when you greeted someone by extending your hand, you showed that you were not armed. This is why you shake hands with your right hand, which is the hand you’d likely use to wield(wēld) the dagger(ˈdagər) concealed(kənˈsēld) in your toga(ˈtōgə).

I also like the theory(ˈTHi(ə)rē,ˈTHēərē) that the actual(ˈak(t)SH(o͞o)əl) shaking of the hand (not just clasping it); was intended to shake loose any weapons you may be hiding(ˈhīdiNG) in your sleeves(slēv).

Most of these theories are just that – theories. Evidence is scant(skant), it’s pretty murky(ˈmərkē), especially the farther back you go. The true origins(ˈôrəjən) of the handshake, it seems, are lost in the mists(mist) of time.

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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-does-the-pandemic-mean-well-never-shake-hands-again/