Saying ‘’hello’’, like expressing thanks, is basic good manners, but it’s becoming a challenge in modern times. All around the world, people have had to get creative when it comes to their traditional greetings. Thanks to social distancing, we’ve had to say goodbye to handshakes, hugs and hongi – the traditional nose-pressing greeting of the Maori.
You can’t keep a good tradition down, however, so people have come up with their own ways to express a friendly greeting. Now’s the time of virtual high fives, waves, and foot-tapping hellos – even the innovative elbow-bump has gone out the window of late.
These are some of the world’s best, socially distant greetings:
Zambia’s Cup and Clap
Zambian’s have been doing social distancing right all along. Their traditional greeting involves holding the hands together in a cup shape and then clapping them together from this position a couple of times.
The words, “mulibwanji”, meaning “hello,” or “mwakabwanji”, for ‘’good morning’’ usually accompany this greeting.
Namaste in Times of Trouble
Thanks to the recent popularity of yoga, everyone’s familiar with the expression ‘namaste’ meaning ‘’I bow to you’’. There’s no better time to adopt this traditional eastern greeting than now.
It has it all when it comes to a socially distant ‘hello’. Pressing the hands together conveys respect and humility, but it also has a far deeper meaning. Holding the hands together in this way is traditionally associated with keeping your energy protected and contained instead of absorbing the next person’s energy. In this way it conserves and protects both the parties involved in the greeting.
Bowing in Thailand and Japan
Similarly, bowing is a great way to show respect and regard when greeting someone. The Japanese and Thai people have long used a gentle bow of the head as a greeting. While this custom faded in deference to the more western handshake over the years, bowing is back with a big bang of late.
Like namaste, this type of greeting is traditionally believed to ward off evil and show peaceful intentions. Sounds like something the world needs right now.
Say Hello to New Experiences
Nobody knows how long this strange new social distancing existence will be with us, but it’s certainly giving us the opportunity to learn from other cultures and embrace them. Get in touch now to start exploring a whole new world of southern African safaris.
