Basically, what if we didn't shake hands on meeting one another?
The story goes that Marie Antoinette and several French courtiers were intrigued by this "English" gesture. (It's not actually English, since IIRC there are carvings from ancient Persians showing a variation of the handshake). But, how would we greet one another? Salutes? Kiss on each cheek (à la Français)? How DID people PHYSICALLY greet each other if they didn't shake hands? Would things perhaps be more limited by each country/language - i.e. the English shake hands and the French/Italians kiss cheeks, etc? Rather than a universal gesture?
I'm asking specifically with European cultures in mind.
The story goes that Marie Antoinette and several French courtiers were intrigued by this "English" gesture. (It's not actually English, since IIRC there are carvings from ancient Persians showing a variation of the handshake). But, how would we greet one another? Salutes? Kiss on each cheek (à la Français)? How DID people PHYSICALLY greet each other if they didn't shake hands? Would things perhaps be more limited by each country/language - i.e. the English shake hands and the French/Italians kiss cheeks, etc? Rather than a universal gesture?
I'm asking specifically with European cultures in mind.
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