Meeting and Greeting Customs

What would you like to say when you are introduced to another person?

What do you often talk about when you meet a person for the first time?

Will you shake hands when you are introduced to each other? why or why not?

 

1. People follow some customs in social situation. A younger person is usually introduced to an older one; a man is introduced to a woman; a guest to the host or hostess, and a person to a group. when making an introduction, we should mention the name of the person we respect first. When introducing a man and a woman, we should mention the woman's name first (unless the man is very old or very famous). When introducing two men or two women, we should put the older person's name first. If both are about the same age, it is not important which name comes first.

2. People nod, smile and usually shake hands when they are introduced to each other. In a business situation, men always shake hands with one another. But women do not often shake hands when they meet for the first time.

3. Here are some different meeting and greeting customs around the world:

4. In Chile, people usually shake hands when they meet for the first time. When two women first meet, they sometimes kiss each other on the cheek. Women also greet both male and female friends with a kiss. Chilean men give their friends warm hugs or sometimes kiss women on the cheek.

5. Finns greet each other with a firm handshake. Hugs and kisses are only for close friends and family.

6. People in the United States shake hands when they are first introduced. Friends and family members often hug or kiss on the cheek when they meet each other. In these situations, men often kiss women but not other men.

7. British people rarely keep hold of your hand for very long when they shake hands. But in many other countries in the world it is not polite to let go off your hand too soon. Unfortunately, this makes many people think that the British are not friendly.