The New Year greeting is a way to express joy and friendliness towards each other. However, the greeting customs of different cultures around the world vary significantly and carry various meanings.
Unique Greeting Styles from Around the World
1. Nose Rub and Forehead Bump
In the mountainous regions of northern India, the New Year’s custom involves greeting each other on the first day of the year by rubbing noses. The harder the nose rub, the more luck and smooth sailing in business is expected. Meanwhile, the Māori people in New Zealand bump foreheads to show goodwill, with a harder bump indicating better luck in the new year.
The harder the nose rub, the more luck and smooth sailing in business…
2. Bowing
In Israel, during New Year celebrations, people bow while raising their hands to ear level and greet each other with the word “shalom”, meaning “peace.” The Japanese also maintain a custom of bowing several times when greeting each other before inquiring about health and work. In India, after bowing, individuals place their hands on their chests to show respect towards their guests.
3. Water Splashing
In the former Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia), there is a custom of splashing water at the start of the year. Young men splash water on the girls they are interested in, and the girls happily accept this! In Myanmar, people of all ages splash water on each other, believing that the wetter one gets, the luckier they will be. In major cities like Yangon and Mandalay, water barrels line the streets, with young men and women eagerly waiting to splash water on passersby to celebrate the New Year. Thailand and Laos also share this water splashing tradition, as water is considered a source of happiness, making it a great way to wash away bad luck from the previous year!
4. Removing Shoes to Sit on the Ground
In North Africa, some tribes in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia sit on the ground and remove their shoes when greeting each other for the New Year. They also lightly touch the palms of each other’s hands. In Malaysia, people greet each other during the New Year by lightly touching their hands with the palms of the opposite person, then withdrawing their hands and pressing them against their hearts for a few seconds to indicate that the greeting has been sincerely received. When two people greet each other, the older person typically initiates the greeting.
When two people greet each other, the older person typically initiates the greeting.
When greeting women in Malaysia, which is a Muslim country, touching women is highly taboo, so men must wait for women to extend their hands first. If a woman does not extend her hand after waiting, the man must accept this. Never extend your hand first if you don’t want to be embarrassed! Some Muslim populations, such as those in Indonesia, Iran, and Turkey, share similar New Year greeting customs as in Malaysia.
5. Fist Bump and Pointing Finger
In North Korea, during the New Year, people often form a fist and extend it while pointing a finger to greet each other.
6. Sticking Out the Tongue and Shaking the Head
In mountainous regions, people have a custom of sticking out their tongues when greeting each other at the start of the new year, then biting their tongues while shaking their heads a few times before engaging in conversation.
7. Biting Each Other’s Shoulders
In some islands of the Philippines, when meeting during the New Year, people first bite each other’s shoulders, with the intensity of the bite symbolizing deep affection and attachment. This perfectly aligns with the saying: “Lovers bite each other hard!”
8. Hugging and Kissing in Western Countries
When close friends meet during the New Year, they greet each other with warm kisses. However, the type of kiss must be appropriate; kissing is not acceptable everywhere. Parents kiss their children on the forehead, friends kiss each other on the cheeks, and couples kiss on the lips. In France, among the upper class, gentlemen often kiss the hands of ladies. However, this hand-kissing is more symbolic; it is considered impolite for a gentleman’s nose to touch a lady’s skin!
9. Dancing
This welcoming ceremony seems to have a high sporting element!
One unique greeting style that cannot be overlooked comes from the warriors of the Maasai tribe in Kenya. They welcome newcomers with dances, forming a circle and competing to see who can jump the highest.
10. Ritual Scarves
Whether you are a familiar face or a stranger, the Mongolians use hada (ritual scarves) to greet. When the host approaches with the hada, you simply need to gently grasp the silk ribbon with both hands and bow slightly. This traditional greeting is very important to the locals, reflecting their respect for Mongolian culture.
