Why Do We Shake Hands with the Right Hand?

This episode explores why the right hand is the standard for handshakes across much of the world. Historically, most people were right-handed and carried weapons in that hand—so extending it showed peaceful intent and a lack of hostility. In ancient Greece, Rome, and medieval Europe, grasping hands or forearms also checked for hidden weapons, reinforcing trust.

Religious and cultural traditions strengthened the practice: in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the right hand symbolizes purity, blessing, and respect, while the left hand often carried negative associations. By the 18th and 19th centuries, etiquette manuals cemented the right-hand handshake as a symbol of trustworthiness in business and diplomacy.

Though alternatives exist—like left-handed greetings in some African cultures, or elbow bumps during the COVID-19 pandemic—the right-hand shake remains deeply ingrained as a global ritual of respect, connection, and peace.