North American Greetings Essay

Greetings are an important aspect of each culture and necessary for every member of the community. However, not all greetings are universal. In the ethological tradition exemplified by Irenaus Eibel-Eibesfeldt’s work, greetings are studied for uncovering some of the evolutionary bases of human behavior. In his research greetings are defined as rituals of appeasing and rapport that counteract potentially aggressive behavior during face-to-face encounters. New Zealand and North America both possess this cultural element however the expression is differs.

The indigenous people of New Zealand are known as the Maori, and their customs and traditions are quite different in comparison to North Americans. For example, North Americans greet each other …show more content…
The handshake symbolizes a sign of friendship. However, in the past a handshake was just as legally binding as a verbal or written agreement. During the medieval times, when many of the men were in armor, the handshake was the preferred greeting used to show friendship. If one male extended an open hand to another this was the means of offering his friendship and the gesture would be returned. The alternative however would be a hand extended with a dagger or sword. Symbolizing peace, showing that neither person was carrying a …show more content…
Ethnographic studies of greetings exemplify the subtle ways in which greetings are connected to the definition of the ongoing activity. A clear example can be seen in both the hongi greeting and the handshake. Both acts confirm social relations and displays positive affects. Both the American and Maori cultures express the importance and necessity for greeting people however they each chose to go about doing so differently. When contrasting the two cultures one finds that due to the broader cultural element such as religion backing the hongi greeting, the ritual is more personal and