Unique and Weird Greetings Found in Some Parts of the World

These are some of the most unique greetings around the world.

Most of them belong to tribes in different parts of the world; therefore each of these welcoming ways will be founded just in one part of the world.

China
In China, the tradition is to greet with the “Kowtow”, which is bowing with the hands folded, and women have to make a “Wanfu”, that is folding and moving hands down by the side of the body.

Even though today it is not very used, it is a sign of respect.

Japan

The Japanese greet, is a bow, which can be just a small gesture of the head, to a complete ninety degree bow to the waist.

Depending on places that you might be, you might be required to get on your knees in order to bow.

The bow is a sign of respect, and the bow is longer and deeper, the more respect you are showing.

Nowadays younger people use a more informal welcome, just a little head bow. Japanese however, don't expect foreigners to know about bowing, so they are often exempt from the custom.

Thailand

In this part of the world, people’s traditional greeting is known as the “Wai”, a graceful tradition in which one has to make a bow of the body and head, with the palms pressed together while saying “Sawaddee”.The position of the hands will change, more closer to the face, means more respect is showing the person that makes the “Wai”. Originally it meant the absence of weapons, which was considered the most respectful act.

Philippines

In the Philippines there is one of the most unique ways to welcome.

When a younger person meets an older, they have to bow grab the elder’s right hand with their right hand, allowing their knuckles to touch the elder person’s forehead, at the same time the younger has to say “Mano Po”, which means Hand Respect

Mongolia

When an unfamiliar person goes to their home, a Mongol will give the guest a Hada (strip of cotton or silk), a tobacco box or a pipe, depending on the area of Mongolia you are. If this occurs, the guest should take it with both hands while bowing slightly.

These both acts are sign of mutual respect, which is very important for Mongolian culture.

Kenya

The Maasai are a tribe in Kenya, and they have a very unique welcoming. They have a welcoming dance called “adamu”, a jumping dance, in which the warriors of the tribe start with a story and at the end they compete to jump the highest, which demonstrates to any visitor, how strong the warriors of the tribe are.

Also in their welcoming they might offer to the visitors, cow’s milk and blood.

Tibet

In this part of the world, different from any other place, poking out your tongue is a traditional welcome.

This started because of an evil Tibetan king, who had a black tongue, and because the people was scared that the evil king would be reincarnated, they began to greet showing their tongues, so they could prove that they weren’t the reincarnation of the king.This greet is accompanied by placing the palms down in front of the chest.

Tuvalu

In this Polynesian island, the custom greet is to press your face to the other person’s cheek and taking a deep breath.

Greenland

In the Artic, we can find the Inuit people or Eskimos, which have a traditional greeting known as “Kunik”.

It is used among family members and loved ones, and it is pressing the nose and upper lip against the other’s skin, ake take a breath. Many people adoted this tradition, by rubbing each other’s nose.

New Zealand

Home of the Maori tribe, who have a traditional welcoming custom known as the Hongi, a very unique and wonderful tradition.

This tradition basically is the rubbing or touching of noses when two people meet. This is a symbolic act that represents the 'breath of life’, which is considered to come directly from the Gods.

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