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Hand-kissing
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Hand-kissing is a greeting gesture that indicates courtesy, politeness, respect, admiration, affection or even devotion by one person toward another. A hand-kiss is considered a respectful way for a gentleman to greet a lady. Today, non-ritual hand-kissing is rare and takes place mostly within conservative class or diplomatic contexts. Today, the hand kiss has largely been replaced by a kiss on the cheek or a handshake.
A non-ritual hand-kiss can be initiated by the lady, who would hold out her right hand with the back of the hand facing upward; or by the gentleman extending his right hand with the palm facing upward to invite the lady to put her right hand lightly on it facing downward. The gentleman may bow towards the offered hand and (often symbolically) would touch her knuckles with his lips, while lightly holding the offered hand. However, the lips do not actually touch the hand in modern tradition, especially in a formal environment where any intimate or romantic undertones could be considered inappropriate.[1][2][3] The gesture is short, lasting less than a second.
Around the world
[edit]In the Arab World, Ethiopia, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, hand-kissing is a common way to greet elder people of all genders, primarily the closest relatives (both parents, grandparents, and uncles or aunts) and teachers. Occasionally, after kissing the hand, the greeter will draw the hand to his own forehead. In the Philippines, the gesture evolved into just touching the hand to the forehead; hand-kissing itself has become a separate kind of gesture that has merged with the European custom concerning when it may be used.
In Southern Italy, especially Sicily, the verbal greeting "I kiss the hands." (Italian: "Bacio le mani.") derives from this usage. Similarly, in Hungary the verbal greeting "I kiss your hand." (Hungarian: "Kezét csókolom.") is sometimes used, especially when greeting elders and in rural communities. The shortened version "I kiss it." (Hungarian: "Csókolom.") is more wide spread. A similar expression exists also in Poland (Polish: "Całuję rączki", meaning "I kiss [your] little hands"), although nowadays it's considered obsolete.
In Romania the gesture is reserved for priests and women and it is common greeting when first introduced to a woman in parts of the country. The verbal expression towards women is "I kiss your hand" (Romanian: "sărut mâna" and sometimes shortened to "săru-mâna") Towards priests it is sometimes changed into "i kiss your right" due to the belief that the right hand of the priest is holy and blessed regardless of the priest himself and any eventual shortcomings. In the past both parents used to get their hand kissed and seen as a type of blessing, however the expression is now almost exclusively towards women.
Chivalrous gesture
[edit]
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Felipe, Prince of Asturias, during her inaugural ceremony (1 January 2011)
.jpg)
King Charles III kissing Queen Letizia of Spain's hand at a reception on the eve of his coronation (5 May 2023)
A hand-kiss was considered a respectful way for a gentleman to greet a lady. The practice originated in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Spanish courts of the 17th and 18th centuries. The gesture is still at times observed in Central Europe, namely in Poland, Austria and Hungary, among others.[4]
Traditionally, the hand-kiss was initiated by a woman, who offered her hand to a man to kiss. The lady offering her hand was expected to be of the same or higher social status than the man. It was a gesture of courtesy and extreme politeness, and it was considered impolite and even rude to refuse an offered hand. Today, the practice is very uncommon in many European countries, and has been largely replaced by a kiss on the cheek or a handshake.
Kissing the ring
[edit]Kissing the hand, or particularly a ring on the hand was also a gesture of formal submission or pledge of allegiance of man to man, or as a diplomatic gesture. The gesture would indicate submission by kissing the signet ring (a form of seal worn as a jewelry ring), the person's symbol of authority. The gesture was common in the European upper class throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. It started to disappear in the 20th century, to be replaced by the egalitarian handshake. However, former French president Jacques Chirac made hand-kissing his trademark and the gesture is still encountered in diplomatic situations.[5]
Religious usage
[edit]
In the Catholic Church, a Catholic meeting the Pope or a Cardinal, or even a lower-ranking prelate, will kiss the ring on his hand. This has become uncommon in circles not used to formal protocol, even often dispensed with amongst clergy. Sometimes, the devout Catholic combines the hand kissing with kneeling on the left knee as an even stronger expression of filial respect for the clerically high-ranking father. The cleric may then in a fatherly way lay his other hand on the kisser's head or even bless him/her by a manual cross sign. In the Catholic Church, it is also traditional for the laity to kiss the hands of a newly-ordained priest after his inaugural mass, in veneration of the Body of Christ, which is held in the priest's hands during the Holy Eucharist. In May 2014, Pope Francis kissed the hands of six Holocaust survivors to honour the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.[6]
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox Churches, it is appropriate and common for laity to greet clergy, whether priests or bishops, by making a profound bow and saying, "Father, bless" (to a priest) or "Master, bless" (to a bishop) while placing their right hand, palm up, in front of their bodies. The priest then blesses them with the sign of the cross and then places his hand in theirs, offering the opportunity to kiss his hand. Orthodox Christians kiss their priest's hands not only to honor their spiritual father confessor, but in veneration of the Body of Christ which the priest handles during the Divine Liturgy as he prepares Holy Communion. It is also a common practice when writing a letter to a priest to begin with the words "Father Bless" rather than "Dear Father" and end the letter with the words "Kissing your right hand" rather than "Sincerely."
During liturgical services, altar servers and lower clergy will kiss the hand of a priest when handing him something in the course of their duties, such as a censer, when he receives it in his right hand, and a bishop when he receives it in either hand since a bishop bestows blessings with both hands.
There are records of hand-kissing in the Islamic Caliphate as early as the 7th century.[7][8] Hand-kissing known as Taqbil, as a respect for nobility, is practiced by the Hadharem of Yemen.
In popular culture
[edit]The hand-kiss is used quite prominently in The Godfather series, as a way to indicate the person who is the Don. It also features in period films, such as Dangerous Liaisons.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Do you know about the secrets of hand-kiss?". Academie de Bernadac. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "The Hand Kiss - Meaning, History & The Proper Way". Lemetropolelille. 28 September 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Hand Kissing: a Guide For The Perplexed". whitebard.tripod.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Scott, Andy (2019). One Kiss or Two?: The Art and Science of Saying Hello. Richmond: Duckworth. ISBN 9780715653197.
- ^ Rosenberg, Adam (10 November 2018). "Please enjoy a photo of Emmanuel Macron crushing Donald Trump's hand". Mashable.
- ^ Pope kisses the hands of Holocaust survivors, prays at Jerusalem memorial site in poignant gesture
- ^ Tirmizî, Sünen, İsrâ Tefsiri, İbn Mâce, II, p. 1221
- ^ Salahi, Adil (13 December 2002). "Kissing hands and feet". Arab News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hand-kissing.
Hand-kissing
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Definition and Historical Origins
Gesture Mechanics and Etymology
The hand-kissing gesture mechanically involves the performer taking the recipient's proffered hand, which is typically extended palm downward, and lightly pressing the lips to its dorsal surface, often near the knuckles.[3] This action is performed gently, with the hand held without firm grasp, and frequently accompanied by a slight bow to emphasize deference.[4] In some variants, particularly for hygienic or symbolic reasons, the lips may hover above the skin without direct contact, though historical practice favored actual touch.[5] Etymologically, the English compound "hand-kissing" descriptively captures the physical act, while the associated French term "baisemain" (or "baiser la main") literally means "to kiss the hand."[6] "Baisemain" entered English lexicon around 1656 as a borrowing from French, where "baiser" derives from Old French "baisier," ultimately from Latin "basiare" (to kiss), and "main" from Latin "manus" (hand).[6] [7] This terminology reflects medieval courtly expressions of homage, such as a vassal kissing a seigneur's hand, evolving into formalized etiquette phrasing by the 17th century.[8]Early Historical Evidence
The earliest precursors to hand-kissing as a gesture of reverence appear in limited Roman textual accounts of veneration, such as the 2nd-century AD letters of Marcus Cornelius Fronto, where a tutor describes kissing the hands and feet of Emperor Marcus Aurelius' infant daughters as an act of affectionate respect toward imperial family members.[9] These instances, however, primarily conveyed personal endearment rather than formalized hierarchical submission, differing from later protocols. In the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, broader customs of tactile greeting and supplication included varied kissing practices—ranging from lips to clothing hems—reflecting a courtly emphasis on physical deference to emperors and officials, though explicit hand-kissing documentation remains sparse in surviving texts from the 4th to 7th centuries AD.[10] More distinct evidence emerges in early medieval feudal rituals of homage and fealty, originating around the 9th century in Carolingian Europe, where vassals knelt to place their joined hands (commendatio manuum) between those of their lord, symbolizing entrustment of service and loyalty.[11] This hand-clasping evolved into incorporating a kiss by the 11th-12th centuries, as oaths of allegiance incorporated physical seals of pact completion, often involving the vassal kissing the lord's hand or receiving a reciprocal kiss to affirm mutual bonds.[12] Such practices, rooted in the power asymmetries of manorial hierarchies, prioritized demonstrable submission over egalitarian exchange, with chronicles like those of Norman England recording similar gestures in vassal-lord ceremonies by the late 11th century. By the early 13th century, literary sources provide explicit depictions, as in the Spanish epic Cantar de Mio Cid (composed circa 1207), where characters perform hand-kissing to signify vassal obedience and reinforce lord-vassal reciprocity, distinct from mere clasping.[13] These evolutions reflect causal dynamics in stratified societies, where tangible bodily submission underscored fidelity amid risks of betrayal, predating chivalric romanticization in the High Middle Ages. Archaeological corroboration is limited, but illuminated manuscripts from 12th-century monasteries occasionally illustrate oath scenes with proximity to hands suggestive of kissing rites.[14]Medieval and Early Modern Development
The gesture of hand-kissing evolved as a formalized courtly practice among European nobility from the late medieval period into the early modern era, particularly standardizing in the 17th century within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where it signified chivalric respect toward women of status.[15] Historical accounts indicate its adoption as a non-verbal affirmation of social hierarchy, with men offering the kiss upon greeting ladies to acknowledge deference without implying equality.[2] This development aligned with broader etiquette norms in status-differentiated societies, where physical gestures codified interpersonal relations during diplomatic and noble interactions.[16] In parallel, the Spanish courts under Habsburg rule embraced hand-kissing during the 17th and 18th centuries, integrating it into ceremonial protocols that emphasized monarchical and aristocratic authority.[15] Dynastic ties facilitated its dissemination across Habsburg-influenced territories, extending the practice to Central European nobility and reinforcing its role in formal audiences as a marker of courteous subordination.[17] Etiquette manuals from the period, such as those reflecting Renaissance courtly ideals extended into the early modern courts, prescribed the gesture to maintain decorum, with the woman extending her ungloved hand for the brief contact.[18] By the 18th century, hand-kissing had become entrenched in upper-class European interactions, documented in records of noble assemblies where it functioned as a ritualized contract of respect amid rigid class structures.[2] Its persistence in these contexts underscored causal links between gesture and power dynamics, as deviations could signal disrespect or challenge hierarchies, per contemporary diplomatic correspondences.[15]Cultural and Geographic Variations
European Traditions
Hand-kissing as a greeting gesture remained prevalent in Central and Eastern European countries including Poland, Hungary, Austria, Romania, and Slovakia through much of the 20th century, typically involving men kissing the extended hands of women or younger individuals kissing those of elders.[19][20] In Poland, the practice was documented among military personnel during World War II, where officers routinely performed the gesture toward women as a customary courtesy.[21] Ethnographic surveys in adjacent Lithuanian regions confirm its use in everyday greetings until the mid-20th century, often accompanying verbal salutations.[2] The custom exhibited variations by age and gender, with younger people expected to initiate the gesture toward elders regardless of sex, though male-to-female hand-kissing predominated in formal or social encounters.[20] In rural settings across these areas, the practice persisted longer due to slower adoption of modern urban norms, with observations noting higher frequency in villages compared to cities by the late 20th century.[20] Post-World War II accounts from Eastern Bloc nations, including Poland and Hungary, describe its continuation in both official and informal contexts amid communist governance, though exact frequencies varied by locale.[21] In Western Europe, such as the United Kingdom and France, hand-kissing largely declined after the Enlightenment era, supplanted by handshakes as standardized, egalitarian greetings by the 19th century.[17] Urbanization and social shifts post-1960s accelerated its obsolescence in Central European cities, reducing occurrences to occasional formal or elderly-led interactions by the 21st century, while rural persistence waned more gradually.[20][2]Middle Eastern and Islamic Practices
In Ottoman society, hand-kissing served as a gesture of loyalty and deference, particularly from younger individuals to elders or superiors, often involving kissing the back of the hand followed by touching it to the forehead. This custom, rooted in pre-Ottoman Islamic traditions dating to the 7th century, symbolized reverence and reinforced social hierarchies by publicly affirming authority and familial bonds.[22][15] The practice persisted beyond the Ottoman Empire's dissolution in 1922, remaining common in modern Turkey during religious holidays like Eid, weddings, and family gatherings, where youth approach elders—typically those over 60—to kiss their right hand as a mark of respect. Similar observances endure in Balkan regions formerly under Ottoman rule, such as Bosnia and Albania, where it underscores intergenerational continuity amid cultural shifts toward individualism elsewhere. Empirical observations in conservative communities indicate its role in maintaining stable kinship structures, with surveys of Turkish households showing over 70% participation among younger generations in rural areas as of 2017.[23][24] Within Islamic adab, or etiquette, hand-kissing aligns with hadith encouraging honor for the pious, knowledgeable, or parental figures; for instance, a narration in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad records Ali ibn Abi Talib kissing the hand and feet of his uncle al-Abbas as an act of veneration. Scholars like those from the Hanafi school deem it permissible—and even recommended—for scholars or righteous elders, though some, including certain Salafi views, caution against habitual use to avoid excess. In conservative settings, such as madrasas in Turkey or Pakistan, students routinely kiss teachers' hands upon greeting, linking the gesture to prophetic examples of humility and order preservation.[25][26][27]Other Global Contexts
In the Philippines, the practice of pagmamano or mano po serves as a primary example of hand-kissing adapted in an Asian context through Spanish colonial rule beginning in the 16th century. Younger individuals take the hand of an elder, gently press it to their forehead—sometimes with lips touching the back of the hand—and bow slightly, symbolizing respect and soliciting a blessing. This gesture, documented in Filipino cultural accounts as early as the colonial period, modifies European besa la mano by prioritizing forehead contact over direct kissing, persisting in family and social interactions today.[28][29] Latin American societies, shaped by Iberian colonization from the 15th to 19th centuries, retain sporadic hand-kissing in formal or diplomatic settings as an inheritance from Spanish and Portuguese etiquette, though cheek-kissing dominates informal greetings. For example, during official ceremonies, such as state visits, figures like Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff have performed hand-kissing toward European royalty, reflecting lingering protocol ties to colonial hierarchies rather than indigenous traditions. Everyday deference in regions like Mexico or Brazil more often involves embraces or verbal respect, with hand-kissing confined to elite or Catholic clerical contexts.[30] Beyond colonial extensions, verifiable non-derivative instances remain empirically sparse; sub-Saharan African cultures emphasize extended handshakes, prostrations, or knee-bending for elder respect without routine hand-kissing, while Hindu practices favor foot-touching (pranam) and Confucian rituals prioritize bows. This distribution underscores hand-kissing's limited organic spread outside Indo-European and Abrahamic-influenced domains, with diffusion primarily via trade, conquest, and evangelism rather than parallel invention.[31][32]Symbolic and Social Interpretations
Respect, Hierarchy, and Chivalry
Hand-kissing functioned as a ritual of deference in hierarchical societies, materially signaling submission to authority figures and thereby stabilizing asymmetric power relations. In feudal Europe, vassals performed homage by kneeling before lords, placing their joined hands between the lord's, swearing fealty, and often concluding with a kiss on the lord's hand or foot, an act that bound the inferior to service in exchange for protection and land.[33] [34] This gesture empirically reinforced reciprocal obligations, as historical records indicate it was integral to enfeoffment ceremonies from the 9th century onward, enabling coordinated defense and resource allocation across fragmented polities without reliance on abstract contracts.[12] In chivalric contexts of medieval Europe, hand-kissing extended this hierarchical symbolism to knightly interactions, embodying respect for superiors within orders structured by rank and prowess. Chivalric codes, formalized in 12th-13th century treatises and epics, prescribed deference to lords and mutual guardianship among the nobility, with the gesture serving as a non-verbal affirmation of these duties during oaths or audiences.[35] [36] Such rituals promoted social cohesion by visibly enacting dominance-submission dynamics, which first-principles analysis of human groups reveals as causally necessary for large-scale cooperation; flat egalitarianism, by contrast, correlates with verifiable breakdowns in coordination, as seen in historical revolts against imposed uniformity that eroded prior stability.[37] The persistence of hand-kissing into early modern courts underscores its role in maintaining elite hierarchies amid evolving polities, where the act deterred challenges to authority through habitualized reverence rather than coercion alone. Empirical evidence from ceremonial records shows it fostered loyalty in vertically ordered systems, countering disruptions from meritless advancement and ensuring predictable alliances essential for governance.[17][38]Gender Roles and Romantic Symbolism
In traditional European courtship practices, a man's hand-kiss to a woman symbolized chivalric admiration and respect, positioning the gesture as a non-sexual expression of deference that elevated her social and romantic standing without implying physical intimacy.[39][40] This act, rooted in pre-modern gender norms, allowed men to convey flirtation or esteem while adhering to boundaries that protected women's autonomy in hierarchical societies, contrasting with more direct advances that could compromise propriety.[39] Conversely, the gesture of a woman kissing a man's hand signified affection, respect, admiration, or romantic devotion, expressing love, tenderness, gratitude, and adoration toward the man. In historical noble settings, it conveyed respect and appreciation from women to men.[41] In romantic literature of the Regency era, hand-kissing appears sparingly but carries symbolic weight as a marker of restrained affection and gallantry. Jane Austen's novels, for instance, feature only four instances of the gesture, often highlighting its role in courtship dynamics, such as Mr. Knightley's near-kiss of Emma Woodhouse's hand in Emma, which underscores emotional intimacy without overt passion.[17][42] These depictions reflect broader 19th-century views of the practice as a refined, courtly prelude to deeper bonds, aligning with etiquette that prioritized verbal wit and gradual escalation over impulsive contact.[43] Feminist critiques have framed hand-kissing as perpetuating female subservience by ritualizing male dominance in gendered interactions, viewing it as an outdated relic that objectifies women through performative elevation.[40][17] However, surveys on chivalric behaviors indicate mixed perceptions, with older respondents associating such gestures with respect and romance, while younger cohorts often see them as paternalistic amid egalitarian shifts.[44] Empirical data on societal civility further reveals a perceived decline—85% of Americans in a 2023 poll noted worsening manners compared to a decade prior—suggesting that erosion of structured courtesies like hand-kissing may correlate with reduced reciprocal regard in male-female relations, though causal links remain debated.[45][46]Criticisms and Ideological Debates
Hand-kissing has drawn criticism in feminist and egalitarian discourses for embodying hierarchical deference that reinforces gender asymmetries and traditional authority structures. In Poland, the Committee for Women's Rights campaigned against the practice in 2022, characterizing it as an archaic custom that perpetuates unequal power dynamics between men and women, incompatible with modern standards of mutual respect devoid of ritualized subservience.[20] Such critiques frame the gesture as a relic of patriarchal norms, where men's initiation of the act implies women's passive elevation based on sex rather than merit, potentially sustaining rigid roles that limit autonomous interactions. Opponents argue that hand-kissing, by encoding deference through physical intimacy, undermines egalitarian principles advanced since the mid-20th century, associating it with broader chivalric traditions critiqued for masking dominance under courtesy. These views, prevalent in progressive commentary, posit that retention of the practice signals resistance to gender neutrality in social protocols, though empirical evidence of harm—such as direct correlations to inequality metrics—remains limited and contested, with sources often reflecting institutional biases toward deconstructing traditional customs. Defenders counter that dismissing hand-kissing overlooks its role in fostering calibrated respect within hierarchical contexts, where its persistence in conservative European and diplomatic circles aligns with sustained social formality amid broader egalitarian shifts. Empirical observations link the post-1960s erosion of such gestures to a documented decline in etiquette adherence, coinciding with individualism's ascent and reports of diminished communal civility, as families and institutions prioritized self-expression over ritualized harmony.[47] This decline, accelerated by cultural upheavals like the sexual revolution, has yielded informal greetings but also anecdotal upticks in coarseness, suggesting that enforced equality may erode gestures encoding deference without equivalent substitutes for social lubrication. Proponents, drawing on causal analyses of tradition's stabilizing effects, maintain that voluntary hierarchies via customs like hand-kissing yield cohesive outcomes in adherent communities, contrasting with individualism's fragmentation, though rigorous longitudinal data on cohesion metrics tied specifically to the gesture is scarce.Religious and Ceremonial Uses
Christian Ring-Kissing and Authority
In Catholic tradition, kissing the papal or episcopal ring constitutes a liturgical gesture of filial obedience, signifying recognition of the wearer's authority as derived from apostolic succession. The ring, often bearing symbols such as the Fisherman's emblem for the pope, represents the Petrine office and the power to bind and loose, as articulated in Matthew 16:19, thereby affirming the hierarchical chain of command within the Church.[48] This act underscores the ecclesial structure's reliance on visible symbols to maintain doctrinal unity and jurisdictional efficacy, distinct from personal adulation of the individual cleric.[49] The practice traces to the Middle Ages, when it emerged as a formalized expression of submission to bishops' pastoral and sacramental oversight, paralleling feudal oaths but rooted in canonically defined roles. By the pre-Vatican II era, it was normative for laity and lower clergy to perform this upon greeting a bishop, embedding hierarchy in everyday protocol to sustain institutional discipline amid feudal-era challenges to Church authority.[50] Historical records indicate its systematization in ceremonial texts by the 15th century, though earlier medieval precedents reinforced episcopal seals as emblems of binding decisions.[51] A notable modern instance occurred on March 25, 2019, when Pope Francis repeatedly withdrew his hand from pilgrims seeking to kiss his ring at the Sanctuary of Loreto, Italy; he later attributed this to hygiene risks from successive contacts, emphasizing germ transmission over ritual observance in that context.[52][53] This episode illustrates causal tensions between preserving authority-affirming rites—which historically bolstered ecclesial cohesion against fragmentation—and egalitarian or pragmatic dilutions that may erode symbolic reinforcement of Petrine primacy. Such adaptations risk undermining the verifiable efficacy of hierarchical markers in sustaining faith structures, as evidenced by pre-modern Church stability under ritualized obedience.[54]Islamic and Ottoman Reverence Gestures
In Islamic tradition, kissing the hand of elders or religious figures serves as a gesture of humility and respect, often involving placing the kissed hand to one's forehead. This practice draws support from hadiths permitting such acts toward parents and scholars, as reported in narrations from Aisha where the Prophet Muhammad authorized kissing the hand or head for honor without implying worship.[55] Scholarly opinions vary, with some Hanafi and Maliki jurists deeming it permissible if free of excess veneration, while others, including certain Salafi views, consider it makruh (disliked) when habitual to avoid resembling non-Islamic customs.[27] The gesture underscores deference to authority figures like sheikhs, emphasizing familial and communal hierarchy rooted in prophetic examples of honoring the elderly. During the Ottoman Empire (1299–1922), hand-kissing evolved as a formalized reverence ritual, particularly among youth toward elders, parents, or officials, symbolizing submission and continuity of Islamic social order. Participants would kiss the back of the elder's right hand and then touch it to their forehead, a motion denoting heartfelt allegiance and preservation of patriarchal structures.[56] This custom, integrated into courtly and daily etiquette, reflected broader Turkic-Islamic influences, where such physical acknowledgments reinforced vertical authority chains observed in administrative records from the 16th to 19th centuries. The practice has endured into the 21st century in regions with Ottoman legacy, such as Turkey, where it remains common during Eid al-Fitr, weddings, and family gatherings, with younger individuals kissing elders' hands to affirm respect and receive blessings.[23] In Saudi Arabia, hand-kissing toward sheikhs or royals persists in conservative circles as an act of loyalty, though it sparks debate, with proponents citing religious precedents for elder veneration and critics viewing it as potentially demeaning in egalitarian contexts.[57] Ethnographic observations note its role in sustaining intergenerational bonds, contrasting with declining familial deference in secularizing societies.[22]Other Religious Applications
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, lay faithful commonly kiss the right hand of priests and bishops to express reverence for the sacred office, emphasizing the hands that consecrate the Eucharist and deliver blessings, rather than the person holding the role. This custom, traceable to patristic exhortations such as those of St. John Chrysostom, underscores the priest's mediation of divine grace and aligns with broader liturgical veneration practices distinct from ring-kissing.[58][59] Oriental Orthodox traditions, including the Coptic Orthodox Church, similarly involve kissing priests' hands as an act of honoring the priesthood's sacramental authority, mystically equated with Christ's own hand in performing rites like ordination and communion. This gesture reinforces hierarchical respect within the church's ancient liturgical framework.[60] In the [Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church](/page/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Tewahedo Church), blessings often entail kissing clergy-carried hand crosses, but rural cultural-religious etiquette extends to kissing the hands of superiors and priests as a mark of deference, blending ecclesiastical reverence with communal hierarchy. Such practices, while not universally mandated, persist in traditional settings to affirm spiritual authority.[61][62] Documented religious hand-kissing beyond Abrahamic traditions remains empirically limited, with anthropological accounts noting occasional approximations in Hindu guru-shishya relationships—such as devotees kissing a guru's hands amid broader gestures of submission—though foot-touching (pranam) predominates as the standard expression of devotion and humility. No widespread, codified equivalents appear in major non-Abrahamic faiths like Buddhism, where physical reverence favors prostration or mudras over kissing.[63]Protocols, Variations, and Execution
Standard Chivalric Protocol
In traditional chivalric protocol, the hand-kiss was executed as a formal greeting primarily by men toward women in aristocratic or courtly environments, such as upon arrival at private residences or evening galas. The woman initiated the gesture by extending her right hand, held relaxed at a height of her choosing, often with palm downward and fingers extended. The man then accepted the hand lightly with his right hand supporting it from below, bowed from the waist without bending his knees excessively, and lowered his head to the hand rather than raising it to his face, maintaining eye contact throughout to convey deference.[64] The core action involved positioning the lips approximately 1 cm above the knuckles—specifically the back of the hand near the fingers—and performing a symbolic kiss by pursing the lips without direct contact with the skin, sometimes accompanied by a gentle exhalation of breath for warmth. This non-tactile approach preserved propriety and hygiene, distinguishing it from more intimate gestures; actual lip contact was rare and considered overly familiar in strict etiquette. Gloves, if worn, were typically removed by the woman unless formal dress codes (e.g., white-tie events) mandated otherwise, and the man ensured his own lips were dry. Upon completion, he released the hand smoothly, inclined his head further if appropriate, and might offer a brief verbal compliment before straightening.[64][65] This protocol adapted to social hierarchies: it was standard for gentlemen toward married or older women, such as hostesses, but omitted between social equals or toward young unmarried ladies to avoid impropriety; inferiors to superiors emphasized the bow's depth, while equals might substitute a handshake. Performed indoors or in secluded outdoor spaces like private gardens, it efficiently signaled respect and hierarchy without verbal exchange, reinforcing chivalric ideals of courtesy in 18th- and 19th-century European nobility. Refusal of the offered hand was deemed rude, underscoring the gesture's obligatory nature in such contexts.[64][66] ![Traditional hand-kissing gesture][float-right]Ring-Kissing Specifics
Ring-kissing in Catholic tradition involves the supplicant approaching the cleric's extended right hand, which bears the episcopal ring symbolizing authority as a successor to the apostles, and pressing lips to the ring itself as a gesture of submission to the office held.[49] This act typically accompanies a genuflection or kneel, particularly in Vatican protocols for the pope, where the pontiff presents the hand after the individual bows or kneels, underscoring hierarchical reverence rather than personal adulation.[67] The symbolism centers on acknowledging the cleric's role as a conduit of divine authority, akin to feudal oaths of fealty, where the ring—often engraved with seals like the Fisherman's Ring for popes—represents fidelity to the Church's apostolic succession and jurisdictional power.[68][69] Variations distinguish protocols by rank: for bishops, the gesture is simpler, often performed standing without mandatory kneeling, and many bishops now prefer handshakes to avoid formality, reflecting a post-conciliar emphasis on approachability.[70] Papal encounters, by contrast, retain more elaborate elements, such as full genuflection and the pontiff's deliberate extension of the ring-bearing hand, as observed in audiences where multiple individuals perform the act sequentially.[71] These differences highlight graduated submission: bishops evoke diocesan fidelity, while the pope's ring demands universal ecclesial allegiance. Post-Vatican II liturgical reforms, concluded in 1965, contributed to a marked decline in routine ring-kissing, shifting from near-universal custom among laity and clergy to selective or discouraged practice, as evidenced by popes like John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and especially Francis, who has withdrawn his hand in public lines citing humility and hygiene to prevent germ transmission.[70][53] Prior to 1965, the gesture was standard in most countries for greeting bishops, but egalitarian influences reduced its frequency, though it persists in formal Vatican rituals for select dignitaries or clergy.[72]Adaptations and Modern Modifications
In the 20th century, etiquette protocols for hand-kissing evolved toward lighter execution and reduced formality, with guides recommending that recipients lift their hand midway to meet the kisser rather than requiring deep bows, thereby accommodating modern comfort in settings like formal parties in Spain and Portugal.[4] International etiquette advisories from 2011 noted that men might still "kiss" the top of a woman's hand in diplomatic contexts, often implying a symbolic or minimal contact version to align with egalitarian norms while preserving courtesy.[73] Hygiene concerns prompted further adaptations, particularly in ceremonial variants like papal ring-kissing. In March 2019, Pope Francis withdrew his hand from worshippers attempting to kiss his ring during a visit to the Holy House of Loreto, a decision Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti attributed to preventing germ spread through shared physical contact.[74] He subsequently allowed the practice for nuns and priests at a Vatican audience two days later, indicating selective retention amid health risks.[75] As an alternative, Francis has favored European air kisses over formal hand or ring contact in audiences, emphasizing embraces and symbolic gestures.[76] The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated non-contact modifications across greeting protocols, including those akin to hand-kissing, with global shifts toward bows, nods, or elbow alternatives to eliminate direct touch in diplomatic and social interactions.[77] Studies post-lockdown observed temporary declines in social kissing and handshakes, followed by partial rebounds, but sustained hygiene awareness has embedded preferences for contactless reverence in formal settings.[78] Attempts at gender-neutral variants remain rare and unstandardized, as the gesture's chivalric roots—typically male-initiated toward women—persist without widespread protocol reforms in diplomatic manuals.[73]Decline, Persistence, and Contemporary Views
Historical Decline and Egalitarian Influences
Hand-kissing, as a formalized gesture of deference rooted in hierarchical social structures, peaked in prevalence during the 19th century across European courts and upper-class societies, where it signified respect toward superiors or women of status. Its decline commenced in the early 20th century, supplanted by the egalitarian handshake, which had been diffusing since the 1700s through mercantile and religious networks emphasizing parity over rank-based salutations like bows or hand-kisses.[79] This shift correlated with post-World War I advancements in women's suffrage, including the 1918 Representation of the People Act in the United Kingdom granting votes to women over 30 and the 1920 19th Amendment in the United States, which challenged traditional gender decorum by promoting equal interpersonal protocols.[79] Egalitarian ideologies served as a primary causal driver, fostering rejection of gestures perceived as reinforcing subservience; for instance, in Lithuania during the 1940s–1950s Soviet era, hand-kissing was stigmatized as a "bourgeois relic" antithetical to classless norms, with women frequently resisting it as humiliating and status-undermining.[2] By the 1960s, second-wave feminism in Western contexts accelerated this erosion, critiquing chivalric practices—including hand-kissing—as paternalistic relics that perpetuated unequal power dynamics rather than genuine courtesy.[80] Empirical trends show parallel rises in casual greetings like nods or waves, aligning with broader egalitarian norms that prioritize informality over ritualized hierarchy.[81] Critics of this decline argue it eroded male-female decorum, contributing to coarsened interactions; first-principles reasoning and cross-species evidence indicate that clear social hierarchies, by establishing predictable deference and roles, reduce ambiguity-driven conflicts and enhance group stability, whereas flattened structures can normalize aggression through unresolved status competitions.[82][83] In egalitarian settings, the absence of such signals has empirically correlated with heightened interpersonal friction, as deference rituals like hand-kissing once mitigated tensions by affirming boundaries without verbal escalation.[84]Cultural Persistence and Revivals
Hand-kissing maintains a foothold in Eastern European societies, particularly Poland and Hungary, where it endures as a marker of respect amid broader egalitarian shifts. In Poland, the gesture remains practiced by older men greeting women, often accompanied by a slight bow, as a vestige of pre-communist etiquette that signals deference without physical intimacy.[85] This persistence is noted in contemporary accounts, with the tradition described as surviving in a handful of countries despite modernization pressures. In Hungary, the custom traces to 18th-century influences and continues in select formal contexts, underscoring its role in hierarchical social signaling.[86] Diplomatic interactions provide concrete examples of its application. During a June 2023 meeting, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán extended the hand-kiss to Moldovan President Maia Sandu, though she withdrew her hand, highlighting the gesture's occasional clash with contemporary norms yet its routine expectation in such circles.[87] Similar instances in state visits reinforce its utility in conveying protocol-bound courtesy, distinct from casual greetings like handshakes. These events demonstrate how hand-kissing functions as a deliberate counter to informal egalitarianism, preserving distinctions of role and gender in official diplomacy. Post-2000 revivals appear in traditionalist and chivalric advocacy, often framed as a bulwark against perceived declines in public decorum. Proponents argue for its restoration to instill measured respect, citing its historical ties to deference in stratified settings over egalitarian alternatives like the handshake.[88] In conservative enclaves, including echoes in the U.S. South's etiquette traditions, it surfaces sporadically as a nod to old-world gallantry, though rarely systematized.[66] Such efforts link the practice empirically to reinforced social bonds in hierarchical contexts, where gestures of subordination correlate with stable authority structures, as opposed to uniform informality that flattens interactions.[38]Hygiene and Practical Concerns in Recent Times
In March 2019, a video from an event in Loreto, Italy, on March 25-26 captured Pope Francis repeatedly withdrawing his hand when attendees attempted to kiss his papal ring, prompting widespread discussion on the gesture's viability.[52] The Vatican spokesperson, Alessandro Gisotti, confirmed on March 28 that the pope's action stemmed from hygiene considerations, specifically to prevent germ transmission to the faithful, as multiple individuals' lips would contact the ring in succession.[89] This incident highlighted practical risks, as studies on healthcare workers show that wearing rings correlates with elevated hand contamination levels, including 10-fold higher median counts of skin organisms like Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative bacilli, and Candida species compared to ring-free hands.[90] Another analysis found rings increase carriage of nonfermentative gram-negative bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, potentially amplifying transfer risks during direct lip-to-hand contact.[91] The COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in early 2020, intensified scrutiny of touch-based rituals like hand-kissing by demonstrating viral transmission via fomites and close contact. Public health guidance worldwide discouraged physical greetings, with handshakes and cheek kisses—analogous in proximity—deemed higher-risk than alternatives like elbow bumps, as hand surfaces harbor diverse pathogens from frequent environmental exposure.[92] Experimental data indicated that hand-to-hand contact often transmits more bacteria than mouth-to-mouth kissing due to hands' broader contaminant load, though lip-to-hand gestures like ring-kissing could facilitate bidirectional spread via saliva or skin microbes.[93] In ecclesiastical contexts, the pandemic prompted temporary suspensions of ring-kissing during papal audiences, aligning with broader infection control measures that reduced such practices without fully eradicating them.30608-X/fulltext) While hygiene poses verifiable barriers—evidenced by increased pathogen loads on ring-adorned hands and pandemic-era transmission data—these concerns have not uniformly supplanted traditions, as protocols can adapt through sanitization, selective permission, or symbolic alternatives.30608-X/fulltext) Post-2020 surveys in regions with cheek-kissing norms, such as France, revealed partial persistence of physical greetings after initial declines, suggesting hand-kissing's risks, though elevated, remain manageable with awareness rather than an absolute deterrent.[94] This pragmatic lens underscores that microbial realities inform but do not ideologically preclude the gesture's execution in controlled settings.Representations in Media and Culture
Literature and Historical Depictions
In medieval courtly romances, hand-kissing symbolized fealty, respect, and hierarchical order within chivalric society, often depicted as a ritualistic act between knights, lords, and ladies to affirm loyalty and courtesy. Texts such as those by Chrétien de Troyes, including Yvain, the Knight of the Lion (circa 1170s), portray knights engaging in formalized gestures of submission, where kissing a superior's hand underscored the bonds of vassalage and the ideals of honorable service, distinct from more intimate mouth-kissing reserved for romantic consummation.[1] These narratives idealized the practice as an essential component of courtly behavior, embedding it in stories of quests and tournaments to model deference amid feudal structures.[11] Samuel Pepys' Diary (1660–1669) provides contemporaneous, firsthand literary evidence of hand-kissing in Restoration England, recording it as a routine courtly protocol that reinforced political and social allegiances. On May 14, 1660, Pepys observed "lots of hand-kissing going on," with men approaching to kiss Lord Montagu's hands following his elevation to nobility aboard the ship Swallow, highlighting the gesture's role in public displays of subordination during naval and royal transitions.[95] Similarly, on July 27, 1665, Pepys described kissing Lady Castlemaine's hand for the first time, noting its "fine white and fat" quality, an act that marked personal access to royal favor amid Charles II's court intrigues.[96] Such entries, drawn from daily observations, depict hand-kissing not as mere formality but as a tactile affirmation of status, empirically shaping interpersonal dynamics in elite circles by linking physical contact to power validation. These pre-20th-century depictions, spanning idealized romance to pragmatic memoir, empirically influenced societal norms by normalizing hand-kissing as a visible emblem of hierarchy and restraint, with narratives serving didactic functions that perpetuated the gesture's cultural persistence through modeled emulation rather than abstract precept.[38] In chivalric tales, it reinforced feudal causality—deference yielding protection—while Pepys' prose grounded it in lived causality, where the act facilitated patronage and averted disfavor, thus bridging literary archetype to behavioral reality without romantic embellishment.Film, Art, and Modern References
In 20th- and 21st-century cinema, hand-kissing appears sporadically, often in period dramas, historical fiction, or scenes evoking irony and power dynamics rather than routine courtesy. For instance, in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009), SS Colonel Hans Landa (played by Christoph Waltz) kisses the hand of Shosanna Dreyfus, using the gesture to mask his predatory intent with feigned gallantry during an interrogation. Similarly, The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, includes a hand-kissing moment amid its psychological tension, underscoring themes of ritualistic obligation.[97] These portrayals contrast with earlier Hollywood depictions; in 1920s silent films, hand-kisses served as permissible romantic flourishes, bypassing the era's stringent censorship of lip-to-lip contact under emerging moral codes.[98] Modern artistic representations of hand-kissing remain rare, largely confined to illustrative or nostalgic works rather than avant-garde explorations, reflecting the gesture's marginalization in contemporary visual culture. Late 19th- to early 20th-century paintings, such as Enrique Simonet's La primera misa (c. 1890), depict clerical hand-kissing in colonial or religious contexts, but 20th-century fine art shifts toward abstracted intimacy, with mouth kisses dominating romantic motifs in pieces like Gustav Klimt's The Kiss (1907–1908). This scarcity aligns with broader artistic trends prioritizing egalitarian or subversive themes over hierarchical courtesies, though occasional revivals occur in commercial illustrations or theater posters evoking European aristocracy. In broader modern media references, hand-kissing elicits mixed responses, frequently framed as an anachronism in egalitarian contexts. A 2019 analysis in MEL Magazine describes it as potentially "creepy" in casual encounters, attributing unease to post-feminist sensitivities against perceived subservience, while traditionalists defend it as a refined expression of respect.[40] Mainstream outlets, often aligned with progressive viewpoints, rarely romanticize the practice outside satire or villainy—evident in its ironic use in films like Choke (2008)—potentially overlooking empirical accounts of its persistence in diplomatic or conservative circles as a non-sexual marker of deference.[97] Such selective portrayals may stem from institutional biases favoring narratives of historical obsolescence over causal continuity in cultural rituals.References
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/baisemain
- https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:The_Kiss_and_its_History.djvu/138