Why do we shake hands as a greeting across different cultures?

We shake hands as a greeting because it shows we are friendly and open to being together.

When you shake someone’s hand, it feels like giving them a little hug with your hand. Imagine you're at the playground, and a new friend reaches out their hand. You reach yours too, pump, pump, and now you’re both happy to play together.

For grown-ups, shaking hands is like saying, “I trust you.” It’s like when you bring your lunch to school and offer a friend a bite of your sandwich, you’re showing you’re nice and want to be friends. When two adults shake hands, it means they're ready to work together or say hello in a friendly way.

People from many different places shake hands too! It's like how kids all over the world love playing tag, even though they speak different languages, they still know how to have fun together.