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A secret handshake is a distinct form of handshake or greeting which indicates membership in or loyalty to a club, clique or subculture. The typical secret handshake involves placing one's fingers or thumbs in a particular position, one that will be recognized by fellow members while seeming to be a normal handshake to non-members. This is most frequently associated in the popular consciousness with college fraternities, fraternal orders and secret societies.[1][unreliable source?]
A secret handshake can also be a useful form of familiar interaction between friends, colleagues, and family members. Secret handshakes are shared only with select and elect peoples. Usually a secret handshake has underlying meanings that differ from person to person. Secret handshakes involve a precise, sometimes complex series of movements and contact between two individuals or even a group. Usually, these movements involve the primary use of hands, but could also involve touching feet, elbows, or in some cultures a friendly kiss.
Secret handshakes cannot be traced back to a specific dated origin, but it can be determined that it is as old as any form of greeting or identification. In the Roman mystery religion Mithraism, members were initiated with a handshake, and members were known as syndexioi (united by the handshake).[2] The Freemasonry organizations are among the long-standing users of secret handshakes.
Modern usageedit
Handshakes, secret and otherwise, are common in the modern Western world. The usage of secret handshakes in modern society is much more informal compared to the historical usage of secret handshakes. Where historically, a secret handshake would have a more formal, serious tone, today, secret handshakes are shared by mostly people in grade school who share a friendship type relational bond with one another. In an informal setting, one will see young school-aged children exchanging a complex, whimsical secret handshake on the playground during break time. Another modern form of secret handshake is 'giving dap' , often involving a fist bump in the sequence of contacts.
^"Secret Masonic Handshakes, Passwords, Grips And Signs Of Blue Lodge Masonry". Ephesians 5:11. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
^M. Clauss, The Roman cult of Mithras, p. 42: "That the hand-shaken might make their vows joyfully forever"
December 15, 2023
secret, handshake, other, uses, secret, handshake, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, d. For other uses see Secret Handshake This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Secret handshake news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2019 Some of this article s listed sources may not be reliable Please help this article by looking for better more reliable sources Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted May 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia s quality standards You can help The talk page may contain suggestions May 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message A secret handshake is a distinct form of handshake or greeting which indicates membership in or loyalty to a club clique or subculture The typical secret handshake involves placing one s fingers or thumbs in a particular position one that will be recognized by fellow members while seeming to be a normal handshake to non members This is most frequently associated in the popular consciousness with college fraternities fraternal orders and secret societies 1 unreliable source A secret handshake can also be a useful form of familiar interaction between friends colleagues and family members Secret handshakes are shared only with select and elect peoples Usually a secret handshake has underlying meanings that differ from person to person Secret handshakes involve a precise sometimes complex series of movements and contact between two individuals or even a group Usually these movements involve the primary use of hands but could also involve touching feet elbows or in some cultures a friendly kiss Contents 1 Historical usage 2 Modern usage 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistorical usage editSecret handshakes cannot be traced back to a specific dated origin but it can be determined that it is as old as any form of greeting or identification In the Roman mystery religion Mithraism members were initiated with a handshake and members were known as syndexioi united by the handshake 2 The Freemasonry organizations are among the long standing users of secret handshakes Modern usage editHandshakes secret and otherwise are common in the modern Western world The usage of secret handshakes in modern society is much more informal compared to the historical usage of secret handshakes Where historically a secret handshake would have a more formal serious tone today secret handshakes are shared by mostly people in grade school who share a friendship type relational bond with one another In an informal setting one will see young school aged children exchanging a complex whimsical secret handshake on the playground during break time Another modern form of secret handshake is giving dap often involving a fist bump in the sequence of contacts See also editCollegiate secret societies in North America Gesture Kushta ShibbolethReferences edit Secret Masonic Handshakes Passwords Grips And Signs Of Blue Lodge Masonry Ephesians 5 11 Retrieved 3 March 2012 M Clauss The Roman cult of Mithras p 42 That the hand shaken might make their vows joyfully forever Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Secret handshake amp oldid 1178986671, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
