Holding hands is a form of physical intimacy involving two or more people. It may or may not be romantic.
Whether friends hold hands depends on culture and gender: in Western culture this is mainly done by women and small children (sometimes for authoritative control, not affection), spouses and romantic couples. In Arab countries, Africa and some parts of Asia it is done also by men and/or boys for friendship and/or a sign of respect. It is also fairly common in the West to see teenage girls holding hands as a sign of friendship, though the same does not often apply for teenage boys.
The custom of men holding hands can cause discomfort in societies unused to it, as it did with Americans, when, in 2005, then Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia held hands in public with then American president George W Bush.
People hold each others hands, or one person takes the hand of another person for the following reasons or purposes:
- in various rituals:
- handshake
- in certain religious services, to pray
- in various religious rituals
- to express friendship or love
- to enjoy physical intimacy (not necessarily of erotic character)
- for emotional support
- to guide (a child, a blind person, in darkness, etc.)
- to urge to follow
- to keep together (in a crowd or in darkness)
- to help the other walk, stand or climb up
- to dance
- to size up another person
- to maintain one's balance
- to arm wrestle
- for safety when crossing the street
- while sky diving
- to rescue in a dangerous situation by pulling someone to safety
- to compare size or shape of another's hand
Famous quotes containing the words holding and/or hands:
“I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth—
Assorted characters of death and blight”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“The gruel that children’s little hands have stirred
Is sweeter than nectar.”
—Tiruvalluvar (c. 5th century A.D.)