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I read that it is a habit on Terra (naturally), but I don't know if they actually do it in the Imperium in general.

Greetings are most likely bound to differ from world to world as different cultures have different perspectives on society. However I'd like to think that Imperial officers and commanders still do it when meeting other officials.

If you're asking if its ever been mentioned in 40k lore, I don't think it has been. They usually leave that menial stuff to your imagination

G.A

I can't remember where I read it (One of the Salamander novels I think), but a common gesture is to 'make the sign of the Aquila'. This is achieved by entwining both thumbs together and spreading your fingers across your chest, thus mimicking the double head of the eagle and it's wings. However, I should imagine there are many diverse forms of greeting, from courtly bows to warrior grips right down to doffing a cap.

It is mentionned "quite often" in the fluff. For example, in Storm of Iron, Leonid and Eshara, the Imperial Fist captain, are said to shake hands the soldier's way, by gripping the wrists instead of the hand.

The general populace aren't cultured enough to shake hands, and the ones that are are cultured enough to use Sign of the Aquila as stated above. Everyone else is mechanicum who have their own greeting (data blurts between each other, the Cog [mashing fingers together like 2 cogs] to outsiders), or wider Military who use Sign of the Aquila or usually a salute of some kind to a higher rank (including standard salute/stand to attention by IG, fist to chest for Marines) or a simple nod of respect to lower ranks or equals.

I think I remember in one of the Heresy series books that one of the characters goes to shake hands with someone and they say something along the lines of 'oh, you don't do that any more do you'. Might be one the perpetuals as they probably remember a time when handshaking was normal.

It's like Ol saying 'ok' and the others thinking it's a funny word.

Like Engrenages says, there's the warriors way which is forearm to forearm/wrist to wrist.

Apparently, people still use the good ol' fashioned hand shake. Eldrad and Creed shook hands before Eldrad set off to destroy the stolen Blackstone Fortress, during the climax of the 13th Black Crusade.

In the real world, did cultures that grew separately from each other have something else besides shaking hands?

I can't think of many other gestures that would involve physical contact (a sign of trust, which is what handshaking is) without being too intrusive.

TiamatRoar wrote:
In the real world, did cultures that grew separately from each other have something else besides shaking hands?

I can't think of many other gestures that would involve physical contact (a sign of trust, which is what handshaking is) without being too intrusive.

Cheek kissing that seems prevalant across Europe and the Middle East?

TiamatRoar wrote:
In the real world, did cultures that grew separately from each other have something else besides shaking hands?

I can't think of many other gestures that would involve physical contact (a sign of trust, which is what handshaking is) without being too intrusive.

In Japan there's entire language of bowing depending on who you're greeting and how formal it is. Most people have to be taught how to properly shake hands, I know I built it into my high school curriculum.

Until recently (100 years? 50?) men did not shake hands with women in Europe or the US but would tip their caps or, if friendly, kiss the hand.

Not sure about China or India, I'll have to ask. It's a good question.

Returning to the original question, the answer is it depends. With a million worlds you've have no trouble finding somewhere that shakes hands.

However I would support saying that 'mainstream Imperial culture' the world of IG, priests, scribes, traders etc does not. It makes it more medieval and alien to us.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Most people have to be taught how to properly shake hands, I know I built it into my high school curriculum.

I did not know that was a thing. How much teaching does it take to get "extend right arm, grip opposing right hand, wiggling optional, break contact before it gets awkward"?

 Selym wrote:
I did not know that was a thing. How much teaching does it take to get "extend right arm, grip opposing right hand, wiggling optional, break contact before it gets awkward"?

I think a lot of the people I've met need help with the last point

 Selym wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Most people have to be taught how to properly shake hands, I know I built it into my high school curriculum.

I did not know that was a thing. How much teaching does it take to get "extend right arm, grip opposing right hand, wiggling optional, break contact before it gets awkward"?

You forgot "Firmly grasp it."

 Deadshot wrote:

 Selym wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Most people have to be taught how to properly shake hands, I know I built it into my high school curriculum.

I did not know that was a thing. How much teaching does it take to get "extend right arm, grip opposing right hand, wiggling optional, break contact before it gets awkward"?

You forgot "Firmly grasp it."

Oh god, there is nothing worse than a limp handshake - it's like gripping a bundle of cooked spaghetti...

The title was click bait and I bought right into it!!

Haha. I thought this was going to be back shaking hands before and after a game of 40k!!

Personally, I always shake hands before and after the game. Some times the enemy refuses to shake my hand afterwards due to their temperament. But I usually read the situation.

About a quarter of a lesson. But it still had to be done.

A proper handshake is learned behavior not instinctive.

The hard part was overcoming the reluctance to touch especially boys and girls.

Fair enough then.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Deadshot wrote:

 Selym wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Most people have to be taught how to properly shake hands, I know I built it into my high school curriculum.

I did not know that was a thing. How much teaching does it take to get "extend right arm, grip opposing right hand, wiggling optional, break contact before it gets awkward"?

You forgot "Firmly grasp it."

That's generally what "grip" means.

 Selym wrote:
Fair enough then.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Deadshot wrote:

 Selym wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Most people have to be taught how to properly shake hands, I know I built it into my high school curriculum.

I did not know that was a thing. How much teaching does it take to get "extend right arm, grip opposing right hand, wiggling optional, break contact before it gets awkward"?

You forgot "Firmly grasp it."

That's generally what "grip" means.

You completely missed the reference buddy

What reference?

That's how Orks shake hands. Minus much yelling, and about 47 megatons of explosive.

Cain shakes hands with a catachan major in the devil you know. They both try the bell end knuckle grinder on each other.

 JamesY wrote:
Cain shakes hands with a catachan major in the devil you know. They both try the bell end knuckle grind kger on each other.

Notable because Cain has augmetic fingers (2) and can squeeze harder than u.

 =Angel= wrote:

 JamesY wrote:
Cain shakes hands with a catachan major in the devil you know. They both try the bell end knuckle grinder on each other.

Notable because Cain has augmetic fingers (2) and can squeeze harder than u.

Indeed. All a part of his charm offensive...

Some neat background.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handshake

Wikipedia cites the handshake going back to 4th century BC.

 General Annoyance wrote:
Greetings are most likely bound to differ from world to world as different cultures have different perspectives on society. However I'd like to think that Imperial officers and commanders still do it when meeting other officials.

If you're asking if its ever been mentioned in 40k lore, I don't think it has been. They usually leave that menial stuff to your imagination

G.A

I recently read Shadows of Treachery and I seem to remember Malcador shaking hands with Rogal (I may just be dreaming). That's 30k, granted, but I'm sure it's been mentioned in a 40k novel somewhere.