G7 Summit Zelensky Meloni Viral Video: What happened between Zelensky and Meloni at the G7 Summit, the video of which went viral? What is this tradition of kissing near the cheek called in European countries? Which is the country in the world where people say ‘Hello’ to each other by showing their tongue? What is the unique rule of welcome among men in Gulf countries?
Strange Greetings Around the World: The meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the ongoing G7 Summit in Deauville-le-Bains city of France has come into discussion. The video of Zelensky greeting Meloni with ‘Air Kiss’ has gone viral on social media. It is being claimed that when Zelensky greeted Meloni in the traditional style by giving her an air kiss on the cheek, the Italian PM appeared a little shocked and uncomfortable for a few seconds. However, there is no credible confirmation of this, because such a hug or ‘cheek-to-cheek kiss’ is considered a very common etiquette in international politics and diplomacy. But apart from this ‘air kiss’, there are many such customs of welcoming people in different corners of the world, knowing which you will be shocked. Let’s know about the 10 most unique greetings in the world…
Tibet: Saying ‘Hello’ by showing tongue
In India, if someone shows you his tongue, you will consider it rude. But this is not the case in our neighbor Tibet. There used to be a cruel king in the 9th century, whose tongue was black. The Buddhist monks started showing their tongues to each other to prove that they were not the reincarnations of that cruel king and had come in peace. However, this tradition is rarely seen today.
Gulf countries: bumping noses with each other
In Arab countries like Qatar, Yemen, Oman and UAE, there is a very special way of welcoming men, which is called ‘Khashm-makh’. In this, men join their right hands and lightly touch or bump their noses with each other’s noses. It is a way of showing respect between very close friends or relatives.
New Zealand: pressing nose and forehead together
The Maori community, the native inhabitants of New Zealand, welcomes guests very cordially. This traditional welcome is called ‘Hongi’. In this, two people touch their foreheads and noses together. In Maori culture this is considered ‘sharing the breath’. But remember, don’t try to do this with any local citizen without inviting them!
France and Italy: La Bise or Air Kiss
Because of this custom, Meloni and Zelensky are in the news today. In places like France, Italy, Spain and Ukraine, there is a custom of air kissing near the cheek, which is called ‘La Bise’ in France. The interesting thing is that its number changes in different states of France. In some places, there is a rule to kiss in the air twice or thrice in Russia and Ukraine.
Japan: bowing one’s head in respect
In Japan, people welcome people by bowing their heads instead of shaking hands or hugging. The rules here are very firm. The more respect you want to give to the other person, the lower your angle should be. Nowadays, the trend of saying hello by tilting the head slightly forward (Nod) has increased among the young generation.
Malaysia: hand over heart
In Malaysia, when people meet someone, they shake hands very cordially. Immediately after releasing the hand they place their right hand on their chest i.e. heart. It means, ‘I am very happy to meet you.’
Zimbabwe and Mozambique: talks with applause
In rural areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, a unique ‘call-and-answer’ game occurs after shaking hands. The first person claps once, and the second person claps twice in response. There is also a difference in the angle of clapping between men and women.
Greenland: sniffing each other’s faces
In terms of intimacy and belonging, Greenland’s traditional method ‘Kunik’ is at the top. The people of the Inuit community here place their nose and upper lips on the forehead or cheek of their very close relatives or loved ones and take a deep breath, that is, they smell them.