Shaking hands over the threshold: why not?
greeting across the threshold · handshake in the doorway superstition
- threshold
- handshake
- quarrel
- superstition
In folk belief shaking hands or passing something over the threshold brings a quarrel. So guests are invited inside first and then greeted.
Why not greet over the threshold?
In folk tradition the threshold is the border between the home and the outside world. Shaking hands across that border is said to divide two people and bring disagreement between them.
What is the right way?
Invite the guest fully inside, or step outside and greet them there. The same goes for handing things over: not across the threshold, either bring them in or step out.
- Invite the guest in
- Greet on one side of the threshold
- Hand things over inside
Where does it come from?
Beliefs about the threshold are very old and shared by many peoples. Long ago protective charms were sometimes buried under the threshold, so standing on it or doing business over it was seen as disrespectful.