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Two children holding hands

Holding hands is a form of physical intimacy involving two or more people. It may or may not be romantic.

George W Bush and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia holding hands struck a nerve in the US.

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.^[1]

People hold each others hands, or one person takes the hand of another person for the following reasons or purposes:^{[citation needed]}

• 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 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

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Holding hands

• Physical intimacy
• Public display of affection
• Human chain

References[link]