Life in Italy vs. Life in the United States: Greetings

Upon my arrival with my home stay family, I began by analyzing how greetings in Italy differed from greetings in the United States. In the United states greetings typically consist of a handshake, or occasionally a hug if both parties are previously associated. In Italy, however, greetings change substantially from those in America. Italian greetings usually consist of a handshake between men and women, and kissing between members of the same gender, as well as close friends and family members of the opposite gender. When I was first introduced to my family I was greeted with a handshake from both the mother and the father, Ombretta and Fabrizio, as well as a quick hug from their 11-year-old daughter Eleonora. On day 2 I was introduced to the maternal grandmother, who greeted me with a big hug as well and a kiss on the cheek, as well as Ombretta's sister who greeted me with a handshake, and later with a hug. This gave me the opportunity to analyze why greetings in the United States differ so significantly from those in Italy. I was able to trace at least some of the United States greeting origins back to our earlier ancestors in England. In England, customary greeting are far more similar to those of the United States then those of other European nations, including Italy. English greetings consist of a customary handshake, as well as a hug or kiss on the cheek for close friends and family. Italian greetings, however, extend much further back, and have been customary in Italy for centuries. 

Meeting my host sister, Eleonora (Image credits: Michelle Renee Guerard)