Hand-kissing

Hand-kissing is a greeting gesture that indicates courtesy, politeness, respect, admiration, affection or even devotion by one person toward another.

Today, non-ritual hand-kissing is rare and takes place mostly within conservative class or diplomatic contexts.

However, the lips do not actually touch the hand in modern tradition, especially in a formal environment where any intimate or romantic undertones could be considered inappropriate.

In Arab World, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, hand-kissing is a common way to greet elder people of all genders, primarily the closest relatives (both parents, grandparents, and uncles or aunts) and teachers.

A similar expression exists also in Poland (Polish: "Całuję rączki", meaning "I kiss [your] little hands"), although nowadays it's considered obsolete.

In Romania the gesture is reserved for priests and women and it is common greeting when first introduced to a woman in parts of the country.

Today, the practice is very uncommon in many European countries, and has been largely replaced by a kiss on the cheek or a handshake.

However, former French president Jacques Chirac made hand-kissing his trademark and the gesture is still encountered in diplomatic situations.

Sometimes, the devout Catholic combines the hand kissing with kneeling on the left knee as an even stronger expression of filial respect for the clerically high-ranking father.

[6] In the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox Churches, it is appropriate and common for laity to greet clergy, whether priests or bishops, by making a profound bow and saying, "Father, bless" (to a priest) or "Master, bless" (to a bishop) while placing their right hand, palm up, in front of their bodies.