Many people believe that the handshake as a form of greeting will be gone forever due to the coronavirus pandemic, writes Devon Pendleton for Bloomberg.

But history shows that several forms of greetings that involve human touch have always returned after short periods of decline, suggesting that the handshake will most likely survive this latest crisis.

The kiss on the cheek, for example, has been used in Europe as the handshake of high society for centuries, despite several attempts to abolish it as a custom.

In 1439, England’s King Henry VI banned it to fight an epidemic of bubonic plague. However by 1499, kissing was back “in abundance,” as described by Dutch philosopher Erasmus.

Kissing again lost favor during the Great Plague of London, but again this pause did not endure, despite millions of deaths.

The handshake has been around for millennia, most notably as a symbol of trust. It has become so ingrained in our society that experts believe it will be impossible to completely ditch it.

“Touch is critical in human interaction,” said Marcel Danesi, anthropology professor at the University of Toronto. “In one way or another, it will make a comeback.”

Read more about the handshake at Bloomberg by clicking here.

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