Origins of Customs.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 142, 25 March 1909, Page 3

Origins of Customs.

Many customs are so common that I we have lost sight of their origin, i Times and habits have changed. Relics of olden days have been handed on and carried down from generation to generation to our present day. Shaking bands is an example, and began in this way: When adversaries were making a truce with one another each found it wiser to grasp the other's weapon hand to insure himself against treachery. The truce concluded, they became friends, and so the custom grew as a salutation between friends, even nowadays enemies do not shake bands till a truce is made. Perhaps the modern woman discovered the origin of the curtsey, and that is why it has dropped out of use, says "Home Notes." At one time it was the custom for women to go on tbe knee to men of rank to beg for mercy, and later it became an acknowledgement of superiority. That is why it is still retained where Royalty is concerned; but the example of the old i country woman, who still "bobs" to the squire's lady, is not followed by ! the younger generation, and the pretty curtsey that was the fashion when our grnadmothers held sway is now for- , saken and almost obsolete. A man when greeting a lady raises , his hat. Why does this salutation take this form? In the days when armour was more fashionable than silk hats or panamas,tbe helmet was only raised when no danger was near, so to lift tbe bat was a sign that the wearer dared to stand in the presence of the persons so greeted unarmed. What of the oldest of old customs—tbe kiss? To kiss is to adore, and the word adore signifies simply to carry the hand to the mouth. Kissing tbe band to tbe statue of a god was a Roman form of adoration, and as a mode of salutation expressed reverence and worship. To kiss the book when taking an oath is a public acknowledgement that you adore the diety whose book you kiss. To kiss the lips is to adore the living breath of the person saluted. In Scripture allusion is made to kissing the bem of garments which signified an adoration of anything belonging to or touching the wearer; while kissing the feet or ground was to humble oneself in adoration.