So, as some of you might have seen. I posted a video of Moomintroll the other day taking a ‘break’ at Moominworld. Maybe he went for a smoke or a sandwich or (my best guess) a wee; it doesn’t matter. The fact that this Moomin needs to urinate is not what I liked about this clip nor what I found interesting.

Take a look:

He pops off to the toilet and everyone waves. He waves, they wave. He must have felt pretty happy closing that gate.

Later that day, I got into the glass lift (very Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) in the hotel and just as I did, a young girl (maybe 6 or 7 years old) walked past and looked up at me. I waved. She smiled and waved back. It was a pleasurable experience all round.

While driving at the moment, I am usually concentrating 300% and using all this focus to keep Kitty steady in the wind and get my gear changes in at roundabouts (I’m still largely swinging around most of them in third but I promise I am trying to get better). However, when I get chance, on a not so windy stretch of road with no plunging ravines at the side or water to tumble into if I lose my track, I sometimes see them.

I know they are there (Fehrman bridge was a waving highlight but slightly too windy to wave back 😀 ). They overtake, craning their necks to see us more closely. They turn around and wave, they wave from across the dual carriageway and they smile and wave at bus stops. There is clearly something about dressing as a Moomin or driving a super cute pink camper or wearing bright leggings with strawberries on that makes one a suitable candidate to be waved at.

Why do we stop there? Small children wave at everyone, it’s one of the first thing we encourage them to learn n the UK at least as a wordless greeting. When did we stop waving? Why do we feel so compelled to wave at strangers only when something stands out? Why has waving become so confusing? We have a gift and we need to share it.

Earlier in the week I mentioned waving in a ‘HELP!’ manner when what clearly came across was ‘HELLO!’ when I was stuck in the dyke by the side of the road. That would suggest that we love waving, we still naturally see it as a happy sign, a greeting which works well across busy roads, from heights, via Facetime and in a public place when a verbal greeting might not cut it.

It also suggests an airport traffic control style of waving types might be useful for more serious situations to avoid such cheery yet hazardous confusion.

When I waved at the young girl outside the lift, it made me happy. When I wave back at those waving at the van, again, I smile, I am uplifted. Barriers come down, people feel comfortable.

Back home in Norfolk, it took me a while to adapt to the amount of additional waving in a small village. It is pleasing. We even wave when we have let your car come past us on the road, then the person waves back. I was horrified to learn (once I had been re-trained to the new way of being) that it is not in practice Nationwide! 😦 .

I challenge you to wave more. Just try it. It seems to work well for the Queen and her family, they rarely look sad and I am certain it is the waving and being waved at. Maybe some of you can explain what happens to the brain when we wave? For me it seems to trigger a smile be default. Try it. You see? How brilliant is that. Exercise for the arms, a clear message which transcends cultures and language and a happiness shot to boot.

Presuming you are not actually drowning in which case the effect it should trigger would be a rather urgent action instead, being waved at is a recognition, an acceptance and it’s fun.

I for one (and I know I’ve already got one other volunteer on board to try this and see how quickly it takes on) and going to try and incorporate waving into all my greetings and see how it goes. Starting with going to the loo.

I shall report back. Please do comment with your own experiences…this may just be the start of another happiness revolution.

IMPORTANT NOTES: A quick flick through Wikipedia suggests to be careful waving abroad until you have checked the ‘wave safe’ status of your country….wave safely people. Greece, Nigeria, Nicaragua and South Korea might present some issues if you are careless with your wave. In Japan, you might get a lot of additional explanations of things by waving which might be a secret bonus 😉

It seems that the US, UK, France and Northern Europe seem like safe wave spaces at this time.

Please correct any of our Wikipedia’s errors if you know waving to be safe in your home country…the more safe waving spaces, the better.

The ‘facts’ (source Wikipedia, today)

The waving of the hand is a nonverbal gesture that has an unclear origin but is said to have dated back to as far as the 18th century, however, it was neither called waving, nor was it used as saying “hello”, or “goodbye.” The original gesture of waving was saluting. In the 18th century, knights removed the guard of their helmets to show their identity, following with a salute to show they come in peace; saluting is also used to show others that they are not armed with weapons and do not pose a threat. The action of saluting wasn’t formalised until the 1780s by the European armies, and since then became a common way of properly addressing one another in the military setting. There is also an alternate ASL origin. In the 1800s waving handkerchiefs was a way to show approval, excitement, or to call attention for the deaf, and the Romans, which is known as the “Chautauqua salute.” It was recorded during a Canadian event in 1984 that multiple attendees forgot their handkerchief, therefore they waved their hands in the air as a way to clap during the event. In modern days, the accepted and common way for a deaf individual to applaud is to raise their hands in the air, while simultaneously shaking their open fisted hand and moving their fingers back and forth.

In Europe, there are two different common forms of waving: the palm-show and the palm-hide. The palm-show is dominant across most of Europe other than Italy which predominantly uses the palm-hide wave. Waving the hand to say “hello” or “goodbye” is done by moving the fingers down towards the wrist and back to an open palm position, while keeping the palm facing out. Another way to say “goodbye” is done by wagging the fingers. This motion (wagging fingers) is also used to say “no.” In American culture waving is a known gesture which means “hello” or “goodbye”. This gesture can also be used to call the attention of someone, for example waving down a taxi, or waving at a friend from a great distance.

This gesture can also be interpreted differently and have a whole other meaning or even be highly offensive in other places around the world. Some of these places include South Korea, European countries, Nigeria, Greece, Bulgaria, Latin American countries, India, Japan, etc.

In Greece, waving the hand with the palm facing out is an insult rather than a greeting. Holding the hand out, palm facing out and all five fingers exposed is offensive and dates back to the Byzantine times where prisoners faces were tainted with charcoal by their own hands and forced to parade down the town streets. This is called moutza.

In American culture, holding the hand out like such can be used to call someone’s attention or to greet someone.

Nigeria, waving the hand with the palm facing outward in front of someone’s face is highly offensive and should be avoided.

In China, women greet other women by waving.

In Japan, hand waving while keeping the palm outward and near the face is a gesture used to display confusion or that the individual waving does not know or understand.

In South Korea, it is inappropriate to call the attention of someone with a palm-up arm wave. Instead, the proper way to wave to someone or call for attention is to wave vertically, making sure the palm of the hand is in a downward position. It is not uncommon to see waving amongst the younger population (in South Korea) to display their departure rather than bowing, which is the traditional way of greeting one another. Waving the hand outward towards the face is also used to grab the attention of a pet or child.

In Ireland, the deaf use the hand wave to greet one another. Deaf women use an “open palms up half moon shape” type of wave to greet one another. Waving is strictly used for only women; men have a different way of greeting one another or a woman. In Latin American countries, people greet one another by kissing, hugging or shaking hands. Waving their hand is not common, but it also does not have any negative representation or offensive.

In Nicaragua, waving to someone is not inappropriate however, it does not display proper etiquette. In Nicaragua it is common to hug, kiss, or shake hands, following with the proper time of day (“goodmorning,” “good afternoon,” or “goodnight”).

Safe waving people. 👋🏻

Until next time.