Observed on the last Thursday of June each year, National Handshake Day is a holiday that takes a closer look at the act of shaking another person’s hand. It was a holiday first established back in 2005 and has been celebrated ever since. The handshake is one of the oldest greetings performed by mankind, and it’s been done since ancient times to show goodwill to a person, so this is a holiday that some people might want to consider celebrating.

The History of National Handshake Day

This holiday was created by Miryam Roddy in 2005. She was a professional development coach who always said that the handshake is one of the keys to a great first impression and long-lasting professional and personal relationships. Since then, this holiday has taken on a life of its own and is celebrated by people all over the world.

Facts About Handshakes

We poured through a lot of facts when we researched this holiday, and some of them were so interesting we couldn’t keep them to ourselves, so we decided to do a special section on the subject. In this section, we list some of the most interesting facts about handshakes—facts we’re sure many people don’t know.

The Average Person Shakes a Lot of Hands

One of the most interesting pieces of information we found out about handshaking was that people do it a lot. According to a recent scientific study from the United Kingdom, the average person will shake approximately 15,000 hands during the course of their lifetime.

The Handshake Was a Sign of Good Will

Scientists believe that handshaking originated as a way for people to show that they didn’t have a weapon. The person would extend their hand to show they weren’t carrying a knife or sword, and over time, the other person began to shake the hand to show the same thing.

People’s Hands Can Be Very Dirty

Although this piece of trivia isn’t about handshakes, it will give some people pause the next time they decide to shake someone’s hand. According to some studies, 20% of people don’t wash their hands at all. And of the 80% of people that do wash their hands, only 30% of them use soap. That means that when you’re shaking hands, you are potentially exposed to more germs than you would probably like to admit.

Observing National Handshake Day

National Handshake Day is a neat idea for a holiday, but we’re not sure exactly how a person would celebrate it. Probably the best way to celebrate it would be to think more closely about the act of shaking a person’s hand and how it fits into your daily life. And while you’re celebrating this holiday, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalHandshakeDay to spread the word about this fascinating holiday.