Secret handshake

This article is about the hand gestures. For the musician, see The Secret Handshake.

A secret handshake is a distinct form of handshake or greeting which conveys membership in or loyalty to a club, clique or subculture. The typical secret handshake involves placing one's fingers or thumbs in a particular position, one that will be recognized by fellow members while seeming to be a normal handshake to non-members. This type of shibboleth is most frequently associated in the popular consciousness with college fraternities, fraternal orders and secret societies.

A secret handshake can also be a useful form of familiar interaction between friends, colleagues, and family members. As a form of cryptography, secret handshakes are shared only with select and elect peoples. Usually a secret handshake has underlying meanings that differ from person to person. Secret handshakes involve a precise, sometimes complex series of movements and contact between two individuals or even a group. Usually, these movements involve the primary use of hands, but could also involve a series of touching feet, elbows, or in some cultures a friendly kiss.

Historical usage

Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus with a kiss

Secret handshakes cannot be traced back to a specific dated origin, but it can be determined that it is as old as any form of greeting or identification. The Freemason Society is one of the most well-known and longstanding implementations of secret handshakes. However, Biblical records also show evidence of secret greetings or handshakes. Although not a technical handshake, the account in the Gospel of John of the kiss of Judas, by which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, can be viewed as a form of secret greeting. (John 18)

The Freemasons have at least twelve known universal secret handshakes that were implemented in their secret, mysterious society, however, there are believed to be many more unrecorded masonic secret handshakes. The secretiveness of this society is prevalent in their greetings. The Freemasons use their set of unique handshakes to not only identify members of the society, but also to identity the different levels, classes, or castes of people within the societies. Fellow masons shake hands using secret handshakes, but within the society, apprentices and masters have distinctly different handshakes to identify one from another. Additionally, the Freemasons make use of the aforementioned secret signals to subtly indicate who is of what level. For instance, one handshake used between a master from an apprentice includes distinct touches on the knuckles.

Modern usage

Two friends exchange a fist bump

However, modern manifestations of secret handshakes differ slightly from their historical roots. The same level of formality is not evident in newer versions of secret handshakes. For instance, on common handshake used among college age students and adolescents is the “fist bump.” This handshake, while not secretive in its basic form communicates a form of greeting that is still different than a typical handshake. The fist bump involves the touching of two closed fists. It is a form of handshake designed to place distance between the greeters while allowing for friendly contact.

Handshakes are very common even today. The usage of secret handshakes in modern society is much more informal compared to the historical usage of secret handshakes. Where historically, a secret handshake would have a more formal, serious tone, today, secret handshakes are shared by mostly people in grade school who share a friendship type relational bond with one another. Secret handshakes are not commonly used to gain access to secret meetings today, but are more commonly used in an informal setting. Most likely one will see young school-aged children exchanging a complex, whimsical secret handshake on the playground during recess.

The most common modern term used to identify modern is the word ‘dap’ or dap greeting. This term is used to collectively identify most secret handshakes used today, and usually includes a fist bump somewhere in the sequence of contacts.

A successful secret handshake

As with any secret, a secret handshake must have precise steps that are only revealed to a select group of people. Below are some tips that will help in creating a successful secret handshake.

• One must make sure that the handshake has an appropriate number of steps. Between three and six steps is easy to remember. If the handshake consists of too few steps, it will be easily detected and compromised. However, if the handshake is too long, the members of the group will not remember it. This could lead to awkward stumbling and pauses during execution of the shake.

• Include a hidden signal. A secret within the secret handshake is usually effective in preventing imitation. For example, one might wish to use a pressure point, hidden stroke of the hand, or other small sign that is hidden from view. While major components of the handshake can be visible and imitated, only members of the group will have knowledge of and be able to identify other members by the small details within the handshake.

• Practice. Members of the group should practice their handshake numerous times to ensure that all members have memorized the steps and secret signals. A group will be seen as disconnected and not united if individuals forget steps or have to pause during the execution of the handshake. When the handshake is within the context of a gang or a secret society such as the Freemasons, this is crucial. However, a casual secret handshake among friends will not carry the same level of severity as with the aforementioned groups.

• Keep it secret. Members of a group should be cautioned to only share the handshake with other members of the group. It is crucial that creators of a secret handshake maintain the secrecy of the greeting. Secret handshakes and greetings are meant to be kept secret for many reasons, but primarily for the sake of maintaining the unity of the group and prevent outside attacks or intrusions.

• Use it. The purpose of secret handshakes and greetings is to be used and used in specific settings. Creators of a secret handshake or greeting should identify the circumstances under which the greeting is to be used. For instance secret handshakes and greetings may be used as initiation tools, greetings in passing, or as a formal way of saying hello. Other instances can be designated as deemed necessary by the creator(s).

Because a secret handshake, like a regular handshake or other form of greeting, is a means of identification and association with a group, it must be consistent, understood, and relevant. It is crucial that members of a group take great care in creating any secret signals, handshakes, codes, passwords, or other forms of identification so as to maintain unity and secrecy.

See Also

• Handshake
• Dap greeting
• Gesture
• Fist bump
• Secret society
• Collegiate secret societies in North America