Site designed and built by Shon Price Boy Scout Handshake

Boy Scouts handshake using the left hand. Naturally people inquire about the origins of this left handshake as a greeting for Scouts. No one can really determine who first started the tradition, the left handshake is a tradition much older than Scouting.

Baden-Powell (the founder of Scouting) adopted the left handshake for the following reasons.

The Left handshake has two basic traditions:

1. The left hand is closest to the heart and so indicates the warmth and depth of friendship between all Scouts.

2. In order to shake with the left hand a warrior must lay aside his shield, so it is an expression of trust and respect for bravery. This is said to have originated with B-P during his years as an army officer in Africa when this was told to him by an Ashanti chief.

The current edition of the Scout Handbook says:

"Scout Handshake - Extend your left hand to another Scout and firmly grasp his left hand. Made with

the hand nearest your heart, the Scout handshake signifies friendship."