Way to Russia Talk Lounge

horcgal · Just Starting Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Location: USA

Ive been looking at a few different websites and am getting conflicting opinions so since this seems to be an active forum, I thought I would ask here!!!
If it is someone you know, is it proper to give them a hug when you greet them?
Or is it like in America where the only time that is common is if it is someone in your family or a VERY close friend that you have known for many years.

I have been hearing both.....NO! Russians dont tend to offer a hug to someone unless its family or someone they are romantically involved with

and Im also hearing YES! its quite common to hug a friend hello or goodbye.

so, Im confused and dont want to insult / offend someone by doing the wrong thing!

Thank you

Ender · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:04 am Post subject:

It looks like Russians have to a hug similar attitude as Americans. Family, romantically involved, close friends - yes a hug is acceptable. For other cases simple handshake preferrable. Don't offer handshake to women, except for business cases.

I guess this rule may slightly change depends on place and social group (Russia is big and multicultural country) but handshake is universal, and you don't insult anyone with it.

Varrah · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:22 am Post subject:

bunker6 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject:

Ender is quite correct. It's not such a different world.

Bat · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

The thing is, it often depends on your own feelings/intuition. For example, I don't hug or kiss my friends when I meet them, I try to escape hugging some of my relatives because I don't like them. But I sure kiss and hug my parents and sister when they come from another city. I don't like close contact with most people, though.

However, I may hug and kiss my very warm and friendly tourists (= clients), usually elderly ladies, just because they tend to do so.

If you feel like hugging your good friend, try to do so and look at the reaction. You'll unerstand everything at once.