Left Handshake

Many Scouts around the world use the left handshake when greeting another Scout; it’s just like a right handshake, except using the left hand.

If you’re lucky enough to meet Scouts from another country, keep in mind this may not be a tradition for them, and sometimes this is for cultural reasons.

For those who follow the tradition, like Scouts Australia, this custom goes right back to when B-P met warriors of a particular cultural group in South Africa. For a person of this group, shaking with the left hand meant exposing their body from behind their shield and was considered a symbol of trust. We use the left handshake to remind us to trust and respect our fellow Scouts.