Mano (gesture)
Encyclopedia
Mano or Mano Po is a gesture used in Filipino culture performed as a sign of respect to elders. Similar to hand-kissing
, the person giving the greeting bows towards the offered hand of the elder and presses his or head forehead on the elder's hand. Usually performed with the right hand, the person showing respect may ask Mano po to the elder in order to ask permission to initiate the gesture. Typically someone may mano to his or her older relatives upon entry into their home or upon seeing them.
in the Philippines. Etymologically mano is the Spanish
word for hand.
Hand-kissing
Hand-kissing is a gesture indicating courtesy, politeness, respect, admiration or even devotion by a man towards a woman, by a vassal towards his master or a child towards his parent or grand-parent....
, the person giving the greeting bows towards the offered hand of the elder and presses his or head forehead on the elder's hand. Usually performed with the right hand, the person showing respect may ask Mano po to the elder in order to ask permission to initiate the gesture. Typically someone may mano to his or her older relatives upon entry into their home or upon seeing them.
Origin
A possible origin of the Filipino tradition is from the hand kiss offered to priests dating to the arrival of the SpanishHistory of the Philippines (1521–1898)
This article covers the history of the Philippines from the arrival of European explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, up to the end of Spanish rule in 1898.-Spanish expeditions and conquest:...
in the Philippines. Etymologically mano is the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word for hand.