In addition to the situation when a person is ready to surrender and demonstrates it, everyone has many reasons to raise their hands for completely different purposes, as well as unconsciously, without thinking about the meaning of the gesture. One hand or two, raised high above the head or laid aside, while producing additional movements or not, there are a lot of options. However, there are places and circumstances in which the chances of seeing people with their hands up are greatly increased, and the meaning of the action is important.
Traffic on the road
Probably one of the most useful areas for understanding the meanings of raised hands will be the signaling signals of a traffic officer.
Often employees who perform this function have improvised means - wands or discs, but this is not a mandatory condition at all, the traffic controller can only use combinationsraised hands. People with the habit of focusing on traffic lights at intersections, the fact of its breakdown often unsettles, making it difficult for all participants to move. It is worth remembering that even with a functioning automatic device, the traffic controller becomes the only reference point, canceling all other signals and signs. It's simple:
- raised hand - no one can move;
- hands raised to the sides (or lowered), and the traffic controller turned his back or face to you - red light; for those on the right and left, green with an arrow to the right; those on the tram - only straight ahead (in any situation, the tram travels exclusively "from sleeve to sleeve");
- outstretched right hand raised in front of you - those who are behind the traffic controller and to the right of him - stand, in front of him - go to the right, those on the left - go in any direction.
If the traffic controller has started to turn around, and the maneuver of the vehicle or pedestrian has not yet been completed, then you can complete it legally.
In addition to the traffic police, cyclists can give hand signals.
It is useful for all road users to know why a person riding a bicycle raises his hand:
- up any - plans to stop;
- stretched right, raised in the same direction or bent left, pointing up - turn right;
- left turn - the previous paragraph in a mirror image, it is recommended to apply even when driving around parked vehicles.
If a person on the side of the road is standing with his hand raised (stretchingaside), he probably hopes for the generosity of the driver and free space in the car, gratuitousness or at least an adequate cost of the trip.
Rot Front greeting
It is common to see people with their hands up, greeting someone. Someone raises their hand up, others add waving with a brush. One of the most famous greetings has an official international status and name, it is called "Rot Front", "mouth" in translation means "red".
It originated at the end of the 19th century in Germany as a working greeting. The arm is raised outstretched or slightly bent, the hand is clenched into a fist and turned away from you. The First World War firmly connected him with the German communist militant organization Rot Front. The gesture at this time became sharper.
In the 30s, it symbolized the fight against fascism, the international unity of workers. In the USSR, it was distributed among communist youth.
The gesture passed the war and became an informal sign of organizations for concentration camp survivors.
In socialist Albania it was even mandatory for military forces and pioneers.
Currently, people with their hands raised in the "Rot Front" gesture are increasingly found among supporters of the left-wing radical political movements.
Symbolism of raised hands
History has formed some stable concepts related to the meaning of the behavior of people withraised hands. Of course, the exact interpretation depends on the context and the exact position of the raised hands.
- Raised up - part of the worship process or an expression of admiration.
- The obligatory turning of the palms outward can speak of a blessing, an expression of God's Grace.
- Raised to the head symbolizes reflection, concern.
- Raised in front of you, to the sides, possibly bent - impotence, helplessness, ignorance, surrender, dependent position. It can also mean referring to people or to God.
One raised hand may request an opportunity to speak in a study meeting or in a panel discussion.
People with their hands raised above their heads, connected in a castle, can "speak" of solidarity and unity.
Ancient Greeks and Nazis
In Ancient Greece, people with raised hands, accompanying this action with the word "heliaine" or the abbreviated "haire", greeted each other. The right outstretched hand, facing the interlocutor with the palm, rose to the level of the head or slightly higher.
The gesture was adopted by the Romans, from there he went to Germany. Inclined to attach importance to rituals and symbolism, as well as appreciating pathos, Hitler used the greeting along with his followers.
Pioneers and military
Military people can be called periodically with their hands up, and before they were alsomembers of pioneer organizations.
The military salute, expressed by saluting a bent arm with an outstretched straight brush raised to the head, looks different in different countries and has several versions of origin - from raising the knights' visor or covering their eyes from the blinding beauty of the lady, to holding a bulky headdress when bowing or, conversely, replacing it by putting your hand to your head.
Pioneer salute. The movement of the raised hand is similar to a military one, only the limb is extended in front of the saluting person. It is a symbol of readiness for vigorous activity and honor (performed on solemn occasions).
Raising hands during communication and sleeping postures
Seeing a specialist who understands gestures can say a lot about people with their hands up. From how exactly this happens, to which parts of the face or body they bring their hands, one or both, whether they perform any active actions with their fingers, combinations with the general posture, the decoding of the interlocutor's behavior depends.
Sleep postures also need a holistic interpretation of the position of the whole body, however, raised arms outstretched are considered an expression of passivity.
Raised hands in Christian symbols
In Orthodox worship and iconography there is a position of "orant", when a person with raised hands is depicted in a picture (most often this concerns the Mother of God) or a clergyman throws up slightly parted hands in especially solemn moments of the ceremony.
Word means "praying"came into speech at the beginning of Christianity, but the history of the gesture of intensified prayer goes back to the days of the Old Testament. It was in this position that the Mother of God was painted on the most ancient icons.
In worship, it is used only at the most important moments, showing the power of the prayer of the clergyman and the call to parishioners to it (for example, the appeal about the Eucharistic sacrifice - the transformation of wine and bread for communion into Christ's blood and flesh).
dab position
This word refers to a fashionable modern gesture and dance movement. The young man raises his arms at an angle. One of them is extended to the side, the other is bent, is in front of the head, the direction is the same.
Means the successful completion of something. However, due to the prevalence at the meme level, it is used in a wide variety of situations.
Dab (dab) was born in a hip-hop crowd, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to know who owns the authorship. Athletes glorified him and a thematic clip from the Migos Look at my dab.
Raised hands records
The most famous person with his right hand raised about forty-five years ago is Mahant Amar Bharti Ji from India, and the Internet is full of recognizable photos of him. People with raised hands, inspired by his peculiar worship of Shiva, can be called followers, although their successes are still of little significance in comparison with the record of the beginner.
It is believed that Amar Bharti has not lowered his hand for four and a half decades, despite the pain, atrophy, deformity of the limb.
He alth Benefits of Raising Hands
Raising your hands every day is good for human he alth.
It is carried out by stretching both upper limbs above the head at the same time, you can fold them "in the lock" or keep them parallel. The best effect can be achieved by standing on tiptoe and stretching up after the hands.
It helps stretch the spine, improve blood circulation, tightens the abdominal muscles, corrects the position of internal organs, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the removal of fluid and digested food, is one of the ways to prevent osteochondrosis and other problems caused by inactivity and improper fit.
