Feb

Don’t Say Goodbye to Saying Hello

by Joyce McGreevy on February 5, 2018

A man and a woman conversing in Ireland shows how saying hello is fundamental across cultures. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Saying hello is saying yes to life.
© Joyce McGreevy

Meeting & Greeting Across Cultures

In a New Yorker cartoon entitled “How to Clear a Space at a Crowded Beach,” a man says hello to all and sundry. His cheeriness so horrifies New Yorkers that hundreds collectively retreat.

Oh, I see: Some people like saying hello. Some people give hello the heave-ho.

In Galway, Ireland, (pop. 258,000) passersby often say hello to one another. Nothing fancy, mind you. A quick tap of the second syllable and you’re on your way. In Istanbul, Turkey (pop. 15 million) a local who said hello to passersby would prompt a puzzled reaction.

Yet people in both cities are notably friendly.

Does higher population density = fewer hellos? In New York City, saying hello to your neighbors in just one square mile would take you 2 weeks, 4 days, and 16 hours.

How Do You Hello?

Every culture has numerous ways to say hello, from Hi to Sula manchwanta galunga omugobe. Some greetings translate as questions: “Where are you going?” (Philippines) “Have you eaten?” (China) “Have you slept well?” (central Africa)

A word cloud in many languages shows that saying hello is fundamental across cultures. (Image © annatodica/iStock)

There’s a world of ways to say hello!
© annatodica/iStock

Business greetings vary across cultures, too. Leaving an office in Europe for one in Southern California, I often encountered hugs instead of handshakes. Yet saying hello to my SoCal neighbors elicited wary looks, as if I might be a time-share vendor eager to make a sale.

In Japanese business settings, hugs are unheard of, handshakes uncommon, and elaborate etiquette governs bowing and the exchange of business cards. But it was Japanese psychology that taught me a simple path to resilience during challenging times: maintain the practice of saying hello.

A Belgian cheesemonger saying hello shows that greeting is fundamental across cultures. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

There’s nothing cheesy about saying hello!
© Joyce McGreevy

In France, entering a shop without saying Bonjour, Madame (or Monsieur) is considered rude. Ditto Merci, au revoir as you leave. France is also where I’ve seen people say hello on entering elevators or when passing in corridors. It’s no come-on, just good manners.

Hello Kissy

Some cultures kiss hello. Career diplomat Andy Scott has navigated greetings in 60 countries, where the proper number of kisses can vary from one (Colombia) to eight (Afghanistan). In One Kiss or Two? The Art and Science of Saying Hello (The Overlook Press, available March 2018) Scott guides readers through greeting etiquette across cultures in all its air-kissing, high-fiving, nose-rubbing, cheek-sniffing, foot-kissing, floor-spitting, tongue-sticking, hand-clapping variety.

Hello, Fellow Human

Hello goes beyond words and gestures. Think of all the times you make eye contact with strangers—approaching the paper-towel dispenser in a restroom, finding a seat at the doctor’s office. Maybe you’ve shared an empathetic grimace with others in line at the DMV, or traded sheepish grins with a fellow shopper as you negotiated a narrow grocery aisle with oversized shopping carts.

What difference can such fleeting contact make? A lot. In 2011, researchers at Purdue University noted that humans have “evolved systems to detect the slightest cues of inclusion or exclusion. For example, simple eye contact is sufficient to convey inclusion. In contrast, withholding eye contact can signal exclusion” making people feel invisible.

They named their study after a German expression, wie Luft behandeln—“To Be Looked at as Though Air”—and added a telling subtitle: “Civil Attention Matters.”

A waving hand on a winter day shows that saying hello is universal across cultures. (Image © Banepx/iStock)

A warm greeting can make the world of difference.
© Banepx/iStock

Hello, Anyone Here?

Eye contact is in shorter supply these days, as staring at smartphones becomes the default pause filler. And not just among the young.

Many of us clamp on headphones the moment we board trains, planes, and buses. But a 2014 study of Chicago commuters by the University of California Berkeley found that those who engaged another passenger in conversation were much happier.

I’m an irrepressible hello-er. Otherwise, I would have missed a wonderful dinner conversation last night with my friends Ann and Caitlin. After all, a few hours earlier, we hadn’t yet met.

To Greet or Not to Greet

Saying hello connects us, yet saying hello is a risk. We love getting out of the house for the social atmosphere of a café. Then we crouch behind our laptops.

Saying hello breaks down barriers. When a toddler says “Hi” in a public space it sparks friendly exchanges among nearby adults.

A baby waving shows that saying hello is fundamental across cultures. (Image © M-image/iStock)

Even as babies, we instantly process the emotional significance of a wave.
© M-image/iStock

The Power of Saying Hello

Once upon a time, at a college orientation, a young man saw a beautiful fellow student. At a loss for a clever opening line, he opted for “Hello.”

They’re happily married now.

So, don’t say goodbye to saying hello. Greetings vary across cultures, but in every language of the world, saying hello welcomes a world of possibility. Sometimes the sweetest possibility of all.

A couple walking hand in hand in Budapest show the power of saying hello across cultures. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

To say hello is to greet life with open arms.
© Joyce McGreevy

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Joyce McGreevy 8 Comments

Crossing Cultures/Language & Culture/Secrets to Life/Worldwide Sites

Dec

Angels of Paris

by Meredith Mullins on December 18, 2017

The angels of Paris are abundant (from the Church of Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre).
© Rosemary Flannery

The Most Celestial of Cultural Symbols

Happy holidays to all! This festive season surrounds us with sparkling lights, fir trees of all shapes and sizes, menorahs, wish lists, santas, elves, mangers, jingling bells, and heralding angels. We celebrate with a variety of cultural symbols at this time of year.

One of these symbols, however, has more than just a holiday presence. Angels can be full-time residents, finding a home in history and architectural design, especially in a city such as Paris.

Take a closer look, often toward the sky. Oh, I see. Angels are everywhere—in plain view and in some magically surprising places.

An armored angel at the Louvre
© Hemera Technologies/Ablestock.com

Angels of Paris

In Paris, these celestial spirits play many roles. They are protectors, guardians, caretakers, defenders, messengers, musicians, frolickers, celebrants, warriors, religious heralds, and just plain rejoicers. Some are serious. Some are whimsical.

The name “angel” comes from the Greek word “angelos,” which means messenger. Angels are thought to be a link between heaven and earth. Thus, they are usually in high places, reaching toward the sky.

Two gold creatures atop the Petit Palais in Paris, some of the angels of Paris that serve as a cultural symbol. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Not all winged creatures are angels. These graceful figures atop the Petit Palais,
represent Fame and Victory.
© Meredith Mullins

They are diverse, beautiful, and, as Paris angel expert Rosemary Flannery says, “They reflect the spirit of their times”—from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century.

They live on monuments, churches, mansions, theatres, museums, palaces, and in parks, fountains, and on street corners.

There are so many Paris angels that Ms. Flannery had the challenging task of narrowing the field for her book “Angels in Paris”—a difficult job when so many stories begged to be told.

Now, OIC is being even more selective as we feature our six favorite angels from Ms. Flannery’s elite group.

Red door with grill work of an angel and a dove in Paris, one of the Paris angels that serves as a cultural symbol. (Image © Rosemary Flannery.)

Intricate grill work on the door of #66 Rue Greneta
© Rosemary Flannery

The Angel and the Dove

Cast-iron door grills in Paris were an architectural decoration that became popular from the 1830s to 1850s.

Here, at #66 Rue Greneta in the second arrondissement, everyone who passes through the bright red door is greeted by this intricately designed angel and dove—a constant reminder of protection, peace, and harmony. What a wonderful welcome to the building.

Close up of the angel and the dove at #66 Rue Greneta in Paris, one of the Paris angels that serves as a cultural symbol. (Image © Rosemary Flannery.)

The angel and the dove
© Rosemary Flannery

The Working Angels of the Theatre de Châtelet

“Why not put the angels to work?” thought one building designer in 1862.

And so the angels on the rooftop of the Theatre de Châtelet steady a spire made of lead that serves as a lightning rod. Thus, the building is protected against a strike during one of the Paris thunderstorms (thank you Benjamin Franklin for the 1752 invention).

Two angels and a spire atop the Theatre de Châtelet in Paris, one of the Paris angels that serves as a cultural symbol. (Image © Rosemary Flannery.)

Theatre de Châtelet angels, protecting against lightning strikes
© Rosemary Flannery

Two pairs of muscular, curly-haired angels, with wisps of wings, hold tight and avert their gaze (although someone should mention the old adage: never turn your back on a lightning strike).

One angel pair is on the eastern façade of the theatre and one pair is on the west.

Guardian angel on the side of the Church of the Madeleine in Paris, one of the Paris angles that serves as a cultural symbol. (Image © Rosemary Flannery.)

“Don’t mess with me,” says the guardian angel on the Church of the Madeleine.
© Rosemary Flannery

A Guardian of the Church of the Madeleine

Some say that each of us has a guardian angel, to guide us when times are challenging. Whether this is true or not, a guardian angel is clearly present on the northwest corner of the Church of the Madeleine.

She has a “Don’t mess with me,” look about her, with muscular wings to add to her powerful stature. She also, oddly, carries a crosier (usually carried by bishops).

She was carved in stone by Theophile Bra, an eccentric considered by his friends George Sand and Balzac to be a genius. He was also prone to hallucinations and mystical experiences, some of which can perhaps be sensed in this angel’s gaze.

Gold-painted angels at the Sorbonne sundial, angels of Paris that serve a cultural symbols. (Image © Rosemary Flannery.)

The sundial angels of the Sorbonne
© Rosemary Flannery

Passing Time with the Angels

Angels often serve an important function when they appear in historic stories. At the Sorbonne, a sundial created in 1676 (and moved to the Galerie Robert de Sorbon in the honor courtyard in 1899) hosts two angels, painted in gold, assisting in marking the passing of time.

One holds a compass to measure the dimensions of the earth. The other stands ready to record notes on a stone tablet. High above the engraved markings of the sundial, the Greek god of the sun races against time in his horse-drawn chariot, celebrating each new day and passing hours.

A tall angel on Rue Turbigo, one of the Paris angels that serve as cultural symbols. (Image © Rosemary Flannery.)

An angel on Rue Turbigo that commands attention
© Rosemary Flannery

The Tallest Angel in Town?

Many of the angels of Paris are tucked away in hidden corners or so high on building tops that a significant backward head tilt is necessary to see them. Not so with the angel of #57 Rue Turbigo, which rises three stories on a busy street corner to watch over the neighborhood.

This well-dressed angel is there to be seen as it smiles over its palais collectif (shared palace), which is now an apartment building.

The architect, Eugène Demangeat, of the 1850s Haussmann building period, had an interesting artistic challenge—to soften the edge of this building to fit the oblique angle of the street.

He remembered a lighthouse design by Emile-August Delange, a student at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts et Architecture, that featured an angel and had been recognized for “poetic artistry.” (It didn’t hurt that the name Delange translates to “of the angel.” Hmmm.) It was the perfect solution for the structure.

The final sculpture was flat enough to fit the building codes, which prohibited projections. And, its wings support the fourth floor balcony with grace.

The archangel Michael in the Place de St Michel fountain in Paris, one of the Paris angels who serve as a cultural symbol. (Image © wjarek/iStock.)

The archangel Michael (Michel) in the Place St-Michel
© W. Jarek/iStock

A King of Archangels

Another high-profile angel lives in the grand fountain of Place St. Michel. This warrior angel—Michael— is seen by millions of people every year and has the honor of having a square, boulevard, fountain, and bridge all named after him.

It’s a deserved accolade since he fights a valiant battle against evil . . . and he edged out Napoleon Bonaparte for this coveted fountain position.

His theatrical pose is inspired by Raphael’s painting of Michael and the dragon at the Louvre museum.

A portal of the cathedral of Notre-Dame, showing angels of Paris that serve as cultural symbols. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The angels, interspersed among other historic notables on the portals of the
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, are the oldest in Paris.
© Meredith Mullins

Paris: A City of Light, Love . . . and Angels

Paris has thousands of angels watching over the city or going about their daily angel business in their historically layered architectural worlds.

As cultural symbols, the interpretations of angels are diverse. However, The “Oh, I see” moments come when we take the time to discover . . . to really look at the details of the world . . . and to look in places where we might least expect to find an angel.

Happy holidays to all, and may the new year bring you angels in whatever form works best for you.

Stone carving of an angel playing a mandolin, one of the angels of Paris who serve as a cultural symbol. (Image © Rosemary Flannery.)

One of Nicolas Flamel’s medieval angel musicians, who bring the heavenly harmony
of music to the stone house at 51, Rue de Montmorency.
© Rosemary Flannery

Many thanks to Rosemary Flannery and her excellently researched book “Angels in Paris.” She studied her subject for years—reading historic documents, wandering the Paris streets on “angel alert,” and working in libraries most people don’t even know exist.

The French and English books "Angels in Paris," showing angels as a cultural symbol in Paris. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Rosemary Flannery’s “Angels of Paris”
© Meredith Mullins

The English version of “Angels in Paris” is published by The Little Bookroom. The French version is published by Editions Guy Tredaniel/Editions Exergue. You can also find more angel-related material here.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Meredith Mullins 6 Comments

Cultural Symbols/France (Paris)

Dec

A Very English Holiday Ramble

by Joyce McGreevy on December 12, 2017

For Revelers with Wanderlust

Albemarle Street, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Albermarle Street in London inspires holiday wanderlust.
© Joyce McGreevy

On a cold December morning, the London sky is gray, the sunlight as stingy as the fire in Scrooge’s counting-house. But the air is fresh, our hearts are filled with festive wanderlust, and we’re off on a Very English Holiday Ramble. Come join us in search of “Oh I see” moments, magic, and a seasonal surprise.

An Airbnb flat in Elephant and Castle, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Holiday flats are charming (and rents less alarming) south of the Thames.
© Joyce McGreevy

We begin our ramble in Elephant and Castle, a vibrant, hardworking neighborhood named for a long-gone tavern. The tavern’s name, in turn, was a playful tribute to La Infanta de Castile, who was once engaged to Britain’s Charles I. Good to know if we’re ever in a pub on “Trivia Quiz” night.

For the festive season, exploring on foot is a must. Why? It’s positively Dickensian. Charles Dickens often walked 20 miles a day, exploring London in detail, then recreating it on the page.

Besides, walking reveals charms we’d otherwise miss:

Red Cross Way Garden, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

A garden on Red Cross Way, the 1886 flagship project of Octavia Hill, a founder of the National Trust.
© Joyce McGreevy

A sign in London offers inspiration during an English holiday ramble. (Photo © Joyce McGreevy)

A window display in Southwark, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

A ghost sign in Southwark, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

This is a sign, pun intended, that we’re approaching London’s oldest food market. Borough Market has been serving the people of Southwark for 1,000 years including “the best of times and the worst of times.”

A produce shop at Borough Market, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Fresh lemons at Borough Market inspire wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Yes, Borough experienced tragedy in June 2017. But on this cold and brightening morning, Borough is a place where . . .

Children caroling at Borough Market, London inspire onlookers during an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Handmade fudge at the Borough Market inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Crossing London Bridge, we catch sight of the Bank Station Underground. But don’t hop on the Tube yet, because we’re only a stroll away from another festive sight. See if you recognize it:

Leadhall Market inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

A view of Leadenhall Market, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

On to the mighty, muddy Thames at Southbank. “Ooh, what’s down there?”

Pop-up shops under Millennium Bridge in London inspire wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

“Oy! Save us a hot cuppa and a waffle, will ya?”

What’s next on our holiday rambles list? We could . . .

A pop-up igloo at Southbank, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

A pop-up ski-lodge themed bar at Southbank, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Oh look, there’s a Foyle’s bookshop. Come on!

Southbank, London in December inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Wanderlust turns to book lust when we see Foyle’s Books for a Year table. Lucky gift recipients receive a brand-new book every month, each chosen for “its must-haveness or unputdownability.”

So many books, so few suitcases.

Fortunately, there’s room for a seasonal treat, a poetry pamphlet series called “Instead of a Card.” Candlestick Press of Nottingham publishes these charmers “not only for people who already love poetry, but also for those who will love it but perhaps don’t know that yet.” Sales also benefit charity.

Poetry pamphlets from Candlestick Press, Nottingham offer inspiration during an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Suddenly we hear bells! Reindeer? No, the “mobile.” The caller says, “If you miss this, you’ve missed a marvel!” She’s quoting a theatre review.

Quick—to the West End! (Yes, by Tube. Sorry, Charles.) But first, sustenance. We’re in luck. Street Food Union is right around the corner. Mmm, what’s this?

Yorkshire Burritos on Rupert Street, London inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Our new BFF (Burrito-style Favorite Food) is braised pork shoulder cooked in cider and herbs, served with sage and onion stuffing, rosemary roast potatoes, spinach, and applesauce, wrapped in a giant Yorkshire pudding. Jolly good, amigos!

The Gielgud Theatre inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

When we exit the theatre, night has fallen, yet it’s 4:30 p.m. All the better to see holiday lights!

Angelic decorations over Regent St, London inspire wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Tropical decorations over Carnaby St, London inspire wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

There really is magic in the air, a sense that holiday spirits could suddenly whisk us off to . . .

The English Market, Cork, Ireland inspires wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Yet our Very English Holiday Ramble continues. Launched in 1788, Ireland’s English Market is considered one of the ten best food markets in Europe.

Oh, I see: It wouldn’t be the festive season without a surprise! I guess you just never know where holiday wanderlust might lead.

Vendors at the English Market, Cork, Ireland offer mince pies that inspire wanderlust for an English holiday ramble. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Why just envision sugarplums? At Heaven’s Cakes, in Cork’s
English Market, Laurie and Cíara serve tasty mince pies.
© Joyce McGreevy

Click on the links to find out more about Borough Market, Leadenhall Market, Foyle’s, Candlestick Press, Yorkshire Burrito, Cork’s English Market, or Heaven’s Cakes.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Joyce McGreevy 2 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Discoveries/England/Ireland/On Foot

World Views:

Topics

Category Archives: Different Cultures

Don’t Say Goodbye to Saying Hello

Meeting & Greeting Across Cultures

How Do You Hello?

Hello Kissy

Hello, Fellow Human

Hello, Anyone Here?

To Greet or Not to Greet

The Power of Saying Hello

Angels of Paris

The Most Celestial of Cultural Symbols

Angels of Paris

The Angel and the Dove

The Working Angels of the Theatre de Châtelet

A Guardian of the Church of the Madeleine

Passing Time with the Angels

The Tallest Angel in Town?

A King of Archangels

Paris: A City of Light, Love . . . and Angels

A Very English Holiday Ramble

For Revelers with Wanderlust