In Germany people shake hands all the time, both men and women. For adults, the handshake is even more important than the verbal greeting when meeting people. Even when there is a room full of people, you must go around to each person and shake their hand while saying your last name only. If people already know each other, then there's no need to say your name. Just shake hands and give a greeting.

Women are greeted first, especially if it is a couple. When people are introduced to each other, again, they simply say their last name. If everybody is already friends with each other, you start shaking the hand of the person closest to you, or else, you begin with the person to whom you would like to show the most respect. People at work don't shake hands; instead, they simply greet each other while passing by each other at the office.

Children are less formal with each other and simply say Hallo. But they do shake hands with adults, especially if they are meeting for the first time. Young mothers, students and children do not shake hands among themselves. Instead, they will greet each other and sometimes they will even kiss or hug each other. Children and students address each other informally but for everybody else the first meeting will always be a formal one. Or else, an older or respected person may begin an informal greeting that others will then follow his or her example.

Though the custom has declined a little, Germans, Austrians and the Swiss all tend to shake hands much more than Americans do . And the custom of not including your first name when you are introduced to someone in a formal situation Germany may be a custom that is difficult for an American to remember at first.