Abrazo

Ritual of the Embrace
One Mexican custom that has a subtle but profound influence on personal relationships, which nurtures friendships and helps fulfill the deepest emotional needs, is the abrazo (as-BRAH-zoh).

As practiced by Mexicans today the abrazo has been formalized for convenience. Your right arm goes over the left arm of the other person. Your left arm, in turn goes under the other person's right arm. Both persons tilt their heads to the left, so they are looking over the other person's right shoulder. The embrace is accompanied by patting the other person's back with the right hand.

The abrazo, or hug, is the oldest and most powerful means human beings have of expressing kinship and love, for showing joy and pleasure at happy times and sorrow at sad times. Yet in most non-Lation societies its practice among adults is rare. 

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