The Scouting ideals are:
the Scout Salute, the Scout Sign, and the Scout Handshake. It is for our
members to identify with others in the Movement.
The Scout Salute
Hold together the
three middle fingers of the right hand and touch together the thumb and little
finger. With palm facing the front, bring up the hand smartly to the head until
the forefinger touches the forehead. Bring down the hand to the side.
Make the Scout Salute
only when in full uniform. It’s sign of respect, courtesy and friendliness.
The Scout Sign
The right hand
position is the same as for the salute: three fingers up, thumb and little
finger touching, and palm out. Begin as with the salute, but hold the hand
straight up beside the head.
The three upright
fingers represent the three parts of the Scout Promise: duty to God, duty to self,
and duty to others. It represents the
three broad principles that
represent its fundamental laws and beliefs.
The Scout Handshake
Scouts shake with the left hand as a sign of brother-hood and trust.
B.P. took the idea from South Africa during his military carrier in
1896. When once Lord Baden-Powell (B.P) wanted to shake hands with an Ashanti
Chieftain, the Chieftain offered the left hand saying in his tribe the bravest
of the brave offers his left hand to a friend. This was a charming compliment
to B.P and later the founder introduced his left handshake in scouting and
wished the scouts to be “the bravest of the brave”
Another reason is that the left hand is nearest to the heart, so when a
scout shakes hands with his left hand, it shows that it is a hearty handshake.