What is the origin of hand-clapping to show applause?

Answer 1

It seems to be a natural human response to something they find pleasing. I was made aware of this when I saw a video of the geiser Old Faithful erupt. When it had finished, the people who had watched it all started clapping their hands just like they would for a live human performer. Small children often clap their hands together when they see something like a puppy or kitten. It must be hard wired into the way we react to things around us.

Answer 2

Hand-clapping as a form of applause dates back to ancient Roman times, where it was used to show appreciation in theaters. Over time, this practice spread to other cultures and evolved into a universal gesture of approval and celebration.

Answer 3

The practice of clapping hands is common to all cultures. In some, it indicates approval, in others, it is an demand for the person to sit down and shut up (or similar equivalent). Such a basic gesture goes back so far in human custom that it is impossible to say where its various meanings originated.