π
Open Hands
oh-pΙn handz
Definitions
1
Gestures Β· Communication
Common
A gesture showing both palms facing outward with fingers spread, indicating openness, welcome, or presentation of something.
Often used to express willingness to receive, share, or show something important.
Ready to welcome you all to our new home! π
Social media announcement
Here's what I've been working on π What do you think?
Sharing creative work
In Western cultures, represents openness and honesty; in some Eastern traditions, symbolizes offering or receiving blessings.
2
Performance Β· Expression
Common
Represents 'jazz hands', a theatrical gesture with hands spread wide, palms forward, fingers splayed, often used in performance or to express excitement.
Used playfully to indicate showmanship, drama, or theatrical flair.
Just got tickets to Hamilton! π So excited!
Expressing excitement about performance arts
Originated in Broadway and jazz dance, now widely recognized in Western pop culture as a symbol of performance enthusiasm.
3
Spiritual Β· Devotional
Uncommon
Symbolizes praise, worship, or receiving spiritual blessings in religious contexts.
Used in discussions about faith, prayer, or spiritual experiences.
Feeling blessed after today's service π π
Religious or spiritual context
Common in Christian contexts to indicate praise; also appears in Islamic and Hindu contexts for prayer or receiving blessings.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Introduced in Unicode 6.0, initially used primarily to represent literal open hands.
Early emoji standardization across platforms.
2015
Gained popularity as 'jazz hands' in Western social media, especially in performance contexts.
Rise of theater and performance-related content on platforms like Tumblr and Twitter.
2018
Increasingly adopted in spiritual and worship contexts across multiple faiths.
Growing use of emoji in religious and spiritual online communities.
Cultural Context
Open hands universally symbolize honesty and transparency across cultures. The gesture indicates nothing is being concealed, making it a cross-cultural signal of trustworthiness.
In many religious traditions, open hands represent receptivity to divine blessings. This appears in Christian worship, Islamic prayer, and Hindu ceremonies.
The 'jazz hands' interpretation emerged from Broadway and musical theater traditions, where performers use the gesture for dramatic emphasis at climactic moments.
The emoji bridges verbal expressions like 'ta-da!' or 'behold!' that lack direct emoji equivalents, making it functionally important for digital presentations.
Regional Variations
India
More commonly associated with spiritual contexts, offerings, or blessings.
United States
Commonly used for 'jazz hands' in performance contexts and to express excitement or presentation.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: More literal usage to indicate welcome or openness. Less theatrical connotation, more practical application in digital communication.
Gen_Z: Frequently used ironically for dramatic effect or to indicate 'showing off.' Common on TikTok and Instagram to present creative content.
Older: Limited usage, primarily in religious contexts or to express welcome. Often used with fewer accompanying emojis.
Millennials: Used both literally and for 'jazz hands' effect. Often appears in work contexts when presenting projects or ideas on Slack.
Common Combinations
πβ¨
Presenting something magical, special, or impressive.
Often used when revealing creative work or special announcements.
ππ
Giving and receiving blessings or prayers.
Common in religious contexts across multiple faiths.
πβ€οΈ
Offering love, care, or emotional support.
Used to express emotional openness and willingness to give/receive love.
ππ
Celebrating an achievement or announcement with theatrical flair.
Often used for birthdays, graduations, or other celebratory announcements.
Related Emojis
π
Similar gesture with raised arms, often expressing celebration rather than presentation.
π€²
Palms up together, more associated with prayer or supplication.
π
Often used together in religious contexts, with different but complementary meanings.
β¨
Frequently paired to add magical or special quality to what's being presented.