Some touching during conversation is okay in close circles, but strangers do not usually touch each other. Close girlfriends will hold hands or walk arm in arm while talking together, but men do not.
While communicating with members of opposite sex, the ethnicity and religion is an issue. While people from opposite genders keep an appropriate distance, when they come from different ethnic or religious background this distance increases. When they come from similar backgrounds, the distance is not that great.
Touching is not widely accepted among Macedonians and most often it is perceived as violation of the personal space. Again, teenagers and close relatives and friends are the only groups that are to be omitted from these rules.
During conversations among friends and family it is acceptable to touch the arms or hands and to get a pat on the back.
