National Kissing Day
Celebrating National Kissing Day this year?
A kiss can be a greeting, an affectionate act and even a sign of love or repentance. Learn more about kissing and National Kissing Day here.
From real life to movies, people all over the world long for that special kiss. Some find it early in elementary school or maybe even middle school. Others have to wait until they are in their teenage years and in high school. And sometimes even later. But that’s OK! Everyone is on their own timeline, right?
Yet, whenever it happens, it’s certainly a moment to remember.
But there’s even something truly sweet about a kiss on the cheek. A simple greeting, not necessarily romantic, for those you love!
So, let’s talk more about kissing, and why we even have National Kissing Day!
When is National Kissing Day?
National Kissing Day is on June 22nd of every year! Let the smooching commence.
What is National Kissing Day?
National Kissing Day is a day to celebrate the art of kissing. So brush off those kissing skills and pucker up!
A Bit of History about Kissing
Has kissing always be a part of the human experience?
Apparently, kissing isn’t quite as instinctive as one might think. According to Vaughn Bryant, an anthropology professor at Texas A&M University, kissing is a more recent phenomenon and a purley learned means of affection.
One of the earliest references to kissing dates back a few thousand years.
He says, “References to kissing did not appear until 1500 BC, when historians found four major texts in Vedic Sanskrit literature of India that suggested an early form of kissing. There are references to the custom of rubbing and pressing noses together. This practice, it is recorded, was a sign of affection, especially between lovers. This is not kissing as we know it today, but we believe it may have been its earliest beginning. About 500 to 1,000 years later, the epic Mahabharata, contained references suggesting that affection between people was expressed by lip kissing. Later, the Kama Sutra, a classic text on erotica, contained many examples of erotic kissing and kissing techniques.” []
Apparently the Romans were big kissers too. Where a kiss on the cheek was common in social circles, kisses on the eyes or hand or neck were kept in the family.
And for couples? Yes. Very passionate kisses were depicted in art and literature! []
Do all cultures kiss?
Actually nope. A group of research scientists published a report in 2015 that stated that only 46% of the cultures they sampled have a custom of kissing. The rest of the cultures, 56%, showed zero evidence of romantic kissing. []
Does that mean kissing is instinctual or is it a learned behavior?
The evidence points to the latter!
How about pets?
A survey done by Skout, 75% of people admit that they kiss their pets. No surprise there, huh?
What pets are the most kissable? Let’s see!
- Dogs – 70 percent kiss dogs
- Cats – 21 percent kiss cats
- Birds – 7 percent kiss birds
- Reptiles – 2 percent kiss reptiles
I guess dogs by far are the most kissable pet!
Around 52 percent of people admitted to kissing their dog more than their human partner. And around, 61 percent of people say they actually kiss their puppies dogs right on the snout. Talk about a kissable pet! []
The Importance of a Kiss
The kiss is often associate with romance or physical intimacy. But a kiss can be purely social, or maternal or even, in the case of the biblical figure, Judas, betrayal!
Who you kiss, and when and where, are of the utmost importance. It can be a sign of respect or a mere social formality.
But when it comes to romance, there can be no better way to express your sincere love and affection.
Regardless of the kind of kiss, there are actually many benefits in this expression of affection!
The Benefits of Kissing
Let’s see all of the amazing benefits we receive both for our physical health and our mental health
- It can relieve tension, stress and anxiety by altering the chemicals in your brain.
- Kissing actually affects hormones by lowering the cortisol and increases serotonin. []
- Kissing is a bonding experience. []
- It can increase immunity and burn calories. []
- The act of kissing actually dilates blood vessels which can help lower blood pressure. []
So add kissing to your list of things to do for your well being. Not only is it an enjoyable experience, you’ll be healthier and happier for it!
Different Types of Kisses
There are many different kinds of kisses. Some are super passionate and reserved for your romantic partner. Yet, some are sweet gestures for friends and family members.
Let’s see what they are!
- French Kiss
- Kiss on the cheek
- Air kiss
- Stolen kiss
- Kiss on the hand
- Quick peck
- Butterfly Kiss (with your eyelashes)
- Nose Kiss (sometimes known as an “Eskimo Kisses”
Kissing is truly one of life’s simple pleasures, isn’t it?
Countries that greet one another with some form of a kiss
Many cultures do greet each other with a friendly kiss! Let’s take a look at a few and how they do it! []
- One kiss on the cheek:
- Latin America
- One kiss on each cheek:
- Italy
- Hungary
- Brazil
- A kiss on a woman’s hand when greeted by a man
- Poland
- Austria
- Romania
- Hungary
- Slovakia
- A kiss on the cheek, alternating three times
- Poland
- Austria
- Romania
- Hungary
- Slovakia
- Switzerland
- Rubbing noses
- The indigenous people in the Northern Arctic
The French people? They absolutely do kiss on the cheek: once, twice, maybe even thrice depending on the region!
Who is left off this list? Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany? They all prefer the less intimate form – greeting with a handshake!
Maybe a fist or elbow bump now after the pandemic. LOL
Animals that Kiss
Did you know that there are some animals that have a kissing culture? Seems funny, but it’s true! Let’s take a look at some of the animals that kiss one another.
Primates like chimpanzees and bonobo monkey kiss one another, though the affection they share may be more of an expression of connection rather than romantic feelings.
Interestingly, the Bonobo is apparently much more romantic in nature than the chimpanzee. []
Fun Ideas for Celebrating National Kissing Day
- Give your partner an invigorating good morning kiss.
- Surprise your coworkers with a big bag of Chocolate Kisses
- Greet your friends in the French way with a kiss or two on the cheek! []
The one place you don’t want to kiss on National Kissing Day?
Let’s let Dolly lead the way here.
Famous Kisses
You know those on screen kisses that leave you believing in happy ever after?
Where a couple has that moment of eye contact that says, I don’t care what your quirks are anymore. I’m dying to kiss you!
Well, let’s take a look at some of those iconic kisses!
What other famous kisses would you add to this list?
What is the World Record of the longest kiss?
The world’s longest kiss right now is 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds. A Thai couple, Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, broke the world’s record on February 14th, 2013.
Now that’s one heckuva a long kiss!
Noteworthy stats about kissing for National Kissing Day
- Ninety percent of people in the world engage in kisses on the lips, anthropologists say.
- Men who kissed their wives goodbye live about five years longer, make up to 30 percent more money, and are part of fewer car accidents
- About 33 percent of women like kissing men with stubble every now and then
- In line with Güntürkün18, these researchers found that 80% of kissing couples and 77% of individual participants kissing dolls turned their heads to the right.
- Averaged across all seven countries, the overwhelming majority—60 percent—still believe kissing between unmarried people is wrong.
- An Interracial kiss was shown on television for the first time in an episode of Star Trek in 1966.
If anything deserves a celebration, surely it is kissing! In fact, if one day isn’t enough, then you’ll be happy to know that there is another soon.
International Kissing Day is in July!