International Kissing Day 2023: Regardless of the type of kiss you favour, International Kissing Day on July 6 is the best day of the year to celebrate this simple yet profound gesture. From French kissing to a formal kiss on the cheek to a kiss hello and a kiss farewell, kissing is a time-honored custom with significance that extends well beyond romance.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL KISSING DAY
The Romans are responsible for the prevalent practise of kissing in Europe, if we look back in time. They defined three types of kissing: the osculum (a friendly peck on the cheek), the basium (an affectionate kiss on the lips), and the savium (the most passionate kiss on the mouth). When, where, and how you kissed someone was a significant indicator of your social status in Roman society.
During World War I, American and British servicemen in France likely popularised the term “French kiss” after observing that French women were more receptive to employing the passionate technique than their American and British counterparts. Therefore, despite the fact that the French were not the first to indulge in “French kissing,” it is only fitting that they receive credit for it due to the romantic fervour of French lovers a century ago.
Interestingly, until recently the French did not have a specific term for the well-known mouth on mouth. In 2014, “kissing with tongues” was added to Le Petit Robert, a popular but unofficial French dictionary. Currently, French kissing is so popular that a group of Japanese scientists recently invented a French kissing machine that allows separated couples to communicate via straw-like devices that operate through a computer.
International Kissing Day is not just about French kissing your significant other, but also about bringing people together. The central notion was that so many people have forgotten the simple pleasures of kissing for the sake of kissing, as opposed to kissing as a mere social formality. Kissing can be a pleasurable experience unto itself and is an expression of affection and closeness.
The customs of the day
Kissing transcends cultural conventions. Regardless of one’s nationality or cultural traditions, kissing is universally recognised as a pleasurable activity. International Kissing Day is all about expressing love through kissing, whether it’s an affectionate peck on the forehead or a deep, passionate kiss shared between lovers.
Don’t be reticent today! Kiss your significant other good morning and continue to do so throughout the day. Ladies, greet your lady gang with cheek-to-cheek kisses, and gentlemen, affectionately peck your mother or sister on the forehead. Why not ‘deliver’ backhand kisses as well? There are numerous kissing styles, romantic and otherwise. Therefore, brace up!
WHY WE LOVE INTERNATIONAL KISSING DAY
It’s a complete facial exercise
Did you know that French kissing uses all 34 facial muscles, while a straightforward pucker kiss only uses two? Who needs the gym when a passionate embrace can get the pulse pumping and the muscles working?
Kissing brings us joy and relieves tension.
Kissing is a natural relaxant that leaves us feeling joyful and at ease. By stimulating the release of feel-good compounds in the brain, kissing simultaneously calms and excites us.
Kissing transcends linguistic and cultural barriers
Kissing is a form of cross-cultural communication that has the same meaning in all countries, regardless of language, ethnicity, or religion. By kissing, it is possible to express intricate emotions without exchanging words.
INTERNATIONAL KISSING DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 6 | Thursday |
| 2024 | July 6 | Saturday |
| 2025 | July 6 | Sunday |
| 2026 | July 6 | Monday |
| 2027 | July 6 | Tuesday |
