Kissing Culture-How Many Kisses Do You Give In Each Country

Though it is often a pleasure kissing young people as a greeting, from different countries within Europe or Latin America, when you cross a country’s border, as often occurs in Europe, the greeting kiss can be different from the previous country, so we go out to discover Kissing Culture- How Many Kisses Do You Give In Each Country? Crossing borders frequently can make a person a little confused. So we’re here to shed a bit of light on the this very difficult situation.

Denis Thatcher, husband of UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, greets US First Lady Nancy Reagan, at No.10 Downing Street, June 2, 1988 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At worst it can bring culture shock and anxiety. If you were used to receiving 3 kisses on the cheeks by beautiful French women, and suddenly you are confronted with a simple hug (well I suppose it depends on the individual who is hugging). This would be the opposite of Paris syndrome, when you have a positive experience with the French culture, and need another fix of what benefits it can provide you.

Men kissing men. We’ll try to be open-minded about this. It’s ok if they kiss each other we won’t judge you. But no thanks for me. I don’t want to receive a wet cheek from a man. Many cultures in Europe have men kissing each other. In Italy for example male friends will kiss each other when greeting, and it usual for male relatives to do the same. It is also the case in many Eastern European countries, and France.

Kissing Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Women kissing women. We’ll also be open-minded about this. If women are ok with this it is fine by us. The usual standard is the same as when greeting a male, depending on that regions kissing ritual. Women all round the world tend to give each other a kiss upon greeting.

Spain– the standard here is overwhelmingly 2 kisses, the great thing is that Spanish women tend to give greeting kisses to relative strangers, compared to other countries. If you meet a stranger and and give a mutual hello, then this is often accompanied by a 2 kisses. Don’t get any false hopes here, it is way to show they can make friends easy and nothing more, get the picture ;).

Latin America– Usually 1 kiss upon greeting, but only amongst people who are already acquainted or a friend of an acquaintance.

Also known mistakenly as The first kiss (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Germany– you can easily get confused here, between men and women, and woman to woman. There is no standard but contact is assured. Some women only hug, some will greet with a kiss and some who have spent a bit of time in France for example will give 2.

France– the French are definitely the lovers of kissing. It’s quite varied from region to region. Everyone’s favourite would have to be the triple kiss a highly tactical French manoeuvre to get you to like them. It works. Some regions do the double and some the disappointing single. Usually only happens between acquaintances and trusted company.

Scandinavia– The simple double kiss is sufficient in Scandinavia.

Italy–

these cheek kisses are perfectly acceptable for any gender combination to greet one another – two women, two men, or one of each – but not if you don’t know someone well enough. Start with a handshake, and if they keep coming toward you, be prepared to pucker.A good explanation aof the Italian formality of kissing. Click here to read more

England, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand– Women usually greet each other with a kiss. Men and women are different. Unless you are a close friend, you don’t usually kiss. When you meet the female partner of a male acquaintance, no kissing is the polite standard. This blog Mamalisa.com sums up the greeting given in the United States

Now that you know what to do in each country you might be a bit clearer as to what to do upon arrival. The international standard is start on the right cheek, and whatever you do try to keep the lips dry. If you don’t like a dog with a wet nose, you won’t like a wet kiss. As for France you will never know what is the standard unless you know the region so good luck.

Until the text time happy kissing.