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International Kissing Day

4th July 2018

International Kissing Day takes place on Friday 6th July this year and is the perfect excuse to pucker up and smooch that special someone!

This celebratory day was established in 2006 in a bid to focus on the importance of affection in our society. In commemoration of International Kissing Day, events are organised all over the globe, ranging from kiss-ins, classes and charity fundraisers.

Kissing

When kissing, two people exchange between 10 million and one billion bacteria! However, don’t let that put you off puckering up. Apart from the germs, kissing also provides a work out.

French kissing involves 34 muscles in the face and passionate kissing burns 6.4 calories a minute.

Kissing also triggers the release of oxytocin in our bodies, this is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’ or the ‘cuddle hormone’, due to it being released when people bond socially.

Kissing also releases endorphins, which produces feelings of happiness.

90% of cultures around the globe practice kissing and when they do, 66% of them close their eyes when they kiss.

Kissing isn’t just practiced in a romantic capacity, however. Many societies around the world use it as a means of greeting.

Here’s a few facts on how other cultures approach kissing:

  • In Italy and Greece friends (both men and women) usually kiss each other on the lips when greeting. Whereas, in France, one air kiss on each cheek is a customary welcome
  • Modern Anthropologists believe that kissing developed from “Eskimo kissing”, which is the practise of rubbing noses to take in each other’s breath
  • In Vietnam, kissing between spouses is only done in private, with China and Japan adopting a similar attitude towards it. While people from the Netherlands opt for 3 kisses as a form of greeting
Iconic Kisses

Some iconic kisses from history, art and film include:

  • The Kiss (1907/08) – oil painting by Gustav Klimt
  • The Kiss (1882) – marble sculpture by Auguste Rodin
  • Kissing Coppers (2004) – art by Banksy
  • Madonna and Britney (2003) – MTV Video Music Awards kiss on-stage
  • Prince Charles and Princess Diana (1981) – kiss on their wedding day
  • Lady and the Tramp (1955) – kiss in the eponymous animated film

Sealed with a Kiss

In a recent kissing survey, participants sited bad breath and dry lips as things that would be most off putting when it came to smooching someone.

To ensure your mouth is minty fresh and your lips are as smooth as silk, head to Boots, Superdrug and The Body Shop in Garden Square to browse and buy their range of dental and beauty products – from toothpaste to mouthwash and lip balm to blister remedies, they’ll make sure your International Kissing Day is sealed with a kiss!