International Kissing Day

July 8, 2022

What Is International Kissing Day?
The Origins of Kissing
The Science Behind Smooching
Some Fun Facts About Kissing
Top Benefits to Kissing
The Kiss Throughout Art History
Final Thought

There are as many types of kisses as there are people to pucker up, and who doesn’t love a good kiss? Whether it’s a quick friendly peck on the cheek between friends, or a long passionate tongue-lashing between partners, International Kissing Day celebrates this most enjoyable of activities and the part it plays in cultures throughout the world. If you haven’t shown your partner just how much you enjoy them, maybe International Kissing Day is your chance to remind them with a toe-curling kiss!

WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL KISSING DAY?

It is believed that International Kissing Day was inspired by National Kissing Day in the United Kingdom. This unofficial holiday was so popular in the UK, sponsored by many brands and celebrities, that during the early 2000s it spread across the world and turned into an international celebration. While this day started as a holiday to celebrate love and romantic kissing, it is now also a reminder that even just a simple kiss on the cheek can bring people closer to each other, and is a symbol of love and care.

A kiss can also mean different things in different cultures, in some it is used as a greeting, in others it is a way to show respect for one’s elders, and in many it is reserved for moments of intimacy with a loved one. All in all, the purpose behind this holiday is to remind people about the value and simple pleasure of a kiss shared with a loved one, no matter if it is a romantic kiss or a friendly one.

THE ORIGINS OF KISSING

Scholars debate whether kissing began as a trend that spread around the globe or sprung up organically in different regions. Whatever the case, the earliest known written mentions of it are in Vedic Sanskrit scriptures circa 1500 B.C., according to research by Vaughn Bryant, an anthropology professor at Texas A&M University. These scriptures, known as the Vedas, were foundational to the religion of Hinduism. However, this doesn’t mean that nobody kissed before this time. Many believe that artists and writers may have considered kissing too private to depict in art or literature. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, the most we see are men and women close to each other with little to no touch.

Furthermore, we don’t see any records of people kissing in the Western world until the Roman Empire. Citizens kissed their ruler’s hands but kissing also became a greeting for friends and family. And we started to see common language in use for kissing of a romantic nature. The Romans were even the first to come up with different categories for kissing:

Osculum: was a kiss on the cheek
Basium: a kiss on the lips
Savolium: was a deep kiss

So when did we evolve from “functional” infant kissing to erotic kissing between partners? Evolutionary biologists suggest that the infant’s searching tongue movements developed into passionate kissing as young lovers replicated the exploration of each other’s mouths. It is believed that this increased their mutual trust and encouraged a sense of pair bonding.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SMOOCHING

Academics and scientists continue to puzzle over why human beings feel compelled to place their lips on someone else’s. When it comes to human behavior, there’s a lot we can learn from animals. Interestingly enough, very few animals take part in the lip-to-lip contact we know as smooching, especially in the romantic context humans tend to lean towards. Only a few animals exhibit kissing behavior, namely chimpanzees and bonobo monkeys. For chimpanzees, kissing is a form of reconciliation. It’s more common among males than females and is never really seen in a romantic scenario. Bonobo monkeys kiss more often and they tend to use tongues. So perhaps it’s not so surprising that they’re considered highly sexual beings. When two bonobo monkeys meet, they have sex. It’s even referred to as the “bonobo handshake.”

Barring these two apes, there is little to no evidence of kissing in the animal kingdom. Most of the time animals rely on pheromones to attract their mates. A pheromone is a chemical that an animal or insect produces that affects the behavior of another animal in the same species. In this case, a sense of smell seems more vital than a pair of puckered lips. But humans have an atrocious sense of smell. So how do we secure a mate? As mammals, how do we access pheromones? Kissing. During kissing, pheromones are released in the swapping of saliva (mmm). It seems our biology mirrors other mammals, we’ve just decided to add a few different types and techniques.

In other words, we humans kiss to find our mate, it’s our “mate-assessment” function. Another reason people kiss – because it feels good! There are more nerve endings in your lips than in any other part of the body. When we press them against another set of lips, it’s damn good. Combine that with the chemical reaction of connecting with a potential mate, and it’s no wonder we’re snogging left-right, and center.

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT KISSING

There is a lot of disagreement among scientists as to why humans kiss. Some believe it is instinctual, while others think it is a learned behavior.
Most people (two-thirds, in fact) tilt their heads to the right when kissing someone.
Kissing releases dopamine in our systems, which means that it works in a similar way that addictive drugs do in our bodies. Dopamine creates feelings of pleasure, which is why when we kiss we want to do it repeatedly.
Lips have many sensitive nerve endings and are 100 times more sensitive than fingertips.
Kissing is good for your health. When people kiss, around 80 million bacteria are transferred between the two mouths. This introduces new bacteria to the body, which improves the immune system.
The more satisfied people are in their relationship, the more they kiss.
Kissing helps reduce stress, by lowering the levels of the cortisol hormone

TOP BENEFITS OF KISSING

Kissing Boosts Immunity: Passing saliva from mouth to mouth can boost your immune system, exposing it to different bacteria and strengthening the body’s defenses. For every 10 seconds you spend kissing, you pass along 80 million bacteria. Kissing also forms a similar mix of living bacteria in your and your partner’s body, making you both better prepared against infections.
Kissing Naturally Relaxes You: When humans kiss, their brains release chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Oxytocin is the chemical linked to pair bonding, and it’s been nicknamed the “love hormone” for a reason. These increased endorphins make the body feel good, aiding in feelings of attachment.
Kissing Burns Calories: Also, let’s not forget about the health advantages. Mental health is a big deal, but so is physical well-being. Weirdly, and wonderfully, kissing can burn up to 6.4 calories per minute. It certainly beats peacocking at the gym!
Kissing Keeps Your Facial Muscles Strong: Don’t underestimate the workout kissing provides to your mouth and jaw. It’s said this improves circulation, keeping your cheeks tight and even reducing wrinkles!
Kissing Helps You Pick Your Best Mate: Many biologists believe it’s the first way of determining who in nature you’re most compatible with. How often has a first kiss been the deal-breaker to your budding love affair? All for good reason it would seem.

THE KISS THROUGHOUT ART HISTORY

Art has never missed an opportunity to celebrate the osmosis between two beings offered by a kiss. Painters, sculptors, and photographers alike have captured this moment of love and created the most beautiful kisses in the history of art. Here are a few examples of my personal favorites:

Caravaggio – The Taking of Christ (1602)

Caravaggio The Taking of Christ

Rodin – The Kiss (circa 1882)

Jean-Léon Gérôme – Pygmalion and Galatea (1890)

William-Adolphe Bouguereau – L’Amour et Psyché, enfants (1890)

Edvard Munch – Kiss by the Window (1892)

Gustav Klimt – The Kiss (1907 – 08)

Marc Chagall – Birthday (1915)

Pablo Picasso – The Kiss (1925)

René Magritte – The Lovers (1928)

Victor Jorgensen – Kissing the War Goodbye (1945)

Jacob Lawrence – The Lovers (1946)

Elliott Erwitt – Santa Monica, California Kiss (1955)

David Alfaro Siqueiros – Peasant Mother (1962)

Roy Lichtenstein – Kiss V (1964)

Banksy – Kissing Coppers (2004)

FINAL THOUGHT

The art of kissing transcends cultural norms. No matter which country or customs you belong to, kissing is celebrated as an enjoyable activity. No matter which type of kiss you prefer, International Kissing Day on July 6th is the perfect time of the year to celebrate this simple but powerful gesture. From French kissing and a formal kiss on the cheek to a kiss hello and a kiss goodbye — kissing is an age-old practice with significance that extends far beyond just romance. That being said, let the people in your life know you love them by sharing a kiss. Before reading this article, did you know International Kissing Day was a thing? What is your preferred type of kiss? Do you think there is another deeper attraction between people besides a kiss? Don’t be shy to leave us a comment down below!