...no one else will kiss them, and they need to make up for the lost kisses?
For example, I am thinking of the French, but then the Dutch outdid them with a triple cheek kiss.
2006-07-17 10:57:54 · 21 answers · asked by aanstalokaniskiodov_nikolai 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I think it is a warm, friendly way to greet or say goodbye to someone. I also like the rubbing of noses greeting, practiced by the Eskimos. A handshake is so formal and cold. It gives a strong message that each person does not want to be close to the other person. I'd choose three kisses and a hug any day over a handshake.
2006-07-18 11:48:38 · answer #1 · answered by Optimistic 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Middle Eastern cultures do this for sure.
Whenever I see my Persian friends, the women kiss each other on each cheek. Men and women don't exchange these kisses, they either shake hands, or just smile and say hello. I've never seen Persian men greet each other with kisses, but maybe I've missed something. I don't really pay attention to how the Persian men greet each other.
When I was in Egypt, women held hands while walking, and while greeting they kissed each other on each cheek. It was weird to see women holding hands, but in that culture, it doesn't mean lesbianism. It can be done between friends, between sisters, between two females who are fond of each other. It could also mean they're crossing the street and wanna watch out for each other. (The traffic there is horrid!) As for the men, they do kiss on each cheek, sometimes three kisses. At first it was so weird, 'cause I'd hear these kissie noises and see that it was between men. Yuck! I realized it's not a homo thing, that's just the custom. In Egypt, the men and women don't kiss like this at all, nor do they hold hands. The exception is if the man takes the lady's hand to cross the street, but that's pretty much it. This happened to me with two different men there. They took my hand, and once we crossed the street, we released hands.
I read about someone seeing men in Saudi Arabia holding hands. Again, it's not a gay thing, it can be done between two men who are fond of each other, like brothers or friends, etc.
2006-07-17 21:34:15 · answer #2 · answered by Dolores G. Llamas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea how this started, but it's only a greeting. Latin cultures and some European cultures do it. Not always two kisses; Mexicans kiss on the cheek only once and I'm sure there are other variants.
2006-07-17 18:06:15 · answer #3 · answered by Snapple Monkey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is preety common in Middle Eastern cultures and European also. It is also common in my culture which is Armenian. The women usually kiss other women on both cheeks when they greet them or say goodbye to them as a form of respect and care for each other. This has been done for hundreds of years now its something that has become a custom for us.
2006-07-18 18:06:40 · answer #4 · answered by LilSo1287 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started to notice this a lot when I moved down here to NYC from Buffalo, NY. And it is not just a Latin or French thing. It is everyone! We never did that in Buffalo. I guess all we did there was eat chicken wings and route for the Bills. Hi 5's were more like it there.
2006-07-17 19:33:04 · answer #5 · answered by Left Footed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why it is the same with spanish culture My mom is from Peru in south america and it's cheek to cheek with people i know and don't know. it's not bad it's not like you kiss with your lips it's just cheek unless you want to do lips to cheek. I have a lot of family there all my aunts, uncles and cousins. Oh and we just do one kiss not both sides just one.
2006-07-17 18:03:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure....but I have noticed that in some cultures ( Russia I know for sure), that the men often kiss on the lips, while in America that is unheard of between friends.
2006-07-17 18:01:01 · answer #7 · answered by mrselange 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The latin culture does this as well as italians, and others I am sure. It is just a greeting and goodbye, just as yours would be if you were to give someone a handshake, or a hug. Not a big deal or any underlying reason.
2006-07-17 18:00:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends in which culture you were brought up in and where..!
Three kisses mean a very close or important relative or person..
The others are different terms of welcome and friendship...
And then some are people who are as sure as you are, but not necessarily about the same thing...!
Each day you live and learn......
2006-07-17 18:10:56 · answer #9 · answered by Deborah Mc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I'm sure it's the lost kiss thing. That's not ignorant at all.
Maybe they're just a lot nicer than you are.
2006-07-18 09:03:23 · answer #10 · answered by kayleigh w 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋