Kissing relatives at family get togethers?

Question

i allways feel awkward,do i kiss everyone,do i kiss the ones i know well,is my cousin gonna get the hump if i kiss her new fella,do i have to kiss my 14 year old cousins boyfriend who has big yellow zits on the side of his face,do i really want 40 peoples spit on the side of my face. Does anyone else wish we got rid of this ritual?

Answer 1

Oh yes, I wish people would stop all that kissing. I don't like kissing/being kissed except my husband, but because it's the polite thing to do I do when I'm expected to. I only kiss when I can see that the person is kind of expecting it or about to give me a kiss though. If I think I can avoid the kissing part, I do.

Answer 2

Kissing as a greeting and farewell is fine old English custom.
"When you go anywhere on a visit, the girls kiss you. They kiss you when you arrive. They kiss you when you go away. They kiss you when you return. Once you have tasted how soft and fragrant those lips are, you could spend your life there." Erasmus on England, 1497 from "Life and Letters of Erasmus"
And it has become part of custom of most American families. However, there is a limit. Generally, at a family gathering, kissing should be limited to those members of the family whose age deserves some degree of affection from their descendants, your grandparents. Also to those members with whom you were close in childhood, but time has moved you apart. Also, if kissing is a custom in your family, small children (under 12) are often kissed as a greeting. The boyfriends and hangers-on of cousins are not members of your family, they are guests, so no kiss is needed. However, the issue of social kissing is not just bothering you - your concerns have shown up in the New York Times Style section: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/fashion/thursdaystyles/06kiss.html?ex=1301976000&en=3ce6295c628e3cba&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Anyway, I sympathize with your problem, there were 50 relatives at our last New Year's Family Gathering, maybe we need something like the Blistex company guide to kissing?
http://www.blistex.com/Global_lips.htm

Answer 3

Since you have a big family, then I'd suggest kiss the ones that are actually related to you or just give them a hug. Then, the ones that aren't like your cousin's boyfriend, just give a hand shake, unless you know the person quite well...maybe a hug or kiss. Hope this helps. Best of luck!

Answer 4

I'm also against kissing all and sundry. I don't mind giving someone a hug, but I really don't like kissing people that you see once in a blue moon.

Answer 5

I always kiss my Mom and Dad whenever i see them and tell them i love them whenever i can.
Dont really go in for the kissing with my wifes family, though i kiss my sister in laws. Never really enjoyed seeing my wifes late Gran though as she always insisted on kissing me on the lips (eugh) i was like kissing a slug!!!

Answer 6

don't intend to kiss anyone at the moment. Just wait and see how the atmosphere is at the time, if there is lots of people there it may go un-noticed if you kiss nobody at all

Answer 7

In my kin we kisses one yet another only on the cheeks and it relatively is sort of formal subject, yet on no account on the lips. it relatively is going to subject me lots if somebody kiss me on the lips (if speaking approximately relavtives, no longer fanatics)

Answer 8

Just kiss the lucky few. If the others get the hump, they'll just have to suck up more.

Answer 9

tell me about it, i can't wait for the whole thing to over u know just get done with it.....anyway u dont have to kiss those who arent family members, just a hand shake or hug will do

Answer 10

i tend to just kiss the ones a like and an insincere loose hug for the rest!