INTERNATIONAL KISSING DAY
International Kissing Day on July 6th celebrates the enjoyable activity of kissing, and the part it plays in cultures throughout the world. The day reminds people to recognize the simple value of a kiss between friends, lovers, family, and even pets. It’s a celebrated day that many businesses, websites, and social media sites tie in to for promotions of their products or services.
Kissing is associated with romantic feelings, but there are more types of kisses. In recent history, before it was common for people to be able to write, an “X” would be signed. Then the signer would kiss the X as a pledge to honor the signature. (Could this be where the “X” symbol came to represent a kiss?)
Some societies kiss on the cheek as a greeting. While other kisses signal a kinship. Watch a parent or a grandparent with a young child, and you’ll see tender kisses.
It’s an ageless activity. Research shows that 5% of people over the age of 45 are locking lips at least 31 times a week.
According to a book by Michael Penn called Kissing Christians, “Early Christians kissed one another in highly specific settings that distinguished them from the non-Christian population. The earliest Christian reference to the ritual kiss is at the end of I Thessalonians: ‘Greet one another with a holy kiss.’ The Christian ritual kiss or ‘kiss of peace’ was used during prayer, Eucharist, baptism, ordination, and in connection with greetings, funerals, monastic vows, and martyrdom.”
More Kissing Facts
A study of kissing reported in the book The Art of Kissing by William Case found:
- Passionate kissing burns 6.4 calories a minute.
- A Hershey’s kiss contains 26 calories, which takes five minutes of walking–or about four minutes of kissing–to burn off.
- The study of kissing is better known as philematology.
- Lips are 100 times more sensitive than the tips of the fingers.
HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalKissingDay
Are you ready for some kissing? Listen to an NPR interview on the science of kissing. Organizers around the world host events to celebrate International Kissing Day. Look for an event for those who have lovers and those who are looking for them.
Perhaps your community will sponsor a “Kiss-in.” It lets you test drive a potential date’s lips before you ever hook up with them for an actual date.
Some places host kissing classes to teach students how to be the best kisser. If it’s a romantic kiss you wish to attempt, here are thorough instructions:
https://international-kissing-day.org/how-to-kiss/
On social media, use #InternationalKissingDay to join in the conversation.
INTERNATIONAL KISSING DAY HISTORY
In 2006, International Kissing Day launched to focus on the kissing that takes place between lovers and to celebrate the place it holds in our society.