FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > Why dont they cheek kiss in england?
Why dont they cheek kiss in england?
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'll kiss a lady on the cheek when I meet her for coffee or summit say, old friends and new. I definitely think the double cheek kiss is a mainland Europe thing  |
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It's a minefield these days! Kiss on one cheek, kiss on two cheeks, go in for a hug, hug and a kiss on the cheek, kiss on the mouth (platonic), kiss on the mouth (romantic), shaking hands... Half the time you end up like a meerkat transfixed by a snake as you try to work out what to go for! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"When I lived down south there was a lot more cheek kissing, up north it seems more reserved for close family/friends.. Well that was my experience anyway 
L x"
Yes it could also depend on where as well |
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I do with friends, but I loathe it when a supplier or colleague leans in for one. It's just so inappropriate.
I have a leaning-back handshake perfected for those occasions - it's not impossible to kiss my cheek when I'm doing that but it's incredibly awkward so it puts off all but the most determined. |
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In GB its more if your family kissed on the cheek when they met rather than a cultural thing. Some of my friends do, some don't and I know which ones to expect it from.
The British do have a reputation for being more reserved |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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When I was in the west midlands I found everyone cuddled and kissed cheeks. People would even have a cuddle at the end of work. Northerners are much more reserved and it does suit me a little better as I struggle sometimes with intimacy with people I don't know well. |
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"I do it but I’m overly tactile.
My Portuguese and french friends do two kisses which always excites me and it’s an anti climax when I get an English one sider. Lol"
I’m fine with one kiss or two! When I’ve got lippy on I forget to air kiss instead though - so you can walk round any social and see who I’ve kissed!  |
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By *hunky GentMan
over a year ago
Maldon and Peterborough |
"I do it but I’m overly tactile.
My Portuguese and french friends do two kisses which always excites me and it’s an anti climax when I get an English one sider. Lol
I’m fine with one kiss or two! When I’ve got lippy on I forget to air kiss instead though - so you can walk round any social and see who I’ve kissed! "
Can I have a smacker on the lips please?  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I don't mind the cheek kissing thing, but it gets difficult when some just do the left cheek, some do both, the Dutch do 3 kisses starting on the left or right, can lead to an awkward dance in multi country meetings.
Handshake or handshake and hug is much easier to coordinate.
And what is it with the cheek bump and air kissing! |
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"I do it but I’m overly tactile.
My Portuguese and french friends do two kisses which always excites me and it’s an anti climax when I get an English one sider. Lol
I’m fine with one kiss or two! When I’ve got lippy on I forget to air kiss instead though - so you can walk round any social and see who I’ve kissed! "
At least you don't deliberately smear it on way too heavy to ruin makeup on purpose like *someone* I know  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have noticed that when you travel to europe they do it like in france, spain and germany, is it a cultural thing?"
Historically, we probably stopped doing it during the plague. I'm guessing our European cousins never learned that |
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By *ugby 123Couple
over a year ago
Forum Mod O o O oo |
Unless I know the person or they are family then they aint getting no kisses and they aint planting any on my cheeks.....or giving hugs that seem to be in the in thing at the minute too
We don't have to follow everyone else Shag, we can be who we are
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have noticed that when you travel to europe they do it like in france, spain and germany, is it a cultural thing?
Historically, we probably stopped doing it during the plague. I'm guessing our European cousins never learned that "
I would suggest it was during the time when lead based makeup was all the rage  if it was plague related we would wave from across the street |
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By *ugby 123Couple
over a year ago
Forum Mod O o O oo |
"I have noticed that when you travel to europe they do it like in france, spain and germany, is it a cultural thing?
Historically, we probably stopped doing it during the plague. I'm guessing our European cousins never learned that "
Hahaha |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I have noticed that when you travel to europe they do it like in france, spain and germany, is it a cultural thing?
Historically, we probably stopped doing it during the plague. I'm guessing our European cousins never learned that
I would suggest it was during the time when lead based makeup was all the rage if it was plague related we would wave from across the street"
But the common people didn't wear (I thought it was arsenic based) makeup  - but point noted |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"But the common people didn't wear (I thought it was arsenic based) makeup - but point noted "
But who wants to live like common people
Arsenic was famously used in France to bleach nipples, someone went on trial for killing someones husband a long time ago.
I suspect that arsenic, lead, and probably mercury have all been in makeup at some point. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"But the common people didn't wear (I thought it was arsenic based) makeup - but point noted
But who wants to live like common people
Arsenic was famously used in France to bleach nipples, someone went on trial for killing someones husband a long time ago.
I suspect that arsenic, lead, and probably mercury have all been in makeup at some point."
I was 12 when I learned about the arsenic, in my history lesson. Funny I remember that and not how they reddened lips. Possibly the cochineal beetle. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I was 12 when I learned about the arsenic, in my history lesson. Funny I remember that and not how they reddened lips. Possibly the cochineal beetle. "
fucus-algin, 0.01% iodine, and some bromine mannite it was toxic and quite seriously apparently. Shimmering lipstick was made from fish scales.
Renaissance noblewomen wore makeup containing white lead ore, vinegar, arsenic, hydroxide, and carbonate, applied to the face over egg whites.
Good ol' google |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I was 12 when I learned about the arsenic, in my history lesson. Funny I remember that and not how they reddened lips. Possibly the cochineal beetle.
fucus-algin, 0.01% iodine, and some bromine mannite it was toxic and quite seriously apparently. Shimmering lipstick was made from fish scales.
Renaissance noblewomen wore makeup containing white lead ore, vinegar, arsenic, hydroxide, and carbonate, applied to the face over egg whites.
Good ol' google "
Well the renaissance came after the plague (thanks to Dan Brown not Google nerrr). |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Unless I know the person or they are family then they aint getting no kisses and they aint planting any on my cheeks.....or giving hugs that seem to be in the in thing at the minute too
We don't have to follow everyone else Shag, we can be who we are
"
That is right we dont have to. I was googling before I did the post of what countries did it and it said that cheek kissing is not as widely practiced in the uk as in other parts of europe and same here I do it to the ones I know |
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By *aitonelMan
over a year ago
Liverpool |
Do they really though?
I think it is more of a stereotype than an actual practice that gets done culturally.
Sure, yes I expect as a whole there are more people who do it in other countries than in the UK. But I'd not say its exactly common practice for everyday life for the majority of the populations. Certain circumstances and situations, and those involved would likely play the largest role in it being done. |
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Does anyone find it can be a class thing?
I never did it until I started attending black tie dinners etc with my ex who was a tax consultant. Until then I only kissed or hugged people I knew well - unless I was d*unk of course - in which case everyone becomes my best friend in all the world!
May be ‘posher’ well travelled people brought the habit over from the continent - and it’s slowly made its way down to plebs like me? |
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"Do they really though?
I think it is more of a stereotype than an actual practice that gets done culturally.
Sure, yes I expect as a whole there are more people who do it in other countries than in the UK. But I'd not say its exactly common practice for everyday life for the majority of the populations. Certain circumstances and situations, and those involved would likely play the largest role in it being done. "
I worked for a company whose main purchasing office was in Holland. Every bugger I met leaned in for a cheek kiss.
That was when I perfected the "lean back slightly and extend my hand" handshake routine. Bollocks to that - I couldn't stand half of them! |
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"Does anyone find it can be a class thing?
I never did it until I started attending black tie dinners etc with my ex who was a tax consultant. Until then I only kissed or hugged people I knew well - unless I was d*unk of course - in which case everyone becomes my best friend in all the world!
May be ‘posher’ well travelled people brought the habit over from the continent - and it’s slowly made its way down to plebs like me? "
Ooh that's interesting.
It's one of those things, I'll play along but never initiate it. To me that kind of face closeness indicates intimacy. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I do it but I’m overly tactile.
My Portuguese and french friends do two kisses which always excites me and it’s an anti climax when I get an English one sider. Lol"
Yes and on my art class I do here in london there are few spanish women and they all initiate the cheek kiss as you meet them. I have noticed that it is quite close to the side of the lips. |
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It's definitely a cultural aspect of society and possibly a benefit from our closer connections with other Europeans that it's somewhat more widespread now than fairly recent times.
I like that more younger people kiss more widely, often same gender friends, including those thought of as more hyper-masculine, such as rugby players who I see kissing each other a lot.
Countries in the rest of Europe have been renowned for their high levels of physical intimacy and expression, especially in the more southern areas. The UK wasn't as expressive in the same ways. Who will you kiss Shag? Anyone? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"It's definitely a cultural aspect of society and possibly a benefit from our closer connections with other Europeans that it's somewhat more widespread now than fairly recent times.
I like that more younger people kiss more widely, often same gender friends, including those thought of as more hyper-masculine, such as rugby players who I see kissing each other a lot.
Countries in the rest of Europe have been renowned for their high levels of physical intimacy and expression, especially in the more southern areas. The UK wasn't as expressive in the same ways. Who will you kiss Shag? Anyone? "
Yes I would but only kiss the women and a hand shake to the men you? |
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