Kissing: What you need to know

Monday, February 13, 2012

THE early Christians made kissing a sign of fellowship. They greeted "all the brethren with a holy kiss." Even more ceremonial is the "kiss of peace" given to the newly baptized and in celebration of the Eucharist. After a time, by ecclesiastical regulations, men were allowed to kiss only men, women only women.

More effusive was kissing as a court ceremony. The ceremonial kiss, especially developed by the Persian kings, reached Greece after the Macedonian conquest, and Rome toward the end of the Republic, being afterwards adapted to imperial and papal habits.

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The Oriental hand-kiss spread to the Greco-Roman world, was revived at the courts of Christendom during the Renaissance. The Greco-Roman custom of kissing the feet of temple statues was adopted by the primitive Church. From the same source sprang the practice of kissing the Book after oath-taking in courts of law.

According to Professor Vaughn M. Bryant, chair of the anthropology department at Texas A&M University, where he teaches the origin of kissing as part of an introductory anthropology course, traced the history of kissing back to the Indian subcontinent. "But it wasn't kissing as we know it now," he pointed out.

Prof. Bryant said that about 4000 years ago, the Eastern Indians used to kiss by pressing their noses together. "Well, okay, it's not too hard to figure out what happened next. Evidently they were pressing their noses together and somebody slipped and touched lips," he added.

The custom obviously spread to the Sumerian peninsula, because mention is made in ancient cuneiform writing of kissing -- and brewing beer, incidentally. In 500 A.D., Karma Sutra wrote about kissing and the various places when a man should kiss women to arouse them.

According to Prof. Bryant, it was the Romans who really got wrapped up the osculatory habit. They took the kissing art to all the countries they conquered or traded with -- the first kissing missionaries.

In the Roman literature, there are three types of kissing listed. The first is called osculum, which is just a friendship kiss and is not meant to arouse passion. It's just like the peck hosts give their guests as they arrive or depart.

The second is called basium, which is a more passionate kiss, such as would be exchanged by lovers. (The Spanish word for kiss, "beso", comes from this Roman word and so does the old English word "buss".

The third word for kiss the Romans used is savium, considered to be an erotic kiss since the tongue is nearly always brought into play. These days, it's called the soul kiss or "French kiss".

Kissing eventually spread throughout the world. However, each country has different traditions and customs regarding kissing. Japanese and Chinese, for instance, seldom use the Westerners' mouth-to-mouth kiss.

Polynesians and Eskimos rub noses when feeling romantic. When a Samoan expresses his affection to his sweetheart, he sniffs; a Mongolian puts his nose lightly on his lover's cheek or forehead and breathes slowly and gently.

It may seek incredible, but a Turk, when expressing his love to his sweetheart, avoids physical contact. He manifests his affection by kissing his own hand, then placing it on his forehead.

Never mistake two Frenchmen kissing each other for faggots. It is a custom among them to kiss each other's cheeks in greeting or when bestowing military honors. A European gentleman bows and kisses the hand of a woman to whom he is introduced.

Talking of customs, the practice of kissing the bride immediately after the wedding ceremony originated in England. The English believe that this kiss will bring "good luck to the couple." The pleasant custom of kissing under a mistletoe also started from England. In the Western world, a girl who stands under a mistletoe cannot refuse a kiss from any man who claims the privilege. According to this custom, a kiss on this occasion brings good luck for the coming year.

The custom of kissing the hand or foot of a political or religious leader to show respect and reverence dates back from ancient times.

In the Philippines, there are several superstitions regarding kissing. It is believed that kissing a sleeping baby will make him stubborn when he grows up, or he will get seriously ill. Letting two babies of different ages kiss each other will hamper the learning ability to talk of the older baby; he will wait for the younger one to start.

According to other beliefs, kissing the baby's hand will cause the baby to have bad breath. A kiss on the baby's nape will make him a spoiled brat. Kissing the baby's foot will hamper his walking. Some believe that a person who kisses a baby on the lips will encourage him to "talk back" to elders. Fortunately, some of these superstitions are beginning to die.

Kissing has always been a part of history. In fact, it’s a kiss from God that infused the "spirit of life" into man, according to the account of Genesis 2:7. God is said to have formed Adam from slime and dust and then breathed a rational soul into him. This concept of divine insufflations, which surfaces frequently in religious teachings, is often viewed through the kiss metaphor.