French Kissing Tradition Endangered?
#24
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,315
#26
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,315
It shows the number of kisses per département (county). The Paris area is reproduced on the left in place of the white spot on the map.
Naturally, there are variations even within a département. Actually, one must remember for each person that one has met how many kisses are expected, although a group will conform to the number of kisses that the first person receives (2, 3, 4....). I love it!
Naturally, there are variations even within a département. Actually, one must remember for each person that one has met how many kisses are expected, although a group will conform to the number of kisses that the first person receives (2, 3, 4....). I love it!
#28
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,315
Muslims kiss much more than non-Muslims, although outside of the family, they only kiss members of the same sex. Since more and more young men are now kissing each other as friends in Paris, I am pretty sure that it is the North African influence that is spreading. In the old days, men kissing each other was reserved for the family or really close friends, but in this century, just about all young men under the age of 25 seem to be kissing each other when they meet.
It is still nothing compared to the Middle East, where the men seem to kiss each other at least 10 times.
It is still nothing compared to the Middle East, where the men seem to kiss each other at least 10 times.
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Here young folk are hugging each other like crazy - a new trend in the past few years - hugs everywhere even with casual friends - and some schools are trying to stop it as it can go too far they say. We had a thread on this recently and most oldsters thought it was a good trend. Not good for Swine Flu prevention in schools though i guess.
#30
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,424
Since we just spent a year in 3-kiss Netherlands, I asked DH (who is a virologist) whether he thinks cheek "kisses" are worse than handshakes for Swine flu passing. His completely off-the-top-of-his-half-asleep-head, not for attribution nor to be examined with scientific rigor, is that cheek kissing may be worse. His semi-comatose thinking was that since the flu is a respiratory virus and you are putting your mouth and nose in such close proximity to the other person's and then breathing on each other, that it may increase the chances for spreading. He suggested (I think he was kidding but he's back asleep) if you held your breath during the whole exercise, it might be better.
#33
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,461
I spent the day today wandering around Toulouse watching people kiss. Unfortunately I did not record these instances photographically. But it got pretty confusing out there, and I could swear that some people kissed left first and some kissed right. I am suffering from a bit of vertigo, though, so I might have been confused.
#38
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,121
I have seen no change in kissing habits in Paris. There is some degree of hysteria about swine flu within the French government, but much less so within the general population, although sensationalistic media reports still take their toll.
It is unlikely that the tradition of kissing will die out just because of some temporary hype about the flu, just as it is unlikely that fear of the flu will persuade French men to wash their hands after using the toilet.
It is unlikely that the tradition of kissing will die out just because of some temporary hype about the flu, just as it is unlikely that fear of the flu will persuade French men to wash their hands after using the toilet.
#39
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,461
Kissing observation update. Spent yesterday at the market in Trie sur Baise. Everybody headed right, then left. Kissed the left cheek and then the right. My vertigo is much better so I'm pretty sure I got it right. Maybe it is different in Paris than in the midi?
