Interesting facts about kissing

Today is International Kissing Day and in this article, we present some curious facts about this beautiful way of expressing feelings.

Let's celebrate!

Did you know that Philematology is the study of the evolution of the kiss, the different types of kisses, and what they trigger?

KISSES ACCORDING TO CULTURES

A kiss can have diverse meanings. In some parts of the world, it is even FROWNED UPON to greet someone with a kiss.

Below we will show you the kiss around the world:

- INDIA: birthplace of the modern kiss. It is believed that they emerged from "Eskimo kisses" and the practice of inhaling each other's breath.

- PACIFIC ISLANDERS / MAORI OF NEW ZEALAND: use the Eskimo kiss as a greeting. For them, it is a test of scent as a measure of compatibility.

- ITALY/GREECE: kissing on the lips is a common way for friends to greet each other.

- FRANCE: they have 2 types of kisses; the air kiss: it is a kiss on each cheek and they use it as a greeting. And the French kiss, which is used for romance.

- LATIN AMERICA/ASIA: they use the air kiss as a usual greeting between friends.

- CHINA/JAPAN: it was considered as intimate as sex, relegated only to the bedroom.

- VIETNAM: spouses kiss only in private and rarely kiss their children.

- SOMALIS: it means abstinence; they do not practice kissing on the lips.

- AMAZON TRIBES: they kiss as children but avoid it as adults.

TELL ME WHERE YOU KISS...

- LIPS: a kiss between partners or lovers. Although also between friends.

- CHEEK: a kiss between friends, family, coworkers, or acquaintances. Common greeting.

- HAND: symbol of respect and chivalry.

- NOSE: tender and playful. An indicator of romanticism or jealousy.

- FOREHEAD: speaks of protection, tenderness, and care.

CURIOUS FACTS:

- Scientists believe that we kiss to exchange genetic information and thus determine if we are partners for procreation.

- When we kiss, we use 5 of the 12 cranial nerves.

- The lips are the most exposed erogenous zone of the body.

- The romantic kiss exists in 90% of the world's cultures.

- The skin of the lips is the thinnest on our body.

- The thinness of the skin allows us to better see the blood vessels under this area.

- It is more likely that we will get sick from shaking hands than from a kiss.

- A kiss can be 10 times more effective than morphine at reducing pain.

- A kiss releases several neurotransmitters: DOPAMINE, EPINEPHRINE, NOREPINEPHRINE, ENDORPHIN, AND OXYTOCIN.

- When we kiss, the body lowers the production of the hormone cortisol, which is linked to stress.

- The first kiss is one of the clearest memories we have.

- 59% of men and 66% of women have stopped a potential relationship due to a bad kiss.

- A French kiss requires us to move 34 facial muscles.

- The main muscle we use when kissing is called the ORBICULARIS ORIS.

- A kiss causes pupil dilation, and perhaps that is why many of us close our eyes while doing it.

Did you know all these curious facts?

For these reasons and more, let's celebrate this International Kissing Day!