We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Have British people always kissed each other on the cheek?
Options
Comments
-
No, definitely not. It seems to have become a 'thing' through the 90s...
I originate from a European culture that does do cheek kissing and I feel very comfortable with it with family and good friends.
Where I feel it's gone awry in UK is that people I barely know go in for a kiss! Why? No-one in my country of origin would kiss a stranger. It's a handshake only situation - man or woman.
Each culture has its tradition of one or two or even three or four cheek kisses!
So, once it started up here I was getting so confused because Brits go for one, but in my culture it's two, cue some confused, startled and red faces. Then I met some people working abroad from another culture who go for 4!0 -
Lol. It seems there's a lot of stiff-upper-lipped British here.0
-
Lol. It seems there's a lot of stiff-upper-lipped British here.2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shadingEverything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the endMFW #4 OPs: 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07
2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500, 2024 £13502025 target = £1200, YTD £690
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur0 -
Standard thing to do after a round of golf. The hard bit is remembering which ladies like two which like one!0
-
I don't mind with family, but find if very awkward in a work setting. OH and I run a business and often visit clients together. OH and client - manly handshake. Me and client - he moves in for a kiss on the cheek, I move away (I'm ready for it these days), he gets a bit miffed. Very irritating.No longer a spouse, or trailing, but MSE won't allow me to change my username...0
-
Not done in my circle of acquaintances apart from at New Year, but my son has a Romanian girlfriend who does hug but always says 'Can I give you a hug'.0
-
Depends on the situation, it's not a new thing, I work and socialise in an artistic environment so kiss on the cheek, normally as a goodbye is normal. But its about gaging the situation, there are some people I would never kiss as it would feel weird.0
-
Soundgirlrocks wrote: »But its about gaging the situation,
Do you mean gagging?0 -
Gloomendoom wrote: »Do you mean gagging?
(I suspect she meant gauging)2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shadingEverything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the endMFW #4 OPs: 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07
2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500, 2024 £13502025 target = £1200, YTD £690
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur0 -
From a work colleague? No way would I accept that. From an elderly relative - I'd probably tolerate it but move away as soon as I could.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards