Have British people always kissed each other on the cheek?

Malthusian

jackieblack wrote: »

(I suspect she meant gauging)

More than likely as gage is a legitimate spelling of gauge, as ane fule Scrabble player kno.

barbiedoll

It depends on your age as to whether you think all this kissing is a "new" thing or not.

When I was younger (teenager, 20+ etc), you only ever kissed your mum, your nan, babies that you were related to, and your boy/girlfriend. None of this random kissing of mates the minute you set eyes on them, and if anyone had moved in for a kiss upon a first meeting, they'd have got a knee in the nads (if male) or a "what the **** are you doing??" (if female)

The worse thing is when you're not sure if it's going to be a single cheek kiss, or a double. I've seen so many TV shows where the host introduces a guest with a kiss, then goes in for the double while the guest has started to retreat!

It's all very unnecessary and not at all British if you ask me. My best friend and I have never kissed each other, apart from when very, very drunk, or when either of us has just got married or had a baby. Which is quite how it should be!

NBLondon

Bear in mind I'm a bloke...

tikki999 wrote: »

No, definitely not. It seems to have become a 'thing' through the 90s...

I'm gonna throw in a wild-guess here and say Sex and the City may have been a factor?

I originate from a European culture that does do cheek kissing and I feel very comfortable with it with family and good friends.

One side of my family is Spanish - so pretty normal. The other side is English where one doesn't kiss one's spouse in front of people outside the family!

Soundgirlrocks wrote: »

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.

I've seen it in the world of amateur dramatics and thought it a bit pretentious then. Yes, maybe among friends who have been in a production together but some people do it to everyone as an act and others do it as a mark of "you are in my clique" and "you are not".
Nope - not in a work environment. Maybe in the pub with a colleague (or former colleague) who is also a good friend but that's less than a dozen people.

bellanoisette

No thanks. I panic about handshakes and would rather we fist bumped people :rotfl: less germs.

Gloomendoom

Fist bumped?

I'm not sure I really want to know.

jamiehelsinki

I dislike it and none of my close friends greet women with kisses. My ex wife's friends nearly all did it though.It used to cause arguments between myself and ex because I refused to participate in the pointless ritual from day one to the end.

I can sort of see why close friends might greet with kisses but you get total randoms greeting with kisses which just feels like an invasion of my space.

Only 3 women I would kiss, my mum, my daughter and someone I'm involved in a relationship with!

svain

Friends, family and in-laws .....

Males and females single kiss on cheek upon meeting and again leaving.

Males shake hands and very occasional man hug.

Really dont know what the fuss about myself .... nor do i understand why someone would recoil.

Professional realtionship - handshake whether male or female

Friends newly introduced or new partners of exisiting friends - play it by ear

indiepanda

Seems to be more of a London thing to me - didn't do it before I moved here but now I think it's standard with friends.

Not at work though, definitely dividing line between the two in my field (quite conservative).

*max*

I'm French, and I've lived in the UK for more than 15 years now. I don't "kiss" anyone except my French friends, with whom it feels natural.

I too would be taken aback if a British person went in for a cheek-to-cheek kiss. I have to say, it's never happened in 15 years. I would still do it and think no more of it though.

Mrs_Ryan

I find it odd! I can tolerate it and will air kiss on occasion but the only people I actually do kiss is mum, partner and best mate. I don't mind hugs at all and will hug anyone in a less formal situation if they hug me but in a more formal situation always a handshake.