When And How Did The Custom Of Kissing Start?

We know, to express affection in a way we kiss. In still earlier times; a kiss was an expression of homage in many parts of the world.

In a number of African tribes, the natives kiss the ground over which the chief has walked. Kissing the hand and foot has been a mark of respect and homage from the earliest times. The Romans, as a mark of dignified greeting, kissed the eyes or mouth. One Roman emperor allowed his important nobles to kiss his lips. The less’ important were allowed only to kiss his hands. The least important were allowed to kiss his feet.

Probably, we can trace the kiss as a form of affection right up to the primitive times. The mother used to fondle her child, just as a mother does in the present times. It has remained for society to accept this as a custom for expressing affection among adults.

We trace evidence up to the sixth century. The practice can be assumed well before that period. France was the first country where kiss became accepted in courtship and love. Every dance figure ended with a kiss when dancing became popular.

Further on, the kiss spread to Europe. Russia, which loved to copy the french customs, adopted the kiss. In the time it spread there through all the upper classes. A kiss from the Tsar became one of the highest forms of recognition from the crown.

With the passage of time, this kiss became a part of courtship. As marriage customs developed, the kiss became a part of the wedding ceremony. Now we regard a kiss as a mark of expressing love and tenderness. There are places in the world where the kiss is part of formal ceremonies and is intended to convey respect and homage.