The French Kiss

[francomanca]

The French kiss each other each time they meet. Often, even when they meet for the first time. On the cheek, of course. It is nothing more than a tradition, right? Every French learner knows it. Many people of other countries do not - physically - understand it, nor accept it. For me, it never ceased to be a matter of a slight misunderstanding. Of

Comments

[passando]

"You have seen it done often in the movies and probably on the street in darkened corners. The French kiss is a timeless and passionate gesture of romantic affection. Whether you live in Paris, France, or Paris, Texas, you can learn how to kiss like the French do without an embarrassing faux pas!"... Picked up on Wikihow site..
The French kiss just needs experience, the way usually we understand its meaning... ;-)
Obviously, you refer here to the friendly French kiss, the one on the cheek, an intimate kiss but not so far... The handshake is probably more commonly used for the first meetings. When the "bubble" of protection we usually build around us is consciously opened, the kiss on the cheek becomes evident... but we don't open our bubbles so obviously!.. :-) I personnaly never put a kiss on the baker's wife's cheek!.., even if I see her each day of the week.. But it is an evidence that I will never put a kiss on her husband's cheek, even if he is handsome.. because the kiss on the cheek is probably a kind of beginning of seduction.. ;-)
As a member of the family, the kiss on the cheek is systematic, that's for sure.. even from man to man.. The number of kisses is another question.. It depends of the region, it depends of the people.. Two represents the average number, one on each cheek.. for a good balance!..;-) But sometimes, three is proposed.. and even four!! And you feel like swinging on a boat!.. A dilemna is always presented at the beginning.. On which cheek are we supposed to start? Left or right?!.. ;-)

[francomanca]

I've been also told that what is called “the French kiss” is something exaggerated, exactly: like in movies :-)) By “something” I mean a normal kiss between lovers, a human or rather animal-like gesture - it depends on persons and their feelings. It's purely individual, and I do believe that what is known as the “French kiss” - it is meant to be more sexy than all the others - is nothing more than a myth. No normal person has the possibility to learn to do it! :))) Unless you try to kiss hundreds of French to investigate this matter. So - thank you, Hollywood!! LOL
Sure, I do know it, yet I created this “false” title as a mere amusement :))
Because for foreigners, the innocent French friendly kiss is far from being as natural and normal as for the French themselves! A Russian child - if unprepared - kissed by a stranger (because the latter is a friend of the friends of your parent) is likely to revolt and turn away: how dare this person molest me with his/her caresses: it's the first time I've seen him, that's not my parent!!
I'm speaking in general: of course, Nastya was ready for it.
As I see from your comment, the greeting kisses between strangers are not common everywhere in France; yet... yes, they ARE common, I swear! Maybe, less to the North of France?
Because Antonio said, in Marseilles (if I'm not mistaken), even men colleagues may kiss each other!
And - yes - no one thinks of kissing a baker, or a neighbour: as Antonio explained, people generally avoid having intimate relationships with neigbours , even though they do help each other.
In Russia, we kiss, in general, only very close relatives. Curiously, my aunts, uncles and cousins began to kiss Nastya and me only recently, for some years. Between the friends, it is not very common, though exists. But no Russian will ever think of kissing on the cheek someone he has never seen before. A handshake - yes, of course - but normally between men, like in France.
A kiss here may also imply the expression of extremely strong feelings - gratitude, admiration, etc. It is very very far from being traditional, you see ;))
But we do have a plenty of strange old traditions and superstitions! I will talk about it later.