International Kissing Day is celebrated every April 13, commemorating the longest kiss in history that was given by a Thai couple during a contest in 2011 for more than 46 hours.
Kissing is a very common yet special act. We kiss our partner, our relatives, our friends, our pets and in its many forms: on the mouth, on the cheek, on the forehead, we throw kisses in the air … It is a sign or gesture of affection, affection, love or even as a greeting. Every April 13 International Kissing Day is celebrated, and commemorates the longest kiss -to date- in history, which occurred during a contest in Thailand in 2011, in which a couple kissed for 46 hours, 24 minutes and 9 seconds. Subsequently, this record was broken twice, and currently the record stands at 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds.
Because a kiss makes us feel good. They are experiences that can be unique and unforgettable. The first kiss, the first time we kiss our partner or child, or the kisses we received from a relative who is no longer with us can be unforgettable. The objective of International Kissing Day is to highlight the true importance of kissing as an expression of love, bonding or affection.
What are the benefits of kissing?
Although kissing may seem like a simple gesture, kissing can produce numerous benefits for both the kisser and the kiss recipient.
- Reduces stress level: the endorphins released produce a positive attitude, amplifying happiness hormones and encouraging creativity.
- It improves self-esteem and the security of our loved ones.
- Reduces blood pressure by increasing the heartbeat.
- Helps to reduce or mitigate pain sensation.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Helps burn calories.
COVID-19 and kissing
The pandemic situation caused by COVID-19 has significantly changed the way we live and behave. Preventive measures such as the use of masks, social distance or even mobility restrictions have largely overturned the plans of a large part of the population, and its impact on a psychological and sociological level is beginning to be a fact.
Kissing is undoubtedly an act “unfriendly” to COVID, since kissing puts us in direct contact with another person and thus multiplies the chances of contracting the coronavirus. Thus, acts as common in our environment as kissing a relative, greeting each other with two kisses on the cheek, hugging or shaking hands have been drastically reduced.
Kissing in times of COVID is not easy, either for fear of contagion or for fear of infecting our loved ones. In addition, past home confinement along with preventive measures and restrictions have limited contact with our loved ones to the maximum, so the potential kisses that have been missed over the last year are incalculable.
With the multiple vaccines already in place and with most of the population in the process of vaccination, we can only wait until we reach herd immunity and the entire population is immunized so that we can give free rein to our kisses and thus return to give tokens of love and affection to our loved ones.