The New Year’s Kiss

I have never been big on New Year’s Eve.  I don’t know why exactly, but it’s never been my thing.  Last year on NYE, I sat in my ex’s apartment in Moose Jaw, SK and unpacked boxes.  We went to bed before midnight, so we didn’t even do the traditional kiss that ring’s in the new year.  Traditionally, kissing someone when the bell tolls midnight is meant to bring good luck in the coming year.  I guess I should have tried harder to follow through with that tradition…

…But as I sit here, reflecting on that moment in my own heartbreak history, I find myself wondering about kissing in general.  Kissing carries a lot of weight in our society. Like that scene in Pretty Woman suggests, when Julia Roberts’ character says she’ll do anything except kiss on the mouth, kissing is a sacred thing in our society.  No matter how cool you may appear to be, a kiss – a real kiss – is never just a kiss.

Kissing requires a lot of kinetic energy, and uses 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles.  Perhaps more notably interesting though, is that the lips have more nerve endings than the clitoris or the penis. It has also been found by researchers that increased kissing can reduce in perceived stress levels, increase relationship satisfaction, and even lower your cholesterol.  With these basic facts alone, it’s easy to understand why kissing is so important around the world.

But it doesn’t entirely explain the sacred aspect of kissing that our society places on a kiss.

Humour me for a moment.  Sit back, close your eyes and think about the best kiss of your life.  Remember and recall every moment of that kiss.  Every sensation.

I bet you that you can think of one, or many, rather quickly.  And I bet that memory makes you feel good.  Despite what may have followed it, that particular kiss (or kisses), is a good memory.

And for that reason alone, I don’t care how good a player you are or how callous you may think you are, you secretly agree.  Kissing is sacred.

Still aren’t sold yet?  Then let’s look at the word sacred.  Sacred can be defined as “devoted or dedicated to a diety or to some religious purpose.”  And historically, throughout many varied religions, kissing has been recognized as an act of reverence.  Kissing someone, or something, can be found in almost any religion and often has great significance.  Kissing has always been a sacred act.

And somewhere, even if it’s buried deep within our psyche, we still respect the sacredness of a kiss.

So this New Year’s Eve, when you find that someone to kiss at midnight, take a second before you do it.  Say a prayer, make a wish, or do what ever it is you do.  Who knows?  Maybe it actually does bring you good luck.

Much love,

/Jane