They don't know the French kiss in France. How did this way of kissing originate and why did it only become popular 100 years ago?
A kiss can be the beginning of a relationship, the beginning of sexual desire. Especially the French one, during which the tongues of those involved are "in action". However, this way of kissing has not always been as popular as it is today, and it has nothing to do with France at all, even though it - or Paris - is considered the mecca of all lovers. The term "French kiss" (which was also called "Florentine" in the past) was coined by the English, or rather by American and British soldiers, and first appeared in the English dictionary in 1923, becoming popular in the aftermath of the First World War.
American French kiss
Although everyone will probably know what it is when they say "French kiss", no one today knows exactly how the term originated. One theory is that it was started by Americans who traveled to France and kissed French women, who liked a little more excitement compared to American women. Of course, it also took a while for the sign, but also the type of kissing itself, to become more widespread. It wasn't until after World War II that the French kiss gained acceptance in the US. According to Sheril Kirchenbaum, author of the book "The Science of Kissing", this was mainly due to American soldiers who served in Europe, and thanks to them the French kiss also made its way across the ocean.
It is somewhat paradoxical that for many years the French had no name at all for the style of tongue kissing. Only in 2014 did the Petit Robert dictionary introduce a new verb: "galocher". It literally means "to kiss with tongues".
How did the French kiss originate?
Although the term itself is the work of British and American soldiers, kissing using the tongue, of course, was not "invented" by humans until the early 20th century. References to this type of kiss appear throughout many ancient texts, as early as 1500 B.C. Similarly, French kissing is not omitted from the "Bible of Sex" - the Kama Sutra, which includes the mouth itself among the places suitable for kissing, in addition to the lips. Similarly, there is surviving evidence that at the time of the Kama Sutra people in India commonly practiced tongue kissing.
It should be added, however, that the French kiss certainly did not spread completely throughout the world, although the practice was accepted in many societies, while in others the French kiss is still unheard of or abhorred. We in Europe can thus thank the Romans in particular, who were involved in kissing not only practically but also theoretically. They even described a trio of kisses - the osculum, a friendly kiss on the cheek, the basium, an erotic kiss on the lips, and the savium, the most passionate kiss on the mouth. In Roman society in particular, not only the place but also the manner and the specific occasion of the kiss were very important indicators of social status.
Today, French kissing has even become so popular that a team of Japanese researchers has invented a French kissing stand that couples who are far apart can connect to online and enjoy their virtual closeness...
Kiss whoever you like
Regardless of what exactly we call a particular type of kissing, the fact is that a kiss can be a major life milestone. While a good kiss can be the start of a lifelong partnered romance, a bad kiss can do the complete opposite and kill any chances of a new relationship in the bud. Kissing also has many health benefits - according to many studies, it helps lower blood pressure, increases levels of "happiness hormones" (serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin), as well as burning calories and boosting self-esteem. But first of all, it's fun...
