Last Updated on December 30, 2024 by Avia
Smooching at midnight was never a deal for me, but the symbolism of the New Year’s kiss is a very big deal for millions of folks who countdown the moment that marks the turning of a new page in the calendar year. I’ve done some research, and conducted a hefty amount of interviews – and it seems the countdown to midnight on New Year’s Eve is a universal crescendo of excitement that leads to that long awaited smooch. As the clock strikes twelve, there’s a magical pause—a moment when people lean into love, intimacy, or connection, sealed with a kiss. But why do we do this? What’s the big hype over this much anticipated kiss? That’s what I’m here to talk about.
Table of Contents
- The Origins of the New Year’s Kiss
- Why Midnight Matters
- The Symbolism of a Kiss
- Midnight New Year’s Kisses (or other types of affectionate recognition) Around the World
- Japan: Shared Meals and the Joya no Kane Bell
- China: Family Gatherings and Reunion Dinners
- Philippines: Close-Knit Community Celebrations
- India: Hugs and Blessings for Renewal
- Latin American Cultures: Hugs and Toasts
- Thailand: Songkran and Water Blessings
- South Korea: Bowing and Family Meals
- Indigenous Communities Worldwide: Symbolic Acts of Connection
- Why Kissing Isn’t Universal
- The Superstition of the Midnight Kiss
- Love and Renewal at the Stroke of Twelve
- FAQs: About New Year’s Kiss Meaning
- A Final Word on Love and Hope
The Origins of the New Year’s Kiss
In my research, I found one of the earliest mentions of lip locks at New Year was from the Romans. A New Year’s kiss was standard practice during Saturnalia. Debauchery and wildly hedonistic trends aside, Saturnalia was a Roman festival marking the winter solstice. Party-goers believed that kissing warded off evil spirits and welcomed good fortune.
Fast forward to centuries later and we see New Year celebrations in the form of European masquerade balls. The act of kissing at the strike of midnight was intended as a romantic gesture. In general, unmasking and kissing symbolized trust, renewal, and unity. Today, the New Year’s kiss has evolved into a worldwide tradition, representing everything from romance to friendship, to a deed done to seal a sweet deal for better times ahead.
Why Midnight Matters
There’s no denying that midnight holds a mystical allure – what I love about it is what’s known as “liminal space” (a concept that I find infinitely fascinating). Liminal space is the “in-betweeness” – it’s neither here, nor there. It’s found in twilight, the gloaming hours of dusk and dawn, and in that wink-of-an-eye moment of midnight. It’s a moment of 1000% pure potential. There is no past or future – there is only undecided present-moment awareness in the liminal. That’s the power midnight carries – it’s a crossroad of opportunity. So, it makes sense that pairing this pivotal moment with a kiss amplifies the power of liminal potential. The act of kissing at midnight becomes a symbolic bridge from past to future, anchoring us in love and hope as we cross into a new chapter.
The Symbolism of a Kiss
A kiss means many things to many people – and we all have our own interpretation (that’s what I dig about symbolism – it’s alwasy subjective). Anyhoo, I think we can all agree a kiss is more than a physical act. It can also be a universal language of intimacy and connection. A smooch can also be a seal, or a sort of gesture of commitment.
On New Year’s Eve, it’s imbued with even deeper meaning. A kiss can symbolize unity, vulnerability, and the shared wish to face what’s ahead—together.
Think of it this way: when we kiss someone, we create a bond. It’s a promise, spoken without words, to embrace love and connection as guiding forces for the coming year.
Midnight New Year’s Kisses (or other types of affectionate recognition) Around the World
The tradition of exchanging a kiss to mark the New Year is largely rooted in Western customs, but other cultures celebrate the passing of the year in ways that emphasize connection, renewal, or affection—though not always with a kiss. Here’s a look at how other cultures mark this significant moment:
Japan: Shared Meals and the Joya no Kane Bell
In Japan, the New Year is celebrated with rituals of purification and connection, such as the chiming of the great temple bell (Joya no Kane) 108 times to cleanse worldly desires. While kissing isn’t a widespread custom, families and loved ones express their affection by sharing Japanese cuisines like osechi ryori and mochi during the New Year feast.
Public displays of affection, like kissing, are less common in traditional Japanese culture, but private expressions of love and gratitude among close family members are highly valued.
China: Family Gatherings and Reunion Dinners
During the Chinese New Year (which is celebrated on the lunar calendar), families prioritize reunion and togetherness through meals and symbolic traditions like giving red envelopes (hongbao). While kissing isn’t a traditional gesture, acts of respect and connection, such as bowing or sharing a toast, signify goodwill and affection for the year ahead.
Philippines: Close-Knit Community Celebrations
In the Philippines, New Year’s Eve is a lively occasion filled with food, fireworks, and the symbolism of round shapes to attract prosperity. While kissing isn’t a standard tradition, families and couples share hugs, hand-holding, and other intimate gestures that reflect closeness and hope for the coming year.
India: Hugs and Blessings for Renewal
In India, the celebration of the New Year varies widely depending on regional customs and the calendar followed (e.g., Diwali for Hindus, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, or Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra). While kissing isn’t customary, touching elders’ feet for blessings or exchanging warm hugs is a common way to seek and express affection and goodwill.
Latin American Cultures: Hugs and Toasts
Many Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, focus on familial bonds and community during New Year’s celebrations. While hugs and handshakes are the norm for expressing affection and well-wishes, kissing on the cheek is a culturally ingrained greeting and farewell gesture, often exchanged at midnight.
Thailand: Songkran and Water Blessings
Thailand’s New Year is known as Songkran. It occurs in April and involves water-based blessings, where people pour water on each other as a symbolic cleansing for the year ahead. While kissing isn’t a mandatory part of the tradition – I know affection is exchanged, and thus this playful and meaningful interaction fosters connection and goodwill among families and communities.
South Korea: Bowing and Family Meals
During Seollal – the Korean Lunar New Year (which kicks off late January, or sometimes early February), the focus is on familial respect and remembrance of ancestors. Families bow deeply to one another as a gesture of respect and gratitude, which serves as a meaningful exchange of affection.
Indigenous Communities Worldwide: Symbolic Acts of Connection
Many Indigenous cultures around the world have unique ways of marking the New Year, often tied to nature and communal connection. For example, in some Native American traditions, ceremonies or dances during seasonal transitions bring communities together to celebrate renewal and shared hope, though these traditions don’t include kissing.
Why Kissing Isn’t Universal
Outside of Western cultures, public displays of affection like kissing aren’t as acceptable, and it doesn’t come with the same meaning. In fact, kissing is often considered too intimate for communal or ceremonial settings in some cultures as they celebrate New Year’s. Instead, gestures such as hugs, bows, hand-holding, or even shared meals reflect similar values of communal bonding that kissing represents in Western traditions.
While the midnight kiss may not be universal, the global emphasis on marking the New Year with acts of affection, unity, and hope proves that the desire for connection transcends cultural boundaries.
The Superstition of the Midnight Kiss
Folklore has long held that the person you kiss at midnight is destined to play a key role in your year ahead—perhaps even your life. Some believe that failing to kiss anyone at all could invite loneliness, while kissing the right person might usher in romance or strengthen an existing bond.
This superstition might represent a sense of pressure – but it also highlights the hope we all carry for connection and joy. Whether romantic or platonic, the midnight kiss is a moment of shared energy, ringing in warm vibes and a sense of unity as the New Year pushes through.
Love and Renewal at the Stroke of Twelve
The midnight kiss isn’t just a romantic display. It’s a fabulous reminder of what we most need as humans: connection, hope, belonging, safety – and all those warmy-fuzzy feelings that makes us feel we’re in the ultimate CZ (Comfort Zone). Whether you share it with a partner, a friend, or even your dog (like I do), this symbolic gesture can potentially invite love into your life and set the tone for the year ahead.
FAQs: About New Year’s Kiss Meaning
No worries! Hug a friend, toast to yourself, or kiss your pet (my dogs get all my kisses on NYE!). Connection comes in many forms, and the meaning is yours to define.
This belief likely originates in European folklore, where missing out on a kiss symbolized missed opportunities. But remember, luck is what you make of it—a smile or kind word can carry just as much magic.
Absolutely! New Year’s is about all kinds of love—familial, platonic, and self-love included. Share the moment with someone who matters to you.
That’s perfectly fine. A hug, a slap on the back, a handshake, or even a shared laugh can carry the same heartfelt intention.
Reflect on your hopes and intentions before the clock strikes twelve. Let your kiss (or gesture) be an expression of gratitude for the past and optimism for the future.
A Final Word on Love and Hope
Whether it’s romantic, friendly, or purely symbolic, a New Year’s kiss reminds us of what matters most: love in all its forms. So, as the countdown begins, lean into the moment. Kiss someone, hug someone, or simply smile and toast to yourself.
As always, thanks for reading, and I’m wishing you all an amazing New Year’s kiss moment, and plentiful blessings for the year ahead.
Mighty brightly,
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