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When did the kissing tradition on New Year's Eve begin?
The custom is thought to date from at least the Middle Ages. In German and English folklore, it was believed that the first person you saw at the very start of the year set the tone for the next 12 months, so to be safe, people began keeping loved ones close at the stroke of midnight Jan. 1, according to Entertaining from Ancient Rome to the Super Bowl: An Encyclopedia.
Others trace the custom to the ancient Romans, who liked to pucker up during the feast of Saturnalia, which was held to celebrate the winter solstice in late December.
Forget New Year's Eve, why do human kiss anyway?
First, it's important to remember that locking lips as an expression of affection is not a universal trait: according to a 2015 study, romantic kissing is common in only about 46 percent of human cultures (and is virtually unknown in the rest of the animal kingdom).
But for those humans who do prefer a smooch, the appeal may be bound up with pheromones and the female's use of smell in selecting a male mate. People generally don't have a great sense of smell (compared to lots of other animals), and so getting in close for the kiss may help women weed out the Mr. Wrongs from the Mr. Rights.
What happens if you don't kiss someone on New Year's Eve? Is it really bad luck?
Could be, according to students of long-lived superstitions. If you fail to lock lips with your beloved, you may be buying yourself "a year of coldness" between the two of you.
Any suggestions if I don't have someone to kiss on New Year's Eve?
Pick up a noisemaker! Find someone for a platonic hug! And just remember that being single at New Year's doesn't mean you're doomed to a life of loneliness.