The New Year Eve is about the last fanfare of the year which happens to be the final event in a holiday romp of eating, drinking and celebrating.

This is the last day of the year that gives you a chance to let your hair down before you start making and keeping those New Year resolutions.

Also, it is that time of the year to wear glitzy clothes, reflect on the past and ponder future resolutions coupled with a kiss at the stroke of midnight.

Generally, kissing is a touchy subject hence you may decide to attend New Year eve service, stay indoor to watch your favourite movie on television, or toasting champagne at upscale parties/nightclubs, a tradition that makes case for celebrating the new year with loved ones you enjoy hanging out with.
As you get ready to countdown to the start of 2020, it will be good to find out what is behind the curious meaning of smooching, to usher in the New year.

Although it seems people have been locking lips since the 8th century BC, its essence has run the gamut from straight-up debauchery to purification, superstition and plain old fun. According to KissingMatters, ‘’Historians date the practice back to the ancient Romans who would throw a big party every New Year’s Eve called, the Festival of Saturnalia where they would kiss, and generally, debauch one another as much as possible.’’ No wonder Rome fell.

Europeans have also held masked balls on New Year’s Eve for hundreds of years. Kissing Matters explains: ‘’In these traditions, the mask symbolizes evil spirits from the old year, and the kiss [ after removing the mask ] is an act of purification.’’

The English and Germans would celebrate, by kissing the first person they met when the bell tolled 12midnight. The folklore behind this tradition says that, the first person you encounter in a new year and the type of encounter you have, will set the tone for the rest of the year.

Nigerians on the other hand, especially Christians attend New Year eve services in churches. The non believers are not left out as everyone wants to enter the new year in the house of God.

At the crack of midnight, people hug and wish each other a happy new year, while the love birds among them indulges in pecks and kissing.

This type of kissing is an age-old tradition and at this junction, it is deep-seated in our popular consciousness that no one gives much thought as why we do it. One reason we don’t mind is probably because we had a lot of drinks by the time the topic springs to mind 11.50p.m every December 31st.

On a lighter note, one may not be able to know whether or not the Romans, Germans, English and Nigerians are right. Below are several theories and advantages of sharing a Midnight kiss at the end of every year, an interesting story can help seal a last minute smooch with someone special.

*Kissing at new year eve gives you a shared memory. It is kind of lonely to stand alone in the middle of crowded room with no one to smooch; but, it could be amazing when two strangers find one another and bestow a good luck kiss out of mutual affection. Actually, when you touch lips in celebration, in all honesty, that could be pretty really cool.

*Getting close to a new special person, those same superstitions hold that you will have a special relationship with the very first person you kiss in the new year. This could hopefully mean, you believe in love at first tongue.

*It is really fun to lock lips especially with all the superstitions around kissing at new year. This stems from a sense of debaucheries and celebration. There is really nothing wrong with letting loose and partaking in a little bit of silly celebration. It just gives you an additional layer to your relationship when you share a smooch.

*New Year kiss means getting rid of evil spirits as it seems like evil spirits are at the heart of most good traditions. For hundreds of years, masquerade balls were held for holidays including New Year’s. Masks symbolizes evil spirits, a kiss following the mask’s removal symbolized purification.
You may want to blur the line between friends and strangers. According to tradition, one should show hospitality to friends and strangers alike in the New Year. Thus, it is customary to kiss every single person in the room with you.

*It is possible you might just hit the re-set button on your love life as the superstition might be true if a kiss on the eve of a new year is an opportunity to start off the next year on the right foot. If your love life happens to be boring in 2019, kissing a stranger might mean you will take more risks in 2020. Focus on positive manifestation of what a new year eve’s kiss might mean. But if you believe that kissing somebody when the clock strikes 12p.m will usher something good no matter what it will be, then that is just what will probably happen to you.

*From observation, the midnight kiss on a New Year Eve, though steeped in years of tradition, appears to have become more of a wilful act that no longer holds any real importance other than being a simple show of affection, an expression of well wishes for the new year, or just a fun thing to do with your spouse/partner or the random person who is lucky enough to be standing next to you when the mirrored ball hits bottom.
I personally do not believe that not kissing someone at New Year means doom for an entire year of lovelessness. My angle on superstition is that, it is better to be choosy about finding the right person to kiss or smooch at midnight, than grabbing just anybody when the ball drops.

Finally, if you must kiss, go for the cheek not necessarily on the lips, a genuine kiss on the cheek is harmless and even a quick brush on your cheek against theirs is perfectly acceptable New Year’s eve gesture.

Even if you are with a person of interest, don’t overdo it, give the person a quick kiss and leave the passionate lip lock for the other room. Do not try to kiss anyone who does not want to be kissed.
Before you give a New Year kiss, make sure your breath is minty fresh. Don’t bother over a midnight lip exchange, it is merely tradition and if you are uncomfortable with forced affection, no problem.

Traditions are meant to be broken, so let no old custom spoil your night of fun with loved ones.