Of Latin origin, the greeting kissing persists in countries where the culture of contact dominates, and this culture is deeply rooted in France. The French still greet each other by touching each other, kissing or shaking hands.
That's because while it is customary for women in France to greet both men and women with a kiss on each cheek, men generally reserve la bise for close male friends or family.
La bise, meaning kiss, specifically describes greeting each other with air kisses. It can be separated from other words for a kiss, like bisous (spoken) or baisers (romantic.) La bise is like the gallic equivalent of a warm embrace. It is a sign of respect and affection.
North Americans may have the half-hug, but French people have la bise. The “bise etiquette” in France is to greet family, friends, and even acquaintances with a kiss on each cheek as a greeting. Cheek kisses can be made between people of any gender, including two men, depending on how close they are.
Elsewhere in France, most residents exchange two kisses when greeting somebody, except for those in the region of Languedoc and the south of the Rhône-Alpes region. Two kisses are also customary in the French-speaking parts of Switzerland.
The reason behind these differences remains unknown. One respondent remarked that the custom of three kisses appeared more prevalent in the area roughly corresponding to 17th-century Protestant France, and that it could have been a way of recognising those of the same faith (three being a sign of the Trinity).
A kiss with the tongue stimulates the partner's lips, tongue and mouth, which are sensitive to the touch and induce sexual arousal. The sensation when two tongues touch—also known as tongue touching—has been proven to stimulate endorphin release and reduce acute stress levels.
Despite stereotypes monogamy is very important. As kissing someone is considered very meaningful in France, so too is sleeping with someone. While the French may be masters of flirting and love the chase, true intimacy is more reserved than you may expect.
The French have an undeniable reputation when it comes to love and sex. They are passionate, enticing and simply irresistible. French people have a way with words and actions that's all about love. And when it comes to displaying their fairness in bed, they are said to be absolute sex gods!
When a man kisses you with their tongue, it means that they are head over heels for you. There is nothing that excites them anymore except for you. A French kiss is a sign of attraction and desire and if he kisses you with so much passion, he sure wants you.
Main Difference: Main difference between these two kisses lies in the technique; a smooch only involves lips of the two individuals involved in the kiss and a French kiss involves the lips as well as the tongues.
You don't have to use your tongue through the entire make out session. If you want to just kiss without tongue too, it's totally fine. When you ARE using tongue, your go-to move when Frenching can be a massage between your two tongues. You can also try different things and see what feels most comfortable.
In the English-speaking world, friends and family generally greet each other with a wave, handshake, or hug, depending on their degree of intimacy. In France and other countries, however, the kiss is more common—not on the lips, but a symmetrical brush of the cheeks.
Expect Lots of Flirting
But whether you're single or not, in France, there is plenty of flirting regardless of marital status. To both sides, flirting is an art form. So you're going to see it thrown around a lot.
According to Fermet-Quinet, one-night stands aren't as common in France, or they don't seem like one-night stands because people are too polite to cut off contact without a discussion.
For centuries, French couples were told by the church that their duty was to sleep in the same bed. But as Christian practices decline, increasing numbers are opting for separate rooms, with the blessing of experts who say there is no reason to feel guilty.
Public displays of affection (PDA) aren't a taboo in France. Couples hold hands, hug, and kiss regularly. Perhaps this is the reason why the reputation for French romantic freedom is so widespread.
The French Won't Ask a Stranger on a Date
That is why in France, the concept of the blind date is inexistent. The French generally date someone that they had previously met either through their friends or social circles, meetup groups, local events, but also through online dating site and apps.
What is an Australian kiss? An Australian kiss. is when you start off with a French kiss. and then you end up Down Under.
Today, an average kiss lasts more than 12 seconds. In the 1980s, couples came up for air sooner than that: back then an average kiss lasted a mere 5.5 seconds.
It's no big deal in France
Of course, it wasn't called a “French kiss” in France. It was just a kiss. The French didn't even have a word for the style of kissing until 2014, when the Petit Robert dictionary added a new verb: “Galocher.” It literally means “to kiss with tongues.”
In spoken French, the most used term for "hug" is câlin, despite the fact that câlin is a noun that literally means "cuddle" rather than "hug." The term is used in informal situations.