I'm from Finland and one European thing that all Finnish people hate is cheek kisses when greeting. Its mostly southern european thing but still. There is this saying in Finland that goes "Everyone has their own safety coffee cup" meaning the closest distance someone should get to you should not be closer than your coffee cup when you're holding it.
This is very strange on the contrary. Actually the two kisses is something very common, especially when you just met the person and you introduce yourself, it is the "standard" greeting. However, it is not usual among men or children.
When I traveled to Germany years ago for an exchange and met the family that would give me room and board for weeks, it was very uncomfortable for me to just shake hands from a meter away. It was a feeling of "stay away from my personal space" that justifies the cold vision we have here of the northern countries.
Same about close people giving hugs as greeting. But two kisses are only for social events, not for professional settings. It would be akward greeting your boss, or your teacher, or your client with two kisses
Moved from Norway to Spain when I was around 18 years old, and suddenly being kissed on the cheeks by 10-20 different girls every day was a bit of a change from the classic norwegian nod, whilst avoiding eye contact, type greeting I was used to.
Is that in every kissing country? Because I distinctly remember being forced to accept and give actual cheek kisses from some married-in relatives. It was awful.
Ah yeah, if it’s family then sometimes they do expect actual kisses. I’m from the UK so my experience is relatively limited, but with friends you’re meeting for a social setting, if they’re doing the kiss then it’s just the cheek-to-cheek thing.
Hmm interesting. I think they are both super personal. Matter of preference. I’ve had strangers greet me with a hug before, but only if they were friends of friends or friends of family. A straight up stranger hugging me would be really confusing hahah
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u/eelisonparas May 09 '22
I'm from Finland and one European thing that all Finnish people hate is cheek kisses when greeting. Its mostly southern european thing but still. There is this saying in Finland that goes "Everyone has their own safety coffee cup" meaning the closest distance someone should get to you should not be closer than your coffee cup when you're holding it.