What does the Swine Flu and kissing in France have in common? Not much, but one may have a very strong influence on the other this Fall and Winter! In a country that has made kissing an art, health officials in France are advising schools, companies, and the public in general against this traditional form of greeting by placing fear in its citizens and calling it the kiss of death!
One of the first things a foreigner will comment on after being in France for a short time is all the kissing going on. When we took Katarina throughout France last year meeting my friends and Patrick’s family, she said, ”I’ve never kissed so many people in my life!” It’s one of the wonderful traditions 
that the French have, albeit it can be somewhat confusing for foreigners. Just how many kisses on the cheek do you give? The answer is not always that obvious: some give two, some give three, and others give four.
With the fear of the Swine Flu running rampant this winter, the French government is trying to convince people to stop all this kissing and uh,….do what? Bow at the waist as they do in Japan? I don’t think so! It’s hard to break traditions that have become as commonplace as breathing.
Maya Muses: It’s a valid warning, but I think it’ll take a lot more than a scare to stop the French from giving those delicious little pecks on the cheek that everyone has become so fond of!
Photo Credits: Google Images
7 responses so far ↓
1 Deena // Sep 15, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Oh no! I hope that tradition doesn’t go away! Not before I get to France in any case!!!
2 patrick // Sep 15, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Well next time I go to the store I’m going to take the can of towels that they so graciously provide to sanitize the bar of your buggy. This way when I go to France I’ll be able to sanitize every cheek I want to kiss. I know! As ridiculous as that sounds, it’s just as ridiculous to think that the French government will put a stop to our traditional way of greeting each other!
3 Lynn // Sep 15, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I don’t think you have anything to worry about Deena, unless there really are a number of deaths because of the flu this winter (God forbid!) the kissing will continue!
4 Lynn // Sep 15, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Cheri, it might be easier to just buy the handy wipes in France! Lol. Actually the hard part will be women letting you wipe off their makeup! Have you thought about that???
5 patrick // Sep 18, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Nope!!!! Damn!!!
6 Mia // Sep 19, 2009 at 7:12 am
Lol!
I myself think that All this attention on this Flu makes it worse..If you know what I mean?
So…The Best thing to do is…I guess to Use common sense!
Sometimes I really think that we are totally lost in the world of Maya!Time to wake up!
OK…Have to Go and take care of the Dishes!
Kisses!
7 Lynn // Sep 19, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I agree Mia, scaring people like they seem to be in France is not doing anyone any good! In the States, they’re talking about it, but more as a warning to be careful and to use common sense.
I’ve stopped banging my head against the wall (so to speak!) these past few months in Mayaland, but I’m sure I’ll be doing a lot of it again in France! Lol.
Leave a Comment