The New Year’s Kiss Tradition, Explained

As the classic song goes: “What are you doing New Year’s Eve?”

Maybe you’re staying in and watching the ball drop on TV, decked out in your 2026 glasses and armed with pots, pans, and kazoos. Maybe you’re party-hopping, dancing the night away, or hosting friends at your place. Either way, when the clock strikes 12, you’re probably all leaning in for a kiss—or at least looking for someone to smooch.

The New Year’s kiss is one of the most famous holiday traditions around. It can be a sweet way to ring in the new year with a partner, the slightly awkward result of too many glasses of Champagne, or the thrilling start of a new romance.

Whichever route you take, it may be worth knowing a bit more about the history behind the custom, and how all this kissing came about. Here is a look at the story behind the New Year’s kiss tradition, plus some tips for making the most of it, should you choose to partake.

What is the origin of the New Year’s kiss?

The saucy tradition of starting the New Year with a smooch can be traced back to the winter solstice festival Saturnalia. In ancient Rome, Saturnalia was a mid-December pagan festival that honored Saturn, the agricultural god. This celebration included decorating homes with greenery, like wreaths, grand feasts, gift-giving, and socializing with friends and family. Sound familiar?

That said, Saturnalia wasn’t totally innocent. It also included the relaxing of societal norms, a public sacrifice, and non-stop partying. “For many, it involved a few too many alcoholic beverages,” explains etiquette expert Jo Hayes. “The common consequences of said indulgence? A fair amount of PDA—including kissing.”

Eventually, Saturnalia merged with the 12-day-long Christian celebrations of Christmas, which traditionally stretched past the New Year. However, the vibe didn’t get any tamer—in fact, in medieval times, the season was believed to have been nearly as wild as it was during pagan times, with plenty of public intoxication and frivolity. “In medieval Europe, the kissing tradition evolved out of masquerade balls where midnight unmaskings were punctuated by a kiss to cleanse and thereby secure a year of good fortune,” explains historian Ralph E. Long of Academized. “The kiss had become a means of protecting from loneliness or tragedy, and guaranteeing a new beginning in love and intimacy.”

Another festival, Hogmanay, which is still celebrated today, is the Scottish equivalent of a New Year’s celebration, complete with socializing, dancing, and singing “Auld Lang Syne” (written by Scottish author Robert Burns). The celebration would have people wishing one another a “Guid New Year” with warmth and kisses to lovers, friends, and strangers alike to embrace new beginnings.