Kissing is the ‘complex action that requires significant muscular coordination involving 34 muscles and 112 postural muscles” The most important muscle is the orbicularis oris muscle, which is used to pucker the lips – known as the ‘kissing muscle.” Lips also have many nerve endings which make them ‘sensitive to touch and bite.’ Don’t forget the tongue or the ‘French kiss” which is important.
Ever heard of the Old English word Cyssan? It meant (to kiss) and later became the word Coss (A kiss). So, time and maybe Shakespeare turned Coss into Kiss. Who knows?
So, how did all this kissing evolve? Did people always kiss? No Why do they? How do they? How did it start? And for what reason? Was it acceptable among cultures? No … Yes.
“What!?” Well, its very complicated … kissing. And it does have a long story. So, let’s get started…
Let’s start with animals. Do they kiss? Possibly. Wiki notes that birds ‘bill’, pigeons ‘cataglot’, bugs ‘antena play’, dogs and cats lick and groom each other. Some animals rub muzzle/nuzzle each other. Is that kissing???? That’s your call here.
What may have encouraged humans to kiss is possibly ‘premasticaling’ food to children. ‘Chewing or regurgitating food to feed a baby or one who could not eat.’ Even the tongue gets into the action of moving food from the parent’s mouth into the child. Thus, nourishing the receiver, strengthening the receiver and thus become a form of affection.
Hummm…
But does it stop here. Of course not. Kissing has been studied by ever science out there.. And there is lots to learn about this ‘puckering’ process. Stay tuned for…mistletoe, Celts, Romans, caveman and so much more…
