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Etiquette with kissing in UK

10 replies

Woolywombat · 11/07/2025 20:17

I'm wondering what is the etiquette with kissing in UK families / in-laws ?
If you see your in-laws everyday do you have to kiss them and hug them ?
I come from a country that we kiss and hug when we haven't seen someone for a while. But not everyday.

OP posts:
neverknowinglyunreasonable · 11/07/2025 20:18

Only use tongue if you're very close

Dearg · 11/07/2025 20:19

Good grief no. I kissed MIL on the cheek the day she died. I may have hugged her once or twice in the 30 years I knew her. Definitely hug BIL every time we meet, but I like him.

stackhead · 11/07/2025 20:21

I do. But we're a fairly huggy family. Hug hello to everyone in the house when we arrive, hug goodbye to everyone when we leave.

Kisses on the cheek for the elderly family members who seem to expect it.

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Arlanymor · 11/07/2025 20:21

Depends entirely on your relationship with them. I come from a very huggy and kissy family. I don’t think it is as much to do with culture as to the individuals themselves.

Dutchhouse14 · 11/07/2025 20:21

No, I don't even kiss my mum or adult DC on greeting!
I guess some families may but not ours

hexsnidgett · 11/07/2025 20:22

I only kiss dh. My dm gets a hug sometimes.
Just go with what they do and don't initiate.

user2848502016 · 11/07/2025 20:36

I’ll hug my in-laws hello/goodbye but not kiss, we see them every few months

Woolywombat · 11/07/2025 23:19

hexsnidgett · 11/07/2025 20:22

I only kiss dh. My dm gets a hug sometimes.
Just go with what they do and don't initiate.

They kiss everyday and hug and it's a bit much for me.

OP posts:
MonGrainDeSel · 11/07/2025 23:26

I kiss my mum and dad on the cheek when I say goodbye and I see them most days. But they are both over 80 and there are a number of terrible health conditions going on and honestly, either one of them could die at any time. So I don't want to not bother. Everyone else, absolutely not. And I absolutely don't expect DH to be kissing them!! That's just weird.

mondaytosunday · 11/07/2025 23:26

Gosh thought the English were supposed to be very reticent with touching let alone kissing!
I kissed my mum if I hadn’t seen her fur a couple weeks, but certainly not if saw her daily.
I kiss my friends if I haven’t seen them for a few days, but frankly I was relieved during Covid when this all stopped. It’s resumed but I tend to avoid it if possible.

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