The New Year’s Eve kiss. Whether you ring in the new year watching the Times Square ball drop from your living room or toasting champagne at an upscale establishment, tradition makes a case for celebrating the new year with people you love. According to English and German folklore, the first person you encounter in a new year—and the nature of that encounter—sets the tone for the rest of the year. A kiss is about strengthening relationships you wish to maintain in the future. If a couple celebrating together on New Year’s Eve want something more from their date taking the time to lock lips at the stroke of midnight can solidify the relationship.
For single people, there’s a superstition that not kissing anyone suggests a year of loneliness and lack of validation that you are lovable. Like any other holiday, New Year’s Eve can put a great deal of stress on those without “plus ones”. As a Marriage Counselor in private practice, I had a client, Julie, 38, who ditched New Year’s Eve plans she’d made with friends because she didn’t want to be the only single person in the group. Julie stayed at home, where a New Year’s Eve kiss wasn’t a possibility or a threat and she ended up regretting the decision as she missed out on being with people who cared about her.
Even having a significant other doesn’t guarantee a romantic smooch at midnight. I worked with a couple who have replaced a romantic night out on the town with a family-friendly community event with their children. She said her husband says the New Year’s Eve kiss is passé because they were too tired to stay up til midnight. They kissed each other and their children the following morning.
This relaxed, flexible approach seems to be the key to enjoying New Year’s Eve, whatever your relationship status. Celebrate with loved ones in an environment that makes you feel safe and comfortable. The midnight kiss isn’t so different from a New Year’s resolution—despite your best intentions, you probably won’t pull it off perfectly, if at all.
You can always kiss your friends, family members, pets, or whoever is around that make you happy. Some people close their eyes at midnight and remember their favorite kiss. Remember a Kiss is just a Kiss so whoever you kiss your new year will be the best year ever.
Happy New Year everybody. Call me at (858) 735-1139 if you need to put some plans in place to make your New Year the best year ever.