Quiz of the Day
Love & Relationships
Monday, 6 July 2026
International Kissing Day — love customs around the world, romance in history
1. International Kissing Day originated in which country?
- France
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Brazil
International Kissing Day started in the UK and was adopted by the United Nations in 2006. The British may seem reserved, but they popularised the idea that a kiss is a universal expression of affection worth celebrating.
2. In which ancient civilisation do we find the earliest written records of kissing?
- Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq)
- Ancient China
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greece
Clay tablets from Mesopotamia dating to around 2500 BC describe kissing as part of romantic and intimate behaviour. A 2023 study published in Science found this pushes back the earliest evidence of kissing by over 1,000 years than previously thought.
3. What chemical is released in the brain during a kiss that creates feelings of bonding and attachment?
- Adrenaline
- Oxytocin
- Cortisol
- Melatonin
Kissing triggers a cocktail of chemicals: oxytocin (bonding), dopamine (pleasure), serotonin (happiness), and adrenaline (excitement). It also lowers cortisol (stress). A single kiss engages 146 muscles and can burn 2-6 calories per minute.
4. In which country is it traditional to rub noses as a greeting instead of kissing?
- Japan
- Ethiopia
- New Zealand (Maori culture)
- Sweden
The Maori hongi involves pressing noses and foreheads together while sharing breath. It symbolises the exchange of the 'breath of life' and is considered more intimate than a handshake. The Inuit also practise a similar nose-touching greeting called a 'kunik.'
5. Which Shakespeare play features the famous line 'parting is such sweet sorrow'?
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Romeo and Juliet
- Hamlet
- Othello
Romeo and Juliet was written around 1597 and remains the most famous love story in the English language. Shakespeare invented the phrase 'love is blind,' along with about 1,700 other words we still use today, including 'lonely,' 'generous,' and 'bedroom.'
6. How many cheek kisses are traditionally exchanged as a greeting in France?
- Always one
- Always two
- French people don't cheek-kiss
- It varies by region, from one to four
The French 'la bise' varies wildly: Parisians typically do two kisses, people in the south may do three, and some regions do four. A 2014 study mapped these regional differences and found that no two neighbouring departments always agree on the number.
7. Which ancient wonder of the world was built as a monument to love?
- The Colossus of Rhodes
- The Great Pyramid of Giza
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- The Taj Mahal
While not one of the ancient Seven Wonders, the Taj Mahal is the world's most famous monument to love. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built it as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. It took 22 years, 20,000 workers, and 1,000 elephants to complete.
8. What is the longest recorded kiss in history?
- 72 hours
- 46 hours
- 32 hours
- 58 hours, 35 minutes
Thai couple Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat set the Guinness World Record in 2013 at a Valentine's Day event in Pattaya, Thailand. Contestants had to remain lip-locked continuously — no sitting, no sleeping, no bathroom breaks (adult nappies were provided).
9. In Japanese culture, what is 'kokuhaku'?
- A wedding ceremony
- A romantic gift exchange
- A love confession that formally starts a relationship
- A traditional matchmaking service
In Japan, relationships often officially begin with a kokuhaku — a direct verbal confession of love. Unlike the gradual 'dating' progression common in Western cultures, kokuhaku creates a clear before-and-after moment. It's a staple of Japanese romance stories and anime.
10. Which Roman god is associated with love, often depicted as a winged boy with a bow and arrow?
- Mercury
- Apollo
- Mars
- Cupid
Cupid is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Eros. In the original myths, he wasn't a cute baby — he was a handsome, mischievous young man. His arrows came in two types: gold-tipped ones that caused irresistible love, and lead-tipped ones that caused aversion.
11. What does the tradition of 'locking a padlock to a bridge' symbolise?
- A wish for wealth
- Friendship
- Everlasting love
- Good luck for travellers
The love lock tradition became so popular on the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris that the weight of over a million padlocks — 45 tonnes — caused railings to collapse in 2015. The city removed them all and replaced the railings with glass panels.
12. Which hormone, sometimes called the 'love hormone,' plays a key role in mother-infant bonding?
- Insulin
- Estrogen
- Testosterone
- Oxytocin
Oxytocin is released during childbirth, breastfeeding, hugging, and even when petting a dog. Studies show that when dogs and owners gaze into each other's eyes, oxytocin levels rise in both species — the same bonding mechanism as between mothers and infants.
13. In Hindu tradition, what is an 'arranged marriage'?
- A marriage arranged by astrologers
- A marriage where families help find compatible partners, with the couple's consent
- A royal marriage for political alliance
- A forced marriage
Modern arranged marriages involve family introductions followed by the couple getting to know each other and making their own decision. Studies show arranged marriages often report equal or higher satisfaction rates over time compared to love marriages, likely due to realistic expectations.
14. Which famous wartime photograph shows a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on V-J Day, 1945?
- The Kiss
- V-J Day in Times Square
- Victory Embrace
- The Homecoming
Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the iconic image for Life magazine. The sailor and nurse were strangers — he was kissing every woman in sight to celebrate Japan's surrender. The nurse, Greta Zimmer Friedman, later said she wasn't kissed; she was grabbed.
15. What is 'philematology'?
- The science of kissing
- The study of love letters
- The history of marriage
- The psychology of heartbreak
Philematologists have discovered that about two-thirds of people tilt their heads to the right when kissing. A kiss exchanges about 80 million bacteria in 10 seconds. Despite this, research suggests that regular kissing boosts immunity and can even reduce allergic responses.