| "How did it happen that their lips came together? How | | | | chemical that leads to increased desire and longing for |
| does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the | | | | romantic love. |
| rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark | | | | This theory was recently backed by a recent RIA |
| shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A | | | | Novosti news conference entitled "Love during the |
| kiss, and all was said." | | | | crisis", which featured experts from the All-Russian |
| Victor Hugo | | | | Public Opinion Studies Center (VtsIOM). Their research |
| One of the first pieces of advice my father gave me | | | | reveals a 13 per cent increase of ‘lonely hearts' in |
| was how to lead up to kissing a girl for the first time. | | | | Russia since the beginning of the worldwide financial |
| "First," he said in a low voice looking up at my mother | | | | crisis, with those surveyed rating love and intimacy |
| who from the kitchen smiled coyly at him, "gently grasp | | | | more important during periods of trouble than during |
| her hand. Odds on she'll instinctively close her hand | | | | affluent times. |
| around yours, maybe a little surprised by her own | | | | Indeed, research indicates that love and family are |
| reaction. But by then in her mind, you see, it's too late | | | | overwhelmingly the main life focus of Russians. The |
| for her to retreat. She's committed to the gesture. | | | | Novosti survey found that 59 per cent of Russians |
| Then take her hand and kiss it…kiss the back softly, | | | | believe in love at first sight. Yelena Pakhomova, the |
| turn her hand over, kiss the palm. Take your time. It's | | | | head of social research at VtsIOM, says "The most |
| the perfect entr?e to a kiss on the lips. After all, you | | | | romantic at heart live in the Urals and the |
| need to start someplace…" | | | | Northwestern Federal districts." |
| In Russia, even amid the financial crisis, there seems to | | | | In the midst of the financial turmoil and materialism that |
| be an increase of instances of public intimacy which | | | | has swept the world, the blissful truth is that a kiss is |
| leads one to speculate what and how much more is | | | | still gloriously free. And what loving couples know is |
| going on behind closed doors. The metro in any given | | | | that a long, passionate kiss is a great way to boost a |
| Russian city here is a prime example and the long | | | | relationship and sweep away the blues. Those who |
| escalator ride into the underground abyss is ground | | | | have been together the longest will often claim that |
| zero. Here you'll notice that the standard position for | | | | what keeps marriage fresh is regularly making out like |
| couples on the metro escalator calls for the man to | | | | high school teens. |
| take up the lower stair when either ascending from or | | | | A long, romantic kissing session following a delicious |
| descending onto the platform. This puts the amorous | | | | meal and bottle of good wine, can be a therapeutic |
| couple in perfect position for a long smooching | | | | means to improve one's mood and relax to the fullest. |
| embrace. Everywhere in the subway system one can | | | | A long kiss releases a glorious rush of hormones and |
| see couples pushing the envelope of affection in spite | | | | neurotransmitters, which leads to an exhilarating buzz |
| of the throngs that surround them. So much so that | | | | of endorphins. Kissing promotes good health, can boost |
| last year saw a Moscow city ordinance go down in | | | | immunity and even provides a form of physical |
| flames which sought to prohibit kissing and embracing | | | | exercise (burning a few calories a minute!). |
| in the metro system. | | | | Guide ‘The Art of Kissing' by Michael Cane |
| All this propensity of public affection goes to show that | | | | discusses how regular sessions of intense kissing can |
| the Russians have a healthy handle on their love lives | | | | form the foundation of a successful relationship. He |
| in spite of the current global predicament. They know | | | | says, "Women say they can tell if a relationship is |
| and employ one of the best ways to combat stress | | | | going to work after the first kiss, after the first night of |
| through sensuous touch and intimacy whenever and | | | | kissing. They just get a feeling, an intuition." |
| where ever possible. | | | | When times are tough and work life becomes |
| Professor Helen Fisher, an anthropological biologist at | | | | complicated, making out with a loving partner can be a |
| Rutgers University, says "Times of stress can trigger | | | | great way to release tension and anxiety. And in the |
| feelings of attraction – quite simply, you're more | | | | words of one of our favorites, Anna Kournikova… |
| susceptible." Her theory is based on feelings of anxiety | | | | "I have a lot of boyfriends…and I kiss them all. |
| that stimulate the amount of dopamine in the brain, a | | | | |