Did you know that if you don’t kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year, you risk being lonely the entire year? You may want to pucker up if you believe in such tales.
Often written-off as a conservative city, City Express finds that Chennai is rather open to beginning the New Year with a heartfelt smooch — for your loved one or even a stranger.
CHENNAI: What’s worse than sitting alone in your pyjamas with a box of cookies and watching your favourite show on New Year’s Eve? It is sitting alone surrounded by happy couples at a party. Here is something you should probably be familiar with before the dawn of the last day of the year 2016: New Year’s midnight kiss is a new upcoming trend in the city…so pucker up!
Not so long ago, the only stress on New Year’s Eve was ‘What am I doing in life?’ ‘How did time fly by?’ and ‘What am I wearing to the party?’ Well, not any more, as a week before the evening, the hunt begins – ‘I need a date!’
Those familiar with this western tradition is probably a regular with American sitcoms and teen flicks – When Harry Met Sally, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, How I Met Your Mother, or even The Godfather: Part 2! While in the west, the concept is traditional and stems from superstitious beliefs, it’s more a fad here in the city. Sapna (21), a party lover considers it a mass propaganda.
“Stop trying to make it happen!” But, peer pressure and the longing for intimacy can get anyone. “I find myself hopelessly single on New Year’s every year and the only thing I end up kissing is the floor when I get too hammered and pass out,” says Sapna, who has thrown more moist tissues at happy couples on several occasions but this year, things are looking up. “I have a date, finally!”
Sexual intimacy and the need to love and be loved is natural. Akshaya Priyanka, a newly-wed agrees with CE. “It’s nothing wrong. I have my husband to share a New Year’s kiss with, but, even if a person is not married, it’s ok! It’s okay to want to feel loved!”
Viswanath P (21), believes that it’s a good start to begin the New Year with a kiss “but I don’t think our city and our society will adapt to this culture for a long time to come”.
Many are warming up to this western tradition (forget parents) but some have trouble accepting it. While some laughed and scoff at the “stupid” trend, others expressed their uneasiness. Sarath Kumar (23), says, “I’m not saying it’s nice or even bad but you don’t need this! This type of involvement will spoil our own traditions. Our culture is changing!”
Another adds, “I believe all this started with people watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. They make up about 60% of the crowd who actually want to follow it because it was made a big deal in the series. It’s a fad and not genuine most of the time.”
But isn’t it awkward to kiss in public? Archana SK (23) laughs and says, “The days of a man touching his wife after marriage are long gone. Being intimate and falling in love is common and finding a private place is difficult. Why do you think you find couples locked away behind rocks on beaches and behind bushes in parks? But now, people don’t care about public places!” She doesn’t have a date for December 31 and like many others still hoping for a last minute change of plans.
Velu, a 26-year-old businessman, winks and adds, “It’s cool. When you get drunk, you might find someone hot or someone ready to party and accompany you. Then you can jump up louder and party hard!” Scoffing, Anisha (23), says “I think it is beautiful to start the year with a kiss from a person you love. But it needs to happen spontaneously and not because of tradition.”
There will be different opinions, but it’s up to you. Have a cozy affair with your favourite book and a cup of coffee or party with your friends. But, peer pressure and mob mentality always gets in the way — found a date yet?