In Europe, is it customary to kiss on the cheek when greeting someone or saying good bye?

Question

haha... "chow": that's cute!

he said "ciao"... ☺ (we say this in Spanish too)

Answer 1

yes it's customary to kiss but not only in Europe. in some parts of Oceania, they do too.

Answer 2

It's quite a usual manner in the Western Europe, but definitely not in the Eastern and Central.

Answer 3

Funny i came across this question because i honestly wouldnt know, but one of my best friends....his family has a man from italy come every year.  This year i met him, and i went out a few days a ago and when i came he greeted me with a handshake and a kiss on both cheeks.  Although when i was leaving he just shooke my hand and said "chow", so i believe its greeting.  And also my family is all from greece and when we go to family parties the kiss is always when we first greet eachother

Answer 4

Yes, we do, especially in the Balkan Area. In Macedonia we have a custom to hug and kiss our friends in the cheeks, but once. But when you meet your older relatives we usually kiss three times(in the cheeks)

warm regards  

Answer 5

It is customary to kiss on the cheek almost all over Europe, at least with the younger generation and the greater mobility between the countries. The British still don't do it though, nor the Germans either.

But the French do, the Italians do, the Balkan countries do, and the Spanish do it even when meeting someone for the first time, which I think the others don't.

In Serbia, it's customary to kiss three times on the cheek; that's just a small Serbian peculiarity. See here under Greeting People:

http://www.travelserbia.info/manners-cus...

And we say 'ciao' too, both as a greeting and when leaving.