If there is a single person out there who doesn’t at least hope for a New Year’s Eve smooch from someone special, we haven’t met them.
According to historians people have been locking lips at New Year’s Eve bashes since the 8th Century BC.
The tongue-y tradition can be traced back to the Ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia which was generally celebrated at the end of December to honour the deity of Saturn and induced a carnival-style atmosphere.
It was here that those saucy Italians would hook up and generally corrupt one another in any way possible. Latin poet Catullus called the festivities “the best of days”.
Nowadays New Year’s Eve is still an event that encourages some kisses and plenty of debauchery, but for single people the night can be a source of both great excitement and angst.
Exciting because singles can dress up in their Sunday best, dance and mingle with new people at killer (albeit COVID-safe) parties. Terrifying because those without a significant other know that apart from Valentine’s Day (which is not even a real thing!), nothing will make you feel more alone than finding yourself unaccompanied on the dance floor at a second to midnight without someone to smooch.
So if you’re hanging out for a 2021 NYE kiss, here are some tried and tested techniques guaranteed to help up your odds of pinning down a party pash.
There’s no better time to put the “right place, right time” theory into play than a New Year’s Eve party.
(Getty)1. Pick your party carefully
This will basically be the most important tip on the list. Think about it; if you opt to spend the night with your married mates at a close and intimate get together and try to go on the prowl there, well, it’s going to end awkwardly. Equally so, if you’re midnight kiss-crazy and choose to countdown with your family – well, nothing’s going to happen.
If you want a proper kiss, your best bet is to go to a party and probably the bigger, the better. Bigger bashes mean more people to mingle with and if you take some great wingmen/wingwomen then this will likely up your chances exorbitantly.
2. Talk to everyone
C’mon, don’t be that girl. Y’know, the one that comes to the party and only talks to potential pash partners but blatantly ignores everyone else.
Chat with every friendly face you see and if the person you are keen on is in a group conversation, don’t just zero in on them. Because no matter how subtle you think you’re being, everyone will notice and that will make things awkward. And in case you didn’t know, awkward isn’t romantic and will, at best, only lead to a pity pash… and no one wants a pity pash.
WATCH: Dating tips from expert Ané Auret…
3. Don’t get too drunk
This is an important one because while NYE calls for a few dranks, you need to remind yourself not to overdo it. There is possibly no bigger turn-off than seeing someone walk into a room all respectable-like only to turn around an hour later to see that same person doubled over a pot plant getting reacquainted with the tasty hors d’oeuvres they ate on the way in. Moderation is everyone’s mate and the faint smell of vomit is no one’s.
Not to mention that drinking responsibly is kind of cool these days (who would’ve thought!) and keeping a mostly-level head will help you keep your flirting skills sharp through the night.
4. Don’t get desperate
There is nothing more off-putting to a potential smooch than someone who reeks of desperation – no matter how lovely you look. If you’re having a chat with someone you’re keen on make sure the first three questions have nothing to do with their relationship status. Calmly drop in queries about who they came to the party with after you know a few other unrelated facts first.
But if you are starting to get a little desperate, prepare to drop your standards sweetheart because all of the classy singles will smell it like bad perfume. Pretty soon you will start to wonder if that sweaty fella in the brown corduroy suit and purple loafers is kind of attractive, especially when you tilt your head this way and only look out of your left eye… right?
Who doesn’t want an iconic NYE kiss like this?
(Warner Bros. Television)5. Remember – someone would be lucky to kiss you!
If you followed step number one correctly, then you are likely NOT to be the only single person in the room. There is probably a quiet collection of solo party people with the exact same midnight mission as you, so don’t sell yourself short.
As much as you want to be kissed, there are undoubtedly a few people in the room who are also super keen to kiss you – it’s just about finding your match.
6. And if you don’t get a kiss…
If you find yourself at five minutes to midnight with no potential kisses then quietly slip off to the toilet, find a vacant cubical, go in, lock the door and wait there until the festivities are over… KIDDING!
If you find yourself at five minutes to midnight with no potential kisses then raise your glass and scream, “Happy New Year!” along with everyone else when the clock strikes 12! Have fun and revel in the fact that you get to greet the New Year without some stranger’s tongue halfway down your throat.
Whether or not you end up getting a New Year’s Eve kiss is not the end of the world and it’s certainly not a barometer for how your love life with be in the year to come. A New Year’s Eve party is just a party so do what you do at every other one and ENJOY IT! After all, a good celebration goes well into the next morning, so you might have some time yet…
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