When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

And it seems that comes right down to the simple way we greet each other.

A woman, shopping in Knutsford on Wednesday, told how her Hungarian father greeted his male friends with a kiss every time.

But only in Hungary.

"He would not dream of doing it here," she said.

"For boys in England it's a sissy thing to kiss their friends."

But it may not be just a cultural divide.

Another woman in her mid-thirties, who was born in Scotland, said she would kiss her friends in Knutsford - but never in Glasgow.

"It's just not done," she said.

The British are renowned for being reserved when it comes to showing affection towards others.

"The Brits are the cold fish of the world," said Dr David Holmes of Manchester Metropolitan University. "They generally find physical contact frightening."

"Brits do not expect to be thrust into each other which can sometimes create a barrier with a foreigner for whom kissing is a custom."

It seems the British are not socially skilled to deal with touching and kissing because they associate the gestures with sex.

In Britain the idea of men kissing each other is frowned upon, but women can get away with it.

"It is more accepted for women to kiss than men because they are carers by nature," said Dr Holmes. "But men are still seen as providers who should not show affection."

But the reason may be more simple than that.

"My male friends would kiss me but not each other because they are scared of looking gay," said Claire Burton, 23, of Knutsford.

Around the world kissing is used as a greeting and to show respect for others.

"In Arab states men kiss each other on the lips as a ritual," said Dr Holmes.

A hug is more acceptable between men because it is seen as less intimate than a kiss.

"My male friends hug each other especially when they are drunk," said Keely Marsland, 22, of Knutsford. "And it's normal to see men do it on a football field."

It is believed that kissing originated from mothers transferring food by mouth to their babies' mouths.

The first evidence of kissing, though, dates to 1,500 BC - and has met opposition along the way.

"I don't really agree with women kissing each other and would only kiss a friend whom I had known for a long time," said pensioner Dorothy Towers. "But girls do it all the time these days."

"Men kissing each other is just horrible but even that's on the television now."

Kissing is more acceptable in Britain than 20 years ago but the older generation still seem to find such shows of affection uncomfortable.

"It's okay to kiss friends these days but I don't really like the idea and I didn't do it when I was young," said 78-year-old Gladys Buckley.

The Romans invented kisses as a sign of respect for their leaders and gods.

Today the friendship kiss - a peck on the cheek - is used as a sign of affection to greet friends.

"I kiss my friends on the cheek," said Keely Marsland, 22, of Knutsford. "It's just a way of saying hello or goodbye."

Upbringing can also affect people's attitude towards kissing.

"I grew up in a kissing family," said the Hungarian woman. "I have no problem with greeting anyone with a kiss."

Children enjoy giving and receiving kisses but as they grow up they use the gesture more sparingly.

"Children are seen as helpless in the same way as women are," said Dr Holmes. "So it is all right for them to kiss."

Psychologists believe that many personal and social problems in Britain arise because people are reluctant to show affection.

"There is a lot of depression in this country," said Dr Holmes. "But if people were more comfortable with kissing and hugging they would feel much happier."

It is a scientific fact that kissing signals our brain to release oxytocin - a feel-good hormone.

And a simple kiss can say things that are difficult to put into words.

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