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You are here: Home / Language / What Does it Mean When Europeans Kiss Their Fingertips and Where Did the Gesture Come From?

What Does it Mean When Europeans Kiss Their Fingertips and Where Did the Gesture Come From?

March 22, 2020 by Karen Hill

Latinos and Europeans use hand gestures differently than North Americans.

Kissing one’s fingertips before directing them toward the object of esteem can be an appreciation of anything from a good wine to a good soccer play.

It simply means something is beautiful.

The custom comes from the Romans, who kissed their fingertips and then directed them to the gods when entering or leaving a temple.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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