Kiss and tell: people share their first smooch stories for national kiss day

Every nerve wracking, teeth-clashing and lip-smacking experience is a lesson in the art of passion.

This Friday marks Kissing Day across the country. From childhood crushes to high school sweethearts we all have a first kiss story.

The common age in the UK for a first kiss is 15 and on average we will kiss 21 people throughout our lifetime, how do your statistics compare?

In a generation that is more open about sexuality there is less taboo around the subject meaning people are more likely to share their experiences, good and bad.

We reached out to readers and our reporters to hear their first kiss stories with some mixed tales of tongue-foolery.

• At a Dundonian gaff at the end of third year of high school, so 15-years-old, I was slightly tipsy and my first kiss was with a girl and later on in the night – a deeply closeted man that I was – also got more drunk and had my first kiss with a guy. In Dundee we keep it classy…                                                                                                                                                                                        
• I was 19 and very drunk on my birthday when out clubbing. I fell and banged my head in the club toilet. Next thing I know I was kissing my mate, but then I woke up the next morning I didn’t know which mate it was! Had the fear for like a month until I eventually found out!

• So, I was 19, late bloomer, and it was in London with a man called Colum. I don’t really remember what it felt like I just remember feeling his beard. I think that’s why I like beards now?!     

• I kissed a girl outside a church at a 12^th birthday party and everyone at the party ran out cheering. I’m gay now.                                         

• I was 14 and everyone in school made up rumours that I had to stand on a park bench to kiss him because I was small it was in a park.

• I was 13. We arranged to have our first kiss over Snapchat the night before. It was in my high school corridor and my music teacher saw. The boy kissed like a washing machine.

• I was 14, we were on a beach. It was my gay best friend.

• My first kiss was at primary school behind the bike sheds, playing doctors and nurses. Ever since then I have never forgotten it.

• My first kiss was on Christmas Eve when I was (13) in my first year of high-school with my boyfriend at the time. We were on a walk, it was snowing and we stood on the top of a set of stairs under a street light.

• I was 13/14 in a big field drinking with my pals. All of my friends were standing a few metres away watching. It was freezing and I had a massive jacket on. It was just so, so awkward.

• After I first kissed the boy I literally was like ‘I need to go, bye’ and ran away from him.

Kissing is a universal expression of love for everyone. It assesses compatibility with a partner, releases chemicals in the brain and is a feeling of closeness.

From pulling in the club to ‘You may kiss the bride/groom’ we use this simple action to express emotion with our bodies.

To celebrate this Kiss Day; grab a partner (grab some consent) and pucker up.