The Many Kisses of Love: Timeless Goan Traditions

Allow me to tell you about some of the old ways, the delightful little love dances we had in our Goan villages, the games of love, the sweet ceremonies that kept our hearts young and our love fresh.

The Handkerchief Dance: You see, in olden times, a gentleman may slyly take a lady’s

handkerchief. Orchestrated it so she could get it, but she had to kiss him to do so. It looked

playful and there was much laughing and teasing whilst it went on.

The Fan Flirtation: Of course, women and their fans were not engaged in fan-play just for the purpose of keeping cool. Those fans were much more than the tool for waving off the heat; it was like a secret language to those who know it. Through a gentle flick or a slight flutter, a lady could converse with her suitor may even hint that she would welcome receiving a kiss. It was all about the graceful hint system.

The Glove Gesture: A man would give his glove to a lady, and she would rarely take it without resisting at first. She would pretend to refuse until he asked again more sweetly

(this time with a kiss).

The Cheeky Peck: It was just a quick peck on the cheek, that was the way of showing affection without getting everyone’s attention. Quite often it was done with a sneaky smile or a gentle whisper so there is something sweet to make your heart beat faster.

The Secret Signal: Oh, the secrets we shared! Couples had their own little ways of saying, “I

want a kiss,” without uttering a word. Maybe it was a glance, a wink or a gentle touch – but those subtle cues said so much and always led to the warmest hug.

The Love Letter Seal: In the days when all letters were written by hand, a kiss upon the paper served as a seal; and it was not an uncommon circumstance in those days for gentlemen and ladies to impress their lips to the letter they dispatched, they convey their affection across the wastes of many miles. It was to put the spirits into real contact, and therefore by no means an inefficient or foolish way of sealing.

The Pocket Surprise: We had our little surprises, too. A lover might slip a small token into the

other’s pocket—a note, a pressed flower, maybe even a bonbon. And when it was discovered, it unfailingly led to a spontaneous kiss, serving as an edible reminder of their love.

The Shared Secret: Couples created what were known as intimate traditions, their secret little universes where they used to exchange kisses in special ways. Maybe it was a secret spot by the riverside or a code word that meant “kiss me.” These shared secrets preserved the love and passion that never let the flame of passion die.

Love in our times, was a store house of such small gestures. Each one spelled. "I Love You"

without saying as much and made our love stories so rich and living.