Socialist fraternal kiss

The socialist fraternal kiss was a special form of greeting between socialist state officials. The act demonstrated the special relationship that exists between Communist countries, consisting of an embrace, along with a series of three kisses on alternate cheeks. In rare cases, when the two statesmen considered themselves on exceptionally good terms, the kisses were given on the mouth rather than on the cheeks.

The socialist fraternal embrace consists of a series of three deep hugs, alternating between the left and right sides of the body, without kissing. This modified greeting was adopted by Marxist–Leninist statesmen in Asia, which lacks a tradition of cheek kissing as greeting. During the Cold War, Marxist–Leninist officials in Asia consented to receive kisses from Europeans and Cubans, but they themselves omitted the kiss.