Waving Goodbye to Latinos Kiss-and-Hug Culture

April 30, 2021

With the uptick in social distancing guidelines and public health measures, Hispanics are experiencing a shift in their ingrained customs, particularly in the traditional “kiss-and-hug” culture. Although greeting each other from afar may seem like a feasible alternative, Latinos across the country — from Miami to New York City to Los Angeles — know that the abrazo and beso rituals are so natural they are done without thinking. Many wonder whether these cultural shifts are permanent and will affect the social fabric of generations to come. How are Latinos adapting accordingly? Is their fundamental language of connection lost for good? I traveled from coast to coast, interviewing a Univision reporter, two NYU Professors, and a USC student along the way, to answer these questions.