
Belgium
Known as ‘la bise’, professionals in Belgium traditionally greet each other with a trio of air kisses once a formal relationship is established. Whilst there is no known reason for the three over the traditional two, as seen across France and Europe, it was the Romans who popularised this tradition. They had several words to describe the act of kissing, including ‘basium’, used for a kiss signifying courtesy or politeness, which is the root of the phrase ‘la bise’.