What is the name of the New Year's Eve midnight kiss tradition in the United States?

The New Year’s kiss is the traditional midnight-kiss custom associated with New Year’s Eve in the United States. Couples, friends, and family members may kiss as the clock reaches midnight, treating the gesture as a sign of affection and a hopeful beginning.

The practice became especially prominent in American popular culture through parties, newspapers, films, and televised countdowns. It is not a formal ceremony with one fixed rule, and participation varies widely among individuals and communities.

The custom is often linked to broader European and American beliefs that the first moments of the new year could influence the months ahead. A kiss was therefore framed as a way to invite love, luck, or continuity into the coming year.

The midnight kiss should not be confused with first-footing, a Scottish custom in which the first visitor entering a home after midnight is thought to bring luck.