What is the traditional New Year’s Eve midnight kiss called in the United States?

In the United States, the traditional New Year’s Eve kiss at midnight is commonly called the midnight kiss.

The custom is a social ritual in which people kiss a romantic partner, family member, friend, or another consenting person as the clock marks the start of January 1. Popular belief has often treated the first moments of the year as symbolically important, so a kiss is said to encourage affection, happiness, or good fortune in the months ahead.

The practice is especially visible at public countdowns, where couples and groups celebrate together immediately after the final seconds. It is a custom rather than a formal religious requirement, and many people celebrate midnight in other ways, such as making a toast, hugging, or singing “Auld Lang Syne.”

The tradition should not be confused with Scotland’s first-footing custom, which concerns the first person entering a home after midnight. Different New Year rituals developed in different cultural settings.