That come from a little known event during the Revolution. The Kiss of Lamourette. A man named Lamourette, (he might have been a deputy) gave a speech to the Convention basically saying we should, "make love not war," (yes, the first hippies were actully from the French Revolution) The Convention burst into joy, and people started randomly kissing who ever was next to them. I think only the French could do somthing like that. :)