XOXO

just a thought

HUGS & KISSES

by Emily Jane

Have you ever wondered how the letter "X" and the letter "O" put together became to mean the saying "hugs and kisses"?

Since I am an inquisitive person, and it is part of my business identity, I did a little research. Apparently, dating back to the Middle Ages a Christian Cross was drawn on letters, notes and envelopes to represent sincerity, faith and honesty. The signer would then physically kiss the cross as a display of their sworn oath.

In early Christian history, it meant much of the same. Many people could not write their names, so they would draw an "X" to represent their signature and kiss it to represent their sincerity.

The Chi Ro (above), represented with the letters "XP" was used as a holy symbol in Christianity. It was a monogram of sorts for the Greek word for Christ "XPIΣΤΟΣ." This also gave rise to the practice of using the letter "X" which was then kissed in this tradition of displaying a sacred oath.

Some others say that the two sides of the "X" look like two people puckered for a kiss. I guess I always thought the "X" looks like puckered lips.

The "O" doesn't have as exciting of a reason other than it is circular in nature and reminiscent of arms wrapping around someone in a hug. I did come across that when the Jewish Immigrants came to America, some of them were also illiterate. Instead of using an "X" as their signature (since it symbolized Christ) they used an "O".

On a personal note, my grandma Dorothy and I would fit as many "XOs" as we could on our letters to one another since we could not give each other physical hugs and kisses.

It is amazing that something as simple as an "X" has continued to be used in modern day writing and a prominent graphic symbol. I do wish it meant the same as it did in the Middle Ages – sincerity, faith and honesty. Something to think about . . .