Buzz
Whether it's at the end of a letter or email, or you've spotted it in the closing moments of each Gossip Girl episode, "Xoxo" is widely recognized as meaning "Kisses and Hugs." But how did these two simple letters come to symbolize such a well-known expression?
One theory suggests that the letter “X” represents two mouths kissing, while the “O” is a symbol of two arms coming together for a hug. This idea, inspired by emoticons, makes sense, but the true origins are likely tied to religious history.
During the Middle Ages, many people were illiterate and would sign important documents with an “X,” which was not only easy to draw but also carried a reference to the Christian cross. The signer would kiss the “X” to signify their sincerity, similar to how Christians kissed the Bible to show their faith in Christ. Beyond the cross itself, the “X” also referred to the early Christian symbol known as the Chi-rho, formed by combining the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, ???????.
The origin of the “O” as a symbol for a hug is more elusive. One theory is that Jewish immigrants to the U.S. used the symbol in place of a signature, much like how the “X” was used by Christians. Since the “X” had connections to Christ—who didn't align with Jewish beliefs—illiterate Jewish immigrants chose to sign with an “O.”
Building on the well-known Christian tradition where an “X” symbolizes an oath sealed with a kiss, the “O” was likely adopted to represent hugs as an equally sincere gesture of affection in notes, letters, and even e-mails.
