Why does “xoxo” stand for hugs and kisses?
The first mention in literature of XXX for kisses at the bottom of a letter was in 1901, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The X itself is very old. The custom goes back to the early Christian era, when a cross mark or “X” was the same as a sworn oath. The cross referred to the cross of Calvary and the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. Even as little as a hundred and fifty years ago, not many people could read or write. The “X” at the bottom of a document took the place of a signature. They would kiss the “X” as a crucifix or bible was kissed to emphasize the importance of the mark. It was this practice that lead to the “X” representing a kiss. There isn’t much known about the beginnings of the “O”. It is a North American custom. The “O” represents the arms in a circle around another person. Arms crossed in front of you do not mean the “X” as a hug! The “O” is the hug. In “The Joys of Yiddish” by Leo Rosten, it is noted that illiterate immigrants (or those w
