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If you’ve ever received a note or letter with this combination of letters at the end, you may have wondered “what is the meaning of XOXO?”.
XOXO is an acronym that stands for “hugs and kisses”. It is often used to express affection, love, and appreciation from friends and loved ones. You’ve probably seen this common phrase most often from Mom, a girlfriend/boyfriend, or significant other.
Now that you the answer to “What is the meaning of XOXO?”, you might now be wondering where exactly this term may have originated from.
Let’s find out!
The term XOXO has become a popular form of expressing warmth and friendship, as well as a “sign-off” at the end of letters/greeting cards and other written communications.
But where did using the term XOXO come from?
The origins of the phrase is not well-documented, but it has been in use in the English language since at least the late 19th century. One of the earliest documented instances of reading XOXO was in a published letter in 1960 from the Washington Post.
There are several theories on how these two letters together came to symbolize it’s modern “hugs and kisses” symbolism. With the more noted theory being rooted in religious beliefs and practices.
The use of Xs can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when important religious documents and letters were signed using a simple “X”. Which during that time an “X” represented the Christian cross. They would then kiss this “X” signature in a display of sacred oath.
When it comes to the “O”, there is some speculation. According to Leo Rosten in “The Joys of Yiddish”: When arriving in the United States, Jewish immigrants, most of whose first language was not North American English, would use an ‘O’ to sign documents, thus not using the Christian “X” sign of the cross, and shop keepers would often use an ‘O’ when signing documents, in place of an ‘X’.
Then there are those who think the XOXO hugs and kisses symbolism comes from the fact that the X looks like two stylized lips kissing, and the O simply looks like two pairs of arms embracing.
Further yet, some people think it stems for the Tic Tac Toe game, where squares are filled in with either an X or and O. Could the XOXO hugs and kisses symbolism really be that simple? Maybe?
Send your love an affection to a loved one with an XOXO hugs and kisses pop-up greeting card.
Even though the history and origin story of XOXO may not be 100% clear. We can all agree on what the meaning of XOXO means today, and how it is used when communicating with others.
Regardless of its origins, whether it’s roots are in religious signatures of the past, or a game of Tic Tac Toe. In these modern times we know that if we want to end a letter or greeting card in a playful and affectionate way, we can make sure that sentiment comes across with an XOXO sign-off.
How often do you get a card or letter with an XOXO at the end? Let us know in the comments!
If you’ve ever received a note or letter with this combination of letters at the end, you may have wondered “what is the meaning of XOXO?”.
XOXO is an acronym that stands for “hugs and kisses”. It is often used to express affection, love, and appreciation from friends and loved ones. You’ve probably seen this common phrase most often from Mom, a girlfriend/boyfriend, or significant other.
Now that you the answer to “What is the meaning of XOXO?”, you might now be wondering where exactly this term may have originated from.
Let’s find out!
The term XOXO has become a popular form of expressing warmth and friendship, as well as a “sign-off” at the end of letters/greeting cards and other written communications.
But where did using the term XOXO come from?
The origins of the phrase is not well-documented, but it has been in use in the English language since at least the late 19th century. One of the earliest documented instances of reading XOXO was in a published letter in 1960 from the Washington Post.
There are several theories on how these two letters together came to symbolize it’s modern “hugs and kisses” symbolism. With the more noted theory being rooted in religious beliefs and practices.
The use of Xs can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when important religious documents and letters were signed using a simple “X”. Which during that time an “X” represented the Christian cross. They would then kiss this “X” signature in a display of sacred oath.
When it comes to the “O”, there is some speculation. According to Leo Rosten in “The Joys of Yiddish”: When arriving in the United States, Jewish immigrants, most of whose first language was not North American English, would use an ‘O’ to sign documents, thus not using the Christian “X” sign of the cross, and shop keepers would often use an ‘O’ when signing documents, in place of an ‘X’.
Then there are those who think the XOXO hugs and kisses symbolism comes from the fact that the X looks like two stylized lips kissing, and the O simply looks like two pairs of arms embracing.
Further yet, some people think it stems for the Tic Tac Toe game, where squares are filled in with either an X or and O. Could the XOXO hugs and kisses symbolism really be that simple? Maybe?
Send your love an affection to a loved one with an XOXO hugs and kisses pop-up greeting card.
Even though the history and origin story of XOXO may not be 100% clear. We can all agree on what the meaning of XOXO means today, and how it is used when communicating with others.
Regardless of its origins, whether it’s roots are in religious signatures of the past, or a game of Tic Tac Toe. In these modern times we know that if we want to end a letter or greeting card in a playful and affectionate way, we can make sure that sentiment comes across with an XOXO sign-off.
How often do you get a card or letter with an XOXO at the end? Let us know in the comments!
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