Kisses

[Pozzo]

Why when writing letters do people put 'x' as kisses?  Where did this come from?

[Clanad]

Wikipedia has this to say..."Hugs and Kisses" is a term for a sequence of the letters X and O, e.g. XOXO, typically used by lovers to denote at the end of a written letter or email. X represents a kiss, O a hug.

The use of xoxo goes back to the use of an "X" or cross, which was considered as good as a sworn oath in times before most people could write and therefore used the x in the same way a signature is used today. A mark of your word.

An x at the end of a letter or document was often kissed as a seal of honesty, in much the same way one would kiss a bible or kiss the fingers after making the sign of the cross, thus the x came to represent a kiss in modern times.

The origins of the "O" as a hug are not generally known, although it is speculated that it may represent the arms wrapped around someone being hugged. Another thought is that it came from Jewish immigrants who would sign with an "O" instead of an x because they did not wish to mark their word with the obviously non-Jewish cross the x represented. Perhaps "O" was used because it fits with "X" in the game Tic-Tac-Toe or Noughts and Crosses (O's and X's)...

[WaldoMcFroog]

Back in the middle ages, when people were often illiterate, a cross was acccepted as a person's mark on official documents. It therefore had conotations of a person's honesty and legality. Over the years, this became a way of signifying one's sincerity and further modified into the modern meaning of a kiss.

[Quizmonster]

'X' has been used to represent a kiss from as long ago as the middle of the 18th century. As to why �X' means that, it's probably because the letter itself actually sounds very much like 'ks', which could be seen as an abbreviation of 'kiss'. In addition, I've always imagined it might also represent two faces seen side-on, with lips puckered up and touching...ie a kiss! It may take a bit of imagination, but try it!

[gen2]

I would like to imagine a more romantic origin.

Here is a pair of puckered lips   >

Here is another pair facing the first   <

Here are two pairs of lips approaching and finally kissing

   >      <

     > <

      X

[Quizmonster]

That's precisely what I was suggesting, Gen!

[gen2]

Sorry Quizmonster,
I should have read your post more carefully.

[Quizmonster]

No problem, G...great minds think alike.