What does xox mean on facebook

Well, the truth is that nobody is absolutely sure. Why is an X a kiss? The earliest citation for X as a kiss in the Oxford English Dictionary is from , and the highly quotable Winston Churchill used it in , but he also felt the need to define it. He signed a letter Many kisses. As an Amazon Associate and a Bookshop. Why is an O a hug? Using an O to symbolize a hug is much newer, at least according to the OED, which shows the first use in The O also seems to be used to symbolize a hug only in combination with an X—never alone.

The theories about why an O symbolizes a hug seem even more made up than those for the X. People say that maybe it looks like arms circling something in a hug. Or that Jewish immigrants used the O to sign documents much like Christians used the X. Do all cultures kiss?

Lets decode! The reason behind this is that the letter X is regarded as a holy symbol by the Christians as it resembles the Calvary cross on which Jesus was crucified. The signee would then kiss the 'X' to demonstrate his sincerity and that what was written in the document was true—in much the same way that Christians kissed the Bible to display their belief in Christ. So, that's it!

This also explains why Christmas is abbreviated to Xmas. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first time X came to mean 'kisses' was in a letter by a priest, Gilbert White in However, some people believe that he actually meant 'blessings' and not 'kisses'. Then there was also the time when Winston Churchill signed a letter with three kisses:. Another speculation about X representing a kiss is that the letter X looks like two people kissing or maybe, it simply looks like puckered up lips.

It is not clear as to why an 'O' is used for a hug. And these are just the English language based ones. Once you start looking at other languages, you get thousands more…. You could use XOXO to sign-off a text or email to a good friend or a family member like your mum or dad.

Richard Goodwin has been working as a tech journalist for over 10 years. He is the editor and owner of KnowYourMobile. Frequently Asked Questions. Richard Goodwin. Pin It on Pinterest. Share This Share this post with your friends!

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