I was given a piece of wedding paper that had the xoxo symbols next to table numbers and accompanying cards. Learn the charming words you can use to describe your loved one. Since most ordinary people could not read or write, the “X” was placed on the documents and a kiss was placed on it to show their sincerity. [2] Chi Rho, often represented by the letter “X”, has also been used as a sacred symbol throughout Christian history, as it represented the Greek word for Christ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ; This led to the practice of using the letter “X”, which was later embraced in this tradition of the sacred oath. [1] [3] Capiche has its Latin roots from the Latin word capere, which means “to take, to catch, to understand”. The origins of how O came to represent an embrace are even more uncertain, though some link its use to illiterate Jewish immigrants who came to the United States and may have signed documents with an O. They did it unlike Christian X. Eventually, the letter became a hug. Chances are you`re more than a little familiar with the catchy phrase “XOXO.” You`ve probably used it yourself many times, whether it`s signing a card to a family member or sending a sweet text message to your best friend. 25 couples celebrate marriage and Hispanic heritage One theory takes XOXO back to the Middle Ages. “Since the Middle Ages, historians have now believed that since many people could not read or write, they would use the `X` symbol to sign important documents meant to represent sincerity, faith and honesty,” says Samuels. “The signatory then kissed the cross as an oath.” Another subtle way to include XOXO is through your wedding jewelry. “My favorite was the bride wearing a beautiful XOXO necklace on her wedding day,” says Anand.
“It was a simple but beautiful way to incorporate the timeless phrase into the event.” You can also wear a XOXO bracelet or buy them for the bridal shower. You have to wonder where XOXO really comes from. While it`s easy to assume that it was invented by Hallmark for greeting cards, the story is actually much more interesting and complicated. We don`t know exactly where XOXO comes from, but there are many theories. In the UK, XX is more commonly used than XOXO. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this simple but undeniably popular phrase. It is believed that the use of X as a symbol dates back to the Middle Ages, when most people could neither read nor write. They used the letter X – or a cross – to sign documents as a sign of faith and sincerity.
They also embraced the cross as another symbol of trustworthiness: a literal “seal with a kiss.” In these cases, the X represented the sign of the cross and Christ because of its connection to Chi-Rho, a Christian symbol. The first two letters of Christ in Greek (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ) are chi and rho, and chi resembles X. Other commonly used XOXO variants are XO, X, SWAK (meaning “sent with a kiss”) and kiss and hug emojis. There are theories that explain why the O stands for “hugs” that are even more complicated than those that explain the meaning of X. You`re probably more than a little familiar with the term XOXO. You`ve probably used it yourself, whether it`s signing a card to someone or sending a soft text message. It`s commonly known as a message of love and affection, but have you ever wondered what XOXO really means or where it comes from? Another possibility is that the O is used to represent hugs because it simply seems like someone is shaking their arms in a hugging gesture. It is also possible that the O stands for “hug” as it was previously associated with X from the game Tic-Tac-Toe. In short, the abbreviation XOXO stands for hugs and kisses. Pretty simple, right? On the Internet, there is speculation from at least one original source that the “O” is of North American origin: upon arrival in the United States, Jewish immigrants whose mother tongue was primarily Yiddish used an “O” to sign documents, not the sign of the cross, and merchants often used an “O” to sign documents. instead of an “X”. [4] [5] In these cases, the symbol X represented Christ and the sign of the cross because of its close connection with Chi-Rho – a sacred Christian symbol.
The first two letters of Christ in Greek (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ) are “chi” and “rho”, and chi looks like “X”. “A popular trend is the `X` and `O` wedding balls, which are used to accentuate centerpieces,” Anand adds. XOXO balloons are easy to find and add a playful element to your wedding decoration – they`re also great for bridal showers or bachelorette parties. And do not hesitate to use them as DIY photo accessories: “I also saw the bridal party brandishing letters on their photos to animate the seriousness of the staged images. ” Historians don`t know when X and O came together to become XOXO. But the Washington Post notes that one of the first documented cases of reading XOXO in a published letter dates back to 1960. It is clear that at some point, people put the two symbols together and made them the popular expression we know today. Historically, the letter “X” dates back to the Middle Ages, when people used the symbol to sign important documents meant to represent sincerity, faith, and honesty. In particular, the “X” represented a Christian cross at the time, so by signing “X” you were basically saying, “In the name of Christ, it`s true/I claim.” Another well-known theory is that the letter “X” looks like someone kissing for a kiss or two people, and so the symbol began to mean “kiss”. I know XOXO is popular in North America, but is it widely used in other parts of the world? Despite the complicated origins of these symbols, it is now generally accepted that XOXO means “hugs and kisses”.
In the UK, the use of XX (meaning “kisses”) as a signature is particularly popular, although the practice is less common in North America, where XOXO is the most common formulation. The Washington Post. “Lots of story behind `x` and `o`, kissing and hugging.” 13 February 2014. A sophisticated, modern wedding full of surprises in Washington, D.C. For my bridal shower, I thought about using XOXO at the bottom of each menu, table number and accompanying card. What do you think? According to Marcel Denasi, professor of semiotics and linguistic anthropology at the University of Toronto and author of The History of the Kiss: The Birth of Popular Culture, no one has ever written why XOXO symbols were used; They just started using them to write letters. The use of X/x for “kisses” and O/O as hug symbols on envelopes dates back to 1763, when Christian crosses were also drawn on documents to indicate honesty, faith, and sincerity. Since most people were illiterate, they used X as a symbol for a signature.
Grandma sent a lot of XOXOXOs in her Christmas card this year! Anand also notes that the most popular theory behind the XOXO story is rooted in Christianity. “It turned out that an X looked a bit like a cross, and it was seen as a form of address that represents goodwill,” he shares. Historians also say that X meant Christ, and this is a symbol they still see in medieval churches. We have a great friendship, which is why I always end our messages with XOXO. To learn more about this simple phrase and find unique ways to use it in your own wedding, we spoke with wedding experts Ajay Anand and Aviva Samuels. Read on to learn more about XOXO`s history and how you can make it a part of your special day. Exclusive: Nardine Marie`s colorful wedding in a New Jersey castle Adding XOXO to your nail art is subtle, but still romantic and sweet. Anand notes, “One of our clients gave her bridesmaids a personalized XOXO manicure (alternating letters on each finger) from a professional nail artist before the wedding.” As a bride, you can customize your own nails to match your bridesmaids or do something else, like other colors or designs. Regardless of the true origin of the symbol X, it became “kiss” from the mid-1800s.
The use of O is newer and was created by analogy. However, there is speculation on the internet that the source of the O is North America. In the United States, Jewish immigrants often used the O to sign their documents instead of the cross or X. But what does XOXO mean? The meaning of XOXO is literally hugs and kisses. Becca`s mom sent wedding anniversary invitations with XOXO stamped on the envelope – it was so cute! Now that you know what XOXO means, it`s time to practice it in one sentence. Ask yourself how many phrases you can find yourself, or check out some of our examples we`ve put together for you below: From Valentine`s Day cards to your mom`s messages, XOXO is a typical signature for showing love and affection. The X represents a kiss and the O a hug – but why? Now, the origins of these symbols are uncertain, but we can make some educated guesses about their origin.