XOXOX

We often see the acronym XOXO at the end of a written letter, e-mail, or text message as a quick way to express love. Generally the "X" represents a kiss and the "O" represents a hug, but how did these letters come to mean these things?

The origin of the X comes from a Medieval tradition which allowed those who could not write to sign a document with an X. The signer would then place a kiss on the X as a seal of honesty or truth. Some also believe that the X stands as a symbol of the cross of Christ. The origin of the O is generally unknown, but it is thought to represent the shape of a person's arms as they embrace another person.

However, there is also much debate over which letter stands for which action. Some people believe that the X represents the way that the arms cross in a hug and the O represents the shape of a mouth for a kiss.

Whichever meaning you choose for the XOXO symbol, the message is still the same, and it's as powerful as ever.