Hugs and kisses or "xoxo" is a term used for expressing affection or good friendship at the end of a written letter, email or SMS text message. The common custom of placing X's on envelopes, notes and at the bottom of letters to mean kisses dates back to the Medieval Ages, when a cross was drawn on documents or letters to mean sincerity and honesty. A kiss was then placed upon the cross, by the signer, as a display of their sworn oath. It was also used in early Christian history as much of a display of the same. Since most of the common people were unable to read or write, the 'X' was placed on documents, and a kiss placed upon it as a show of their sincerity, gradually, as it was used so often, the cross was hurriedly drawn and often resembled an 'X'.
The 'O' is of North American descent, no one really seems to know how it was started. It has been said that when arriving to the US, Jewish immigrants would use an 'O' on documents, not using the sign of the cross, and shop keepers would often use an 'O' when signing documents, in place of an 'X'. Perhaps now it is used as the 'O' being rounded represents arms encircling another, as in an embrace.
The use of 'X' to signify a kiss dates back to as early as 1765.
One unambiguous example where x is used to represent "kiss" comes from a tragic event in 1905. A seaman aboard the doomed SS Kaliyuga managed to write this final message, where one x is used for each of the family members mentioned:
"Dear Father: Good-bye. I have a bank book in the Cleveland Society of Savings. Good-bye mother, dear sister and brother. xxxx A kiss for all."
This note was found on the body of oiler Charles Beaugrand which washed ashore several days after his ship sank during a late October storm on Lake Huron.
And NOW YOU KNOW! Good grief I have some fun with Wikipedia.
comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide where these two 24" squares of "awwwwww" are on their way to "the mercantile" in Hillsboro Antique Mall... how cool would they be for engagement photos? I'm gonna look and see what the three x's mean that are on the old moonshine bottles (not that I know about things like "moonshine" (whistles innocently))... I'll be back. hee-hee