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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor those of you who celebrate Valentine’s Day, consider this your public service announcement: You have 11 days<\/strong> to buy roses, obtain a significant piece of jewelry, or at the very least, pore over the Valentine’s Day cards at Walgreens and choose something appropriately mushy\/sweet\/funny. My favorite story about buying cards is the one about the couple who go into Walgreen’s, each selects a card they feel best expresses their sentiment, hands it to their spouse to read, and then puts it back on the rack <\/strong>and walks out of the store. Gets the message across and saves ten bucks!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Many people choose to sign Valentine’s Day cards, and all other forms of communication, with an “XO” near their signature<\/strong>. I recently read an article on the genesis of this habit that I thought was interesting, or at least appropriate for this holiday. The origins of “X” being associated with a kiss can be traced back to the Middle Ages. In an era when literacy rates were low and formal education was a rare privilege, people who couldn\u2019t write would sign documents with an “X” instead of their name. When people signed with an “X,” it wasn’t merely a mark; it was a symbol that carried the weight of an oath. To validate their intentions and their “signature,” people were also known to kiss the “X”.<\/strong> How the letter “X” transitioned from a kiss in the name of sincerity to a kiss of romance or affection isn\u2019t clear. Theories on its initial use range from a British naturalist to Winston Churchill. But the most likely explanation comes from Marcel Danesi, a professor of linguistics anthropology and author of The History of the Kiss! The Birth of Popular Culture<\/em>. He wrote that as the Renaissance era saw an increase of secularism, and with the 18th-century rise of the concept of romantic love, the symbolic “X” gradually expanded beyond its initial utilitarian function to become a gesture of affection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An easier explanation could simply be the shape of the letter \u2014 that it looks like a pair of puckered lips, assuming, of course, that the sender has not had an overabundance of filler<\/strong>. And as for the “O” that often accompanies the “X”, even less is known about its origins as a symbol for a hug. It\u2019s been suggested that the letter simply looks like a pair of arms wrapped around someone <\/strong>else; however, as with “X,” there are other theories as well. Whatever their origins, I hope you have plenty of X’s and O’s coming your way this Valentine’s Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I close, I would be remiss in not mentioning the recent loss of one of our most dedicated and long-tenured subscribers, Pam Landon,<\/strong> who passed away unexpectedly last Monday. I met Pam in 1999 and despite many personal setbacks in recent years, she remained one of the most kind, funny and positive people I knew. Each week without fail <\/strong>she commented on Bob’s and my posts, usually with humor or a story about her own experiences. She especially loved being an armchair traveler with Bob. In her last comment to me on my post encouraging people to eat junk food she said, “I discretely nibbled on a chocolate chip cookie as I enjoyed this blog. Thanks, as always, for brightening my day.” Rest in peace, Pam. I know that you are brightening everyone’s day now and hopefully still nibbling on a cookie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Suzanne Sparrow Watson For those of you who celebrate Valentine’s Day, consider this your public service announcement: You have 11 days to buy roses, obtain a significant piece of jewelry, or at the very least, pore over the Valentine’s … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/X-signature.webp\")
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