What is the origin of the tick and cross symbols?

Answer 1

A tick also called checkmark or check which indicates affirmation after verification or affirmation has originated back to the ancient Romans: When keeping checklists, they marked the items that they had checked with a V, standing for the Latin word veritas which means "truth".

Another suggestion of its origin states that it comes from the use of fountain pens. A fountain pen (a "self-filling pen" not a dip pen or a quill pen) would not always start flowing ink without some initial action. The downstroke of the pen's nib was enough to get the ink flowing and then the ink was available for the upstroke.

An X or a cross out mark denotes elimination, prohibition or erasure. It denotes the opposite of a tick (but not necessarily all the time). There is no known history of the origin for this x symbol with this usage however I suggest that this can be attributed to the early usage of the Romans with this mark X to denote boundary thus prohibition of entry to their certain territory.

Answer 2

According to legend, the Christmas tree as we understand it began with Martin Luther (he of the ninety five Theses). He was once strolling dwelling via the wooded area one night time, and was once struck by means of the cosmetic of the starlight shining via the snow-protected pine branches. Later, he scale down a pine tree, set it up interior, and adorned it with candles and such in an try to re-create the beautiful scene.