Farrah Nuff
Senior Member
- Location
- East of the sun, West of the moon
I was watching a video on YouTube and in it it was said to be just as this linked article explains. I had heard other origin tales but this one fits best, for me, for now. 
Where Did the Peace Sign Come From?
- Thread starter Farrah Nuff
- Start date
NorthernLight
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northern BC
Yes, all these years I thought it was something simpler. Maybe I had heard only part of the story.
Recently I wanted to use it as a trivia question. But the answer was too complicated, so I couldn't use it.
Recently I wanted to use it as a trivia question. But the answer was too complicated, so I couldn't use it.
Tish
SF VIP
- Location
- Rural N.S.W. Australia
Makes sense to me.
I just remembered a funny line from one of my favorite shows - "The Jeffersons."
Their son, "Lionel" (played by Mike Evans) was angry at his teacher for giving him an unfair grade & he got suspended for "disrespecting" the teacher.
George Jefferson asked him what he did.
Lionel said, "Well, ya know the peace sign?
George said, "Yeah."
Lionel said, "Well, I only gave him half of it."
Their son, "Lionel" (played by Mike Evans) was angry at his teacher for giving him an unfair grade & he got suspended for "disrespecting" the teacher.
George Jefferson asked him what he did.
Lionel said, "Well, ya know the peace sign?
George said, "Yeah."
Lionel said, "Well, I only gave him half of it."
horseless carriage
Well-known Member
It was designed in 1958 by Gerard Holtom, a professional designer and artist and a graduate of the Royal College of Arts. He was a conscientious objector who had worked on a farm in Norfolk during the Second World War, and explained that the symbol incorporated the semaphore letters N(uclear) and D(isarmament).
He later wrote to Hugh Brock, editor of Peace News, explaining the genesis of his idea in greater, more personal depth: ‘I was in despair. Deep despair. I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya’s peasant before the firing squad.
I formalised the drawing into a line and put a circle around it’.
The first badges were made by Eric Austen of Kensington CND using white clay with the symbol painted black. Again there was a conscious symbolism. They were distributed with a note explaining that in the event of a nuclear war, these fired pottery badges would be among the few human artefacts to survive the nuclear inferno.
Going back to Gerard Holtom's statement: " I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya’s peasant before the firing squad." By inverting the symbol you can see how Goya's peasant inspired Holtom. The 'Y' shape representing the outstretched arms.
He later wrote to Hugh Brock, editor of Peace News, explaining the genesis of his idea in greater, more personal depth: ‘I was in despair. Deep despair. I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya’s peasant before the firing squad.
I formalised the drawing into a line and put a circle around it’.
Almost right, it was actually the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
The first badges were made by Eric Austen of Kensington CND using white clay with the symbol painted black. Again there was a conscious symbolism. They were distributed with a note explaining that in the event of a nuclear war, these fired pottery badges would be among the few human artefacts to survive the nuclear inferno.
Going back to Gerard Holtom's statement: " I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya’s peasant before the firing squad." By inverting the symbol you can see how Goya's peasant inspired Holtom. The 'Y' shape representing the outstretched arms.
Alligatorob
SF VIP
Or does it come from the ancient Norse rune Algiz, the death rune?
It is too simple in design to have first been used in the 1950s. Shouldn't detract from its modern meaning, and the semaphore explanation seems likely true, but its history may be more complex. Look up the history of the swastika for a long and complex one.
Does the Peace Symbol Really Come From a Death Rune?
https://insight.ifate.com/does-the-peace-symbol-come-from-a-rune/The Peace Symbol is a Proto-Germanic Death Rune
https://www.hiddendominion.com/peace-symbol-death-rune/
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V for Victory......
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill flashes the “V” for victory sign as he arrives in Washington a decade after the end of World War II. (AP)
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill flashes the “V” for victory sign as he arrives in Washington a decade after the end of World War II. (AP)
Great, interesting thread @Farrah Nuff!
Thanks for posting this thread and info, I never thought very much about the origin of the peace sign, but I always like to see people who were sincere using it, and we will always benefit from more peace in the United States and throughout the world.I was watching a video on YouTube and in it it was said to be just as this linked article explains. I had heard other origin tales but this one fits best, for me, for now.
Where Did the Peace Sign Come From?
Mizmo
Well-known Member
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Doesn't do a thing for me. Meaningless to most people. I like old Winnie's V sign as shown above better.
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jujube
SF VIP
There's a bumper sticker with a picture like that that says "Accomplish Whirled Peas" ...
I can remember the peace symbol being referred to scornfully as "the chicken track of the American hippie coward" by some of the more hawkish members of society.
I still think it's a beautiful symbol.
Jamala
Senior Member
- Location
- Butterfly from Herts/UK
Correct for the most part. It is most certainly copied from the Norse Protectiion rune.
Designed by Gerald Holtom for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958, it was never copyrighted.
Could be because the idea was not entirely his own!