The Origin of the Peace Sign

Sailors would create this upside-down “V” by putting their flags out at their sides. This symbolized the letter “N.” A single flag held straight above their heads (similar to the line dissecting the circle) represented a “D.” Put together, the “N.D.” code translated to “nuclear disarmament.”

Although not entirely anti-war, the symbol stood for the anti-nuclear movements following the threat of nuclear destruction during the Cold War. The designer behind the peace sign, Gerald Holtom, created the official icon in 1958 for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)— earning the peace sign its alternate label as the CND symbol.

Peaceful protestors had planned a march from London to the nuclear weapons research center and wanted something to unify their crowd. Following Holtom’s creation, around 500 cardboard cutouts of the symbol were held up on sticks during the march, signaling the peace sign’s first official public appearance.

To further emphasize the meaning behind the design, Holtom never copyrighted the symbol. His intention was to give the public an accessible way to freely use the sign in an expression of their beliefs. Taking full advantage of this freedom, the peace symbol took off in popularity in 1969 as it soon became associated with the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York. 

Even though it did not make its mark in the festival advertisements— the iconic white dove claimed this spot— the peace sign still dotted the vast crowds in the form of jewelry, clothing patches, t-shirt designs, flags, and marker-drawn tattoos. 

Woodstock security guards, often referred to as the “Peace Force,” even wore the icon on their uniforms as a sign to fans and spectators that they meant no harm; they were simply there to keep the peace. 

Once a politically-charged symbol, nowadays, many younger generations believe that the peace sign has lost the weight of its meaning, often associating it with tacky decals and the “hippie” lifestyle. Though, this is not the case for all. 

Others still cherish the power it once held, and the sign continues to make its appearance in anti-war campaigns— even recently, in marches regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Regardless of these opposing views, having been invented over 65 years ago, there are few symbols today that are still as universally recognized and accepted as a sign of peaceful measures both in and out of a war environment.