Oreos have been a national favorite since their debut in 1912. The crumbly chocolate wafers and sweet cream filling were instant hits, and today, they're still enjoyed by millions — either in their classic iteration or in one of the many seasonal varieties.
They're also pretty versatile. You can pop them into your mouth as is, dunk them in milk, or bake them into red velvet brownies for a truly decadent dessert.
And if you're a fan of Oreos, you've probably checked out the intricate design stamped into the wafers. The name OREO is in the center, ringed by a curious design of circles and what appear to be flowers. But you probably didn't think too much about it before chowing down.
But some people think the design has a slightly more sinister meaning than simply a pleasing texture. In fact, there are a lot of pretty out-there conspiracy theories regarding the design of milk's favorite cookie, and they involve everything from the Crusades to the Freemasons.
Do you think the Oreo design is just a design? Or could it be indicative of something more sinister? Learn about its mysterious origins below and let us know what you think!
[H/T: Mental Floss]
Oreos might not seem very mysterious. If you're like most people, you probably grew up snacking on them.
But if you look closely, some people say you'll start to see that maybe the little sandwich cookies are more than they seem.
Oreos were actually copies of the Hydrox cookie, which was first marketed in 1908. Oreos, however, quickly outpaced Hydrox and became the sandwich cookie.
But even the name "Oreo" is a mystery. Some say it's derived from or, the French word for gold, and others say it's a Greek word meaning "beautiful" or "nicely done."
But more mysterious than the name is the surprisingly intricate design on the chocolate wafers.
Stamping cookies was popular in 1912, and also helped Nabisco, who produced Oreos, create a recognizable brand.
Legend has it that this design was developed by Nabisco mail room employee William Turnier, who was inspired by medieval manuscripts.
The design features the word "Oreo" surrounded by an oval with a double-crossed line, which also happens to be Nabisco's logo, and surrounding that are four-petaled flower shapes.
Some people see hidden meaning in these designs.
Some people interpret the cross shape as the Cross of Lorraine, which was carried by the Knights Templar during the Crusades.
They also see the four-petaled flowers as a cross pattée, which was also linked to the Knights Templar.
Others connect this design with the Freemasons.
According to Nabisco, though, the circle and cross symbol was inspired by a medieval printer's mark that was said to indicate quality.
Another theory about the intricate design?
That it wasn't just created for aesthetics. A theory is that it was created to better hold milk when the cookie was dunked.
For their part, though, Nabisco has never released an official statement about the design.
In fact, they haven't even stated definitively that Turnier was the person who came up with it — just that he was a designer.
Today, Nabsico also puts out seasonal designs, like these Halloween Oreos.
But whatever hidden meaning may have been concealed in this beloved cookie may never be known, as Turnier, the man who would have had the answers, passed away in 2004.
What do you think? Is this just a design, or does it indicate something bigger? SHARE this strange bit of cookie history with your friends and see what they think!
