The X in Xmas

[Disneyglobegirl]

Does anyone know how the shortened version of Xmas started for Christmas?

I thought that I had read somewhere that the X was a symbol for Christ and that is how the abbreviation started but I have heard people say that by using the X you are taking the Christ out of Christmas.

Anybody know the origins of Xmas?

Thanks

 

[Sparx]

I always thought X meant christ. I use it when I dont' have alot of room to write.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I always thought X meant christ. I use it when I dont' have alot of room to write.

Me too and I never really thought about it until DD came home from school today telling me it was wrong to use because of some of the kids saying that it is taking the Christ out of Christmas. I told her I didn't think it was wrong since the X is suppose to be a symbol of Christ - but then I thought I better check out the origins as not to give her the wrong info.

 

[noseybuddy]

I write that all the time. I didn't know it meant that.

 

[Sparx]

I think that that seems like political correctness at its finest. Probably very religous parents who think its very wrong to shorten the name of a holiday like that and told that to their children. Or maybe not. I wouldn't think too much about it.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I think that that seems like political correctness at its finest. Probably very religous parents who think its very wrong to shorten the name of a holiday like that and told that to their children. Or maybe not. I wouldn't think too much about it.

LOL I agree!

 

[palmtreegirl]

"In the Modern Roman Alphabet, the first letter of the word ‘Christ’ is ‘chi’ which is represented by a symbol similar to the letter ‘X’."



http://www.classbrain.com/artholiday/publish/Xmas.shtml

 

[jahexom]

I thought the "X" had something to do with a letter in the Greek Alphabet and was a symbol for Christ, but I don't remember where I heard that.

Jen


I stand corrected (sit, actually)

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

In the Roman Alphabet, the first letter of the word ‘Christ’ is ‘chi’ which is represented by a symbol similar to the letter ‘X’.

http://www.classbrain.com/artholiday/publish/Xmas.shtml

Thank you!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

It makes me curious to want to go look up how X got into Christmas in the first place.

One time, a friend's mother (who was a fundie Southern Baptist)told me that if you write "XMAS" instead of "Christmas" you were letting Satan take over your soul. Because Satan's symbol was an X.

Or something to that effect.

TOV

 

[palmtreegirl]

Thank you!

You're welcome, gotta love that Google.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I also found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas

Thank Deity for Wikipedia!

TOV

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Totally off topic but:

PalmTreeGirl - I LOVE that Billy Joel song that you have quoted in your signature. Listened to it today on my Ipod on my flight home from NYC.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I also found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas

Thank Deity for Wikipedia!

TOV

Thank you TOV - gotta give my DD the history on this so she can speak up - LOL

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

You're totally welcome.

You can find almost ANYTHING in Wikipedia (which I realized the day I went to go find out WHY Lt. Worf on ST:TNG has no last name )!

TOV

 

[TurboKitty]

I pulled out the family's copy of Webster's New Students Dictionary, copyright 1964.

Listing was;

Xmas\'kris-mes, `eks-mes\n[fr. X symbol for Christ, fr. the Gk letter ch (X), initial of Christos Christ];CHRISTMAS.

 

[Rella Bella]

One time, a friend's mother (who was a fundie Southern Baptist)told me that if you write "XMAS" instead of "Christmas" you were letting Satan take over your soul. Because Satan's symbol was an X.Or something to that effect. TOV

Thanks I needed that!!

 

[KingsFanInRI]

My own personal preference is to write out the word Christmas. Since learning of the etymology of the term a few years ago I have grown to not disdain it so much, but I'm still no advocate of it. But that's just me.

And don't be fooled by everyone who uses the " 'X' is the Greek abbreviation for Christ" arguement, because you all know that many people (dare I say the majority of those who do, but certainly not all) who write "Xmas" do it as a slight to Christ, a commercially convenient way to omit Christ from Christmas if you will.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I am not a very religious person at all, but I admit that X for Christmas is one of my all time pet peeves. Like the previous poster mentioned, I know LOTS of people who do it to omit Christ rather than just shorten the word. There is one couple in particular that won't even write out the word Christ, they always use the X instead. I'm not sure how they SAY it out loud though, lol.

I have money taken out every month to put in a Christmas club account. I'm so anal about it that I put Cmas club in my check register because I just can't force myself to put the X. Silly, I know. I am glad to hear that the X is actually a symbol FOR Christ and not against. Maybe I won't cringe everytime I see it written now.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

It makes me curious to want to go look up how X got into Christmas in the first place.

One time, a friend's mother (who was a fundie Southern Baptist)told me that if you write "XMAS" instead of "Christmas" you were letting Satan take over your soul. Because Satan's symbol was an X.

Or something to that effect.

TOV

My DD was told that Halloween was the devils birthday and it was wrong to celebrate. Geesh gotta love that one.