The X in Xmas

[POB14]

If you've ever seen a Catholic mass, you've probably seen the "Chi-Rho" -- it looks like a P with an X through it. There's one image here.

As you now know from above posts, this is another abbreviation for Christ: the CH and the R.

So the X as an abbreviation for Christ goes back, well, probably farther than the celebration of Christmas as we know it.

I don't think most people mean any disrespect by it. I certainly don't.

 

[RadioNate]

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.

Oh please the majority do it as a slight to Christ and to purposfully omit Christ from Christmas? How 'bout the do it because it is SHORTER? Omiting 5 letters in some cases can be huge. Signage, text, emails...

 

[EltonJohn]

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

The BBC had an article about that:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4097755.stm

 

[Mary Ellen]

The abbreviation of X for Christ has been around MUCH longer than any of us. I do genealogy as a hobby and have photocopies of German CHURCH records where the name Christian was written Xian. It sure threw me for a loop when I first saw it. I couldn't figure how a 'Chinese-type' name was in Wurttenburg in the 18th century. Christopher was also written Xopher.

To me the belief that "Xmas" is a slight to Christ or a commercially convenient way to omit Christ from Christmas is uninformed.

 

[Diane]

I found this a week or so ago, but I have no idea where. It sounds plausible.

"The abbreviation of Xmas for Christmas is not irreligious. The first letter of the word Christ in Greek is chi, which is identical to our X. Xmas was originally an ecclesiastical abbreviation that was used in tables and charts. In the early days of printing, when font sizes were limited and type was set by hand, abbreviations and ditto marks were used liberally. Xmas came into general use from the church!"