The X on the Word Christmas

[jiuchan]

You know, I always wondered why X was used to replace the word "Christ" when they same Christmas and then abbreviate it as Xmas. Or Christian to Xian. I always wondered. To me, I think it's a symbol of the cross. I know "t" should be used instead, but think about it, when the t is capitalized to T, it's not a cross anymore now is it? But X and x is still the same no matter what. Also, to me, the X does represent the cross. You know when Jesus was carrying the cross on his back? The cross was slanted, just like how the x looks like a stated cross.

Anyway, I'm not here to make a heated debate or anything, but I've been wanting to share it. If you are gonna try to convince me that I'm wrong, I'm just gonna ignore it, cause again, I'm just stating my opinion and not here to debate on anything. You can dislike this post all you want (if there is a dislike button that is - you can do that by clicking then unlike to make it easier for you). So yeah. I've been wanting to say it for a while now, and I'm finally saying it now.

So yeah, the "X" is not a meaning to omit the word "Christ", but a symbol of him in my opinion. Thank you for reading! 

[angprescott]

I have no idea what it means, but you do have good logic on it. I personally refuse to use "X" because I don't want anyone to thing I don't love Christ, so I always spell it out. But this is just my opinion too.

[pattersondebra]

I always thought it was just a way of shortning the word, but how could you shorten christ?

[jiuchan]

Yeah, I always thought that in the beginning until my someone name Christian made his twitter name Xian. That's when I finally got it.

I had a friend who always corrected me when I always used Xmas, and I was getting mad cause I was just shortening the word. Not omitting the word "christ" then I started thinking more and more about it after the names Xian kept coming out.

[mgint]

I agree I use christmas for the true meaning of season.

[bremer51]

I don't use Xmas.  But I don't start frothing at the mouth is someone else does.

[sdenimandlace1]

I use the x for at home when making list, never on anything I send.

[dkanofsky]

In my opinion, X is just another way to exclude our Lord's name when it comes to Christmas time.

[rpse1927]

x for chrismas is easier to write. i myself dont like it.

[loulizlee]

The pastor at our church is a Bible scholar.  He gave us a lesson in the history of the X in its historical meaning.  Here is an article I found on the internet that reiterates what he told us:
 
The “X” in “Xmas” Doesn’t Take the “Christ” Out of “Christmas”
Daven Hiskey December 21, 2011 7

Myth: “Xmas” is a non-religious name / spelling for “Christmas”.

It turns out, “Xmas” is not a non-religious version of “Christmas”. The “X” is actually indicating the Greek letter “Chi”, which is short for the Greek , meaning “Christ”. So “Xmas” and “Christmas” are equivalent in every way except their lettering.

In fact, although writing guides such as those issued by the New York Times; the BBC; The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style; and Oxford Press discourage the use of Xmas in formal writing, at one time, it was a very popular practice, particularly with religious scribes, who are thought to have started the whole “Xmas” thing in the first place. Indeed, the practice of using the symbol “X” in place of Christ’s name has been going on amongst religious scholars for at least 1000 years.

Eventually, this shorthand trick spread to non-religious writings where nearly everywhere “Christ” appeared in a word, the Greek Chi would replace that part of the word. For example, in the 17th and 18th centuries, there are numerous non-religious documents containing instances of “Xine”, which was a common spelling for someone whose name was Christine.

Bonus Facts:

    The “-mas” part on the end of Christmas and Xmas comes from the Old English word for “mass”.
    Other classic common abbreviations for “Christ” were: “Xp” and “Xt”, again both an abbreviated form of the Greek for Christ.
    The Greek letters “X” (Chi) and “p” (Rho) superimposed together was once a very common symbol signifying Christ and was called, somewhat unimaginatively, the Chi-Rho.
    The Chi-Rho was also used by scribes in a non-religious sense to mark some passage that was particularly good, with it literally implying “good”.
    In 1977, the Governor of New Hampshire issued a press release stating that journalists should cease taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas” as “Xmas” was a pagan spelling of Christmas. Perhaps he should have run that press release by a religious scholar before issuing it. :-)
    Although, even those well versed and respected in Christianity often make the same mistake, such as Franklin Graham in an interview on CNN: “For us as Christians, this is one of the most holy of the holidays, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. And for people to take Christ out of Christmas. They’re happy to say merry Xmas. Let’s just take Jesus out. And really, I think, a war against the name of Jesus Christ.”

[BJohnsonPP]

I was going to write about the Greek letter "Chi" but loulizlee beat me to it haha. Since, I don't have to type out the history of it now, I'll just say thanks instead.

[loulizlee]

You are welcome, bjohnsonpp.  It also means that atheists who write xian thinking they have not written Christ are misinformed.

[loulizlee]

I also meant to say I agree with the person who began this thread that my posts are not meant to start a negative discussion of the subject.  It is always good when we can learn something positive.

[jwallbank]

I do think this is a interesting post!! I don't personally take it personally although, I do not believe in taking Christ out of Christmas. I personally think it is just a "Political Correct" way to try to appease the non religious community, so that we don't  hurt anyone's feelings. The only problem sometimes when you try not to hurt certain groups feelings, you turn an hurt another groups feelings (Christians).

[BJohnsonPP]

jawallbank, read through the thread. Particularly loulizee's first post.

You are welcome, bjohnsonpp.  It also means that atheists who write xian thinking they have not written Christ are misinformed.

Sure. I'm an atheist but don't know many that use it that way. I really don't know many people that use it at all. I never use the X simply because it was never something that's been natural to use for me. Maybe to save space in a text message, but I can't recall when/if I've even ever done that. It's not as if saying Jesus Christ burns the tongue of atheists so I just find it silly to use for that purpose...to "X" Christ out.