Does it bother you when people use "Xmas" instead of "Christmas"?

Question

It bothers me when I see it. It's like taking the Christ out of Christmas. I know some will say it's just an abbreviation, but Christmas isn't that long a word. Do you ever see Hanukkah abbreviated Xkah or Ramadan as Xdan? Even if it was an abbreviation, wouldn't "Cmas" be more logical?

magpieix, "something more meaningful" like insulting Christians' questions? Now who is being petty here? Maybe it's you who need to "move on" if an honest question provokes you that much.

Answer 1

It does bother me somewhat that it's not called the Yule or Solstice anymore, actually. As it should be.

"The word Xmas
This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. X is also the letter Chi which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek alphabet. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect. Unfortunately, some people of today use it as a disrespectful word on purpose. It is unfortunate."

Answer 2

"Xmas" really includes Christ in Christmas. Here it is. X is an abbreviation for Christ, and is found in many of the ancient manuscripts of the New Testament. We are not doing anything that these revered ancients texts weren't doing. Hope this helps keep it in perspective for you.

I prefer the whole word, but will not get in a fret over it.

Answer 3

Yes. It really does. It bothers me and annoys me to no end. I would love nothing more to yell at the people using "u" in the place of "you." Of course, they're on the internet and I can't properly yell at them, so it would do me no good.

Answer 4

The letter x makes a sound similar to the kris sound we make at the beginning if the word Christmas, I mean I think most of us don't pronounce the t. But personally I have felt guilty about thinking about spelling it with the x, and I usually won't do that because that word "Xmas" doesn't mean anything to me and actually looks ugly to me. But Christmas means a lot to me and looks beautiful, so I gotta write it right. but I was reading something not long ago suggesting that the letter x has something to do with evil.

Answer 5

No it doesn’t, Christmas is a made up holiday. It was originally a holiday that celebrated the winter solstice but was co-opted by the Catholic church as a day to celebrate the birth of the Christ. It’s much like Easter, which was a day when the pagans celebrated the female god of fertility Ester. These holidays were co-opted so as to make the transition from paganism to Catholicism much easier without all the hassle. The pagans liked their old holidays and even after conversion to Catholicism they still celebrated them. It was easier to change the celebration from one meaning to another than to stop the celebration all together. Its much like the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico is made up of Aztec aspects and takes on a ‘christian’ respectability. I celebrate Christmas as does my family and friends but not as the birth of the Savior our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a holiday for me and mine much like Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. A great time to be together with family and friends but not a special day of celebration of the Christ. We are commanded to celebrate the life of Christ everyday and especially every first day of the week.
Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Romans 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
There’s nothing wrong in remembering the birth of Christ on a certain day but to try and state that December 25th is the day of His birth is wrong….no one traveled in the winter during this time and the census was more than likely held in the summer after the crops were planted and the roads were now passable after drying from the spring rains.

Answer 6

That's a good question. I would have to say yes. I have always felt very uncomfortable writing the word Xmas. I just doesn't seem right to put an X instead of Christ. It's like your taking Jesus out of the picture. Your basically putting an X over Jesus.

Answer 7

It doesn't bother me.

What sort of bothers me is when Christians who are totally ignorant of their own history have to invent petty little "issues" like the Xmas thing so that they can play the "poor me, I'm so persecuted for my beliefs" role.

Get over it, find some thing more meaningful to whine about.

Answer 8

I like your train of thought on this.
You cannot take Christ out of CHRISTmas, and expect it to be the same, after all Jesus is the reason for the season.

For those who say it is ancient Greek for Christ. HELLO we are not in ancient Greece, for that matter I doubt many on here including those that say that can even read or write Greek.

Answer 9

The part that bothers me is that most of the people that write xmas, and xtians, probably don't have x (Christ) in their lives. So it's not just Christmas that they have taken Christ out of. It's their homes, schools, jobs, and families.

Just pray, that is the best thing to do.

people have tried to erase Jesus since the birth (Herod) and Crucifixion (cross). but satan loses, we all know the end of the book.

blessings to you.

Answer 10

im not christian but i see your point- but it doesnt really bother me. alot of companies use xmas to stay "nuetral" so it can be used for all who dont believe in jesus....and its just and abbreviation- i dont think its meant to offend any believer....its just an easier nuetral term...u can/should still use christmas if u want, dont let it bother u tho :)
cmas is cute too...i like it