2006-12-07 01:44:13 · 35 answers · asked by AC 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
It's a popular myth that "xmas" takes Christ out of Christmas. In fact, for years I thought my mom was evil because she marked all the boxes Xmas for storage.
However, I found out recently that the X in Xmas isn't as bad as I thought. In the greek lettering system, X = Chi, which for them, actually meant Christ.
Ergo, it's technically shorthand to just write Xmas, using the greek X to represent Christ, rather than take Him out.
2006-12-07 01:49:18 · answer #1 · answered by maddiekay82 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Really interesting range of answers here and those saying that 'X' is a perfectly valid symbol for 'Christ' are absolutely right, so 'Xmas' doesn't in itself 'take the Christ out of Chrstmas'. Personally I get touchy about people using Xmas here there and everywhere as a replacement for the full word Christmas when it should only be used as an abbreviation (so the example of someone's mum using it to mark boxes is fine, say). For people to write or worse than that print 'Merry Xmas' in cards, or display banners saying 'Happy Xmas' is just lazy and sloppy; think how you;d feel if someone wrote 'Happy B'day' in a birthday card!
On a final note, anyone who actually pronounces the 'X' as the letter and says 'Ex-mass' deserves to be taken out and shot!
2006-12-07 02:01:21 · answer #2 · answered by HRW 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
they are the type of people that have to have something to complain about and right now thats the issue of choice
its really not that big of a deal. there are more important things to get worked up about than the semantics of a holiday
how do any of you know that is gesture of saying Xmas instead of christmas is insulting to Christ? When was his displeasure made? did I miss the bulletin? Show me a verse or something that says this is disrespectful to Christ
You can't can you? Why is that? Probably because there is no mention of Christmas at all in the Bible, therefore how can this be viewed as some kind of insult
2006-12-07 01:50:37 · answer #3 · answered by Random Nimrod 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They don't take the time to actually research the history of what X meant in the Greek language. If they did, they would find out there is nothing in the least bit offensive about it. They are the type who are never happy unless they're complaining about something, this just happens to be what they chose at the moment.
I find it interesting that everyone says Christ is displeased with the abbreviation. Again, if you go back to researching the Greek language, you will find that is very likely not the case. However, he did instruct in the Bible that they were to remember his death, not his birth. Celebrating births was a Pagan practice and not something that a Jew or Christian would or should do.
2006-12-07 06:09:01 · answer #4 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religious people are touchy because the word xmas doesn't have Christ in it. But this should be a choice, especially for those who are not religious or are of a different religion. Xmas should be allowed to be celebrated by everyone for their own reasons. Like spending time with family & friends where everyone gets together, in this case there is no "christ" just XMAS.
2006-12-07 01:48:29 · answer #5 · answered by zanoshi 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Believe it or not Xmas (the "cross" or x standing for Christ) has been around for over 1000 years!
Today, to many things are casually abbreviated, GQ for Gentleman's Quarterly, ASAP for As Soon As Possible, AKA for Also Known As, and the list goes on. Perhaps by saying Xmas some people feel we are being to casual with Christ.
2006-12-07 02:12:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Alot of people feel that when you abbreviate the word, that you have taken Christ - out of Christmas. With all of the stores making it a "material" holiday, and so many people just worried about gift giving and receiving, many have forgotten the true meaning of the holiday. I think some people get a little carried away though. I do think its a bit crazy for people to complain about a nativity scene in a church yard, or the words "Merry Christmas" being said in a school. In todays world, it is probably safer to say "Happy Holidays", if you truly mean it. There are a couple of holidays at this time of the year, not necessarily just Christmas. I, myself, celebrate the birth of Christ - so - Merry CHRISTmas to Me, and to others who celebrate another holiday for other reasons, may they have a Happy Holiday.
2006-12-07 01:52:02 · answer #7 · answered by MommaSchmitt 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because they don't understand what it means.
The Greek letters chi and rho written on top of each other have been used as a symbol for Christ since the second century. In mediaeval English engravings, the chi rho symbol was often used as part of words like Christmas and Christian. When movable type printing came in, they didn't have a chi rho symbol, so they used X. So there's no problem spelling the word Xmas as long as it's pronounced Christmas.
2006-12-07 01:51:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because they are oversensitive and don't know what they are talking about. "X" is the Greek letter "Chi," which is used to symbolize Christ.
Also keep in mind that, like many other "Christian" holidays, Christmas was a pagan holiday perverted by Christians who were bent on dominating the masses. After all, the precursor to Christmas used to be a day where medieval nobles opened their castles for a feast for their subordinates, who were also allowed to take "gifts" from the castle.
If Christ is important to you, by all means keep calling it Christmas. But for those of us who are not Christian but still like the idea of celebrating a family holiday where we can share in the gift-giving tradition, let us do what we want.
2006-12-07 02:45:11 · answer #9 · answered by kazunoben 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some people believe that it removes "Christ" from Christmas.
The abbreviation, Xmas, can be seen in Eastern Othordox churches where the "X" is the Greek letter chi and is an abbreviation of the Greek for "Christ".
2006-12-07 01:54:59 · answer #10 · answered by Quorlia 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋