The term "X-mas" seems like it is becoming more popular even among non-traditional Christians, and is used often by non-Christians to describe the day Christ was born - "Christ"mas, but what does the "X" stand for?
2006-12-22 09:30:29 · 14 answers · asked by STILL standing 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, I know the Greek letter "X" or Chi stands for Christ, but what I am bringing up here is why non-Christians would celebrate a holiday with a Christian name.
2006-12-22 09:35:28 · update #1
Ok, so I really meant to ask the 2nd question - why non-Christians would celebrate a holiday with a Christian name.
No one has yet answered this question.
2006-12-22 09:52:30 · update #2
Christmas is no longer a religious holiday
its a fit of capitalistic consumption
binge spending
gluttony
desperate grasping of materialism
2006-12-22 09:38:26 · answer #1 · answered by anonacoup 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I think most people use it as a generic term for the holiday. Knowing that not everybody celebrates Christmas, many still want to wish people well without assuming anything or offending anyone. By taking the Christ out and putting in the X, they cover the bases. I prefer Christmas, because that is the true holiday and the people who are offended by it have no right because if they don't celebrate it, don't partake in it. I have never been able to figure out why so many people who celebrate the holiday get offended by the term in which the holiday is originally inteded for. If you don't like the term, don't celebrate the holiday!
2006-12-22 09:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by Goddess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Xmas" and "X-mas" are common abbreviations of the word "Christmas". They are sometimes pronounced "eksmas", but they, and variants such as "Xtemass", originated as handwriting abbreviations for the pronunciation "Christmas". The "-mas" part came from the Anglo-Saxon for "festival", "religious event": Crīstesmæsse or Crīstemæsse. This abbreviation is widely but not universally accepted; some view it as demeaning to Christ, whilst others find it a helpful abbreviation.
In ancient Christian art χ and χρ are abbreviations for Christ's name.[citation needed] In many manuscripts of the New Testament and icons, X is an abbreviation for Christos, as is XC (the first and last letters in Greek, using the lunate sigma); compare IC for Jesus in Greek. The Oxford English Dictionary documents the use of this abbreviation back to 1551, 50 years before the first English colonists came to North America and 60 years before the King James Version of the Bible was completed. At the same time, Xian and Xianity were in frequent use as abbreviations of "Christian" and "Christianity"; and nowadays still are sometimes so used, but much less than "Xmas". The proper names containing the name "Christ" other than aforementioned are rarely abbreviated in this way (e.g. Hayden Xensen for the actor name "Hayden Christensen"). Pop artist Christina Aguilera is known to spell her first name as 'Xtina'.
This apparent usage of "X" to spell the syllable "kris" (rather than the sounds "ks") has extended to "xtal" for "crystal", and on florists' signs "xant" for "chrysanthemum" (though these words are not etymologically related to "Christ"; "crystal" comes from a Greek word meaning "ice", and "chrysanthemum" from Greek words meaning "golden flower", while "Christ" comes from a Greek word meaning "anointed").
2006-12-22 09:34:46 · answer #3 · answered by Scott M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some denominations which are not accepted by mainstream Christianity, like the Jehovah's Witness' and 7th Day Adventist, do not celebrate Christmas. I think the agnostic or non-Christians, are continuing a childhood tradtion or just like the giving and receiving of gifts.
2006-12-22 10:12:17 · answer #4 · answered by LEdens 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
X stands for Christ
2006-12-22 09:33:16 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Say, believe, and practice "not my will, but yours (Jesus') be done." Listen and be aware of the Holy Spirit's direction in your every day life. Be ready to obey when asked. Love others. Be a promise keeper. Be kind. Be ready to give others an answer about why you believe in Jesus. Be responsible for your own actions.
2016-05-23 16:38:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you requested a non christian, but, I'm going to answer. It's a easier way to cross Christ out of Christmas It gives them a sense of reality to celebrate... Everyone needs an excuse!
2006-12-22 09:37:13 · answer #7 · answered by ~Jessica~ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
X is a greek chi meaning "christ"
2006-12-22 09:32:37 · answer #8 · answered by latenightdrives 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm non-christian and celebrate xmas because it's traditional and important in my family. But I make a point of always writing xmas. I hope that it reminds them I'm doing it because I care about them, not because I believe any of it.
2006-12-22 09:43:00 · answer #9 · answered by Poppy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The X was put there by people that refused to say Christ!
2006-12-22 09:33:37 · answer #10 · answered by jonathan x 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋