Any known facts regarding this phrase would be appreciated...Thanx
2006-12-25 03:11:27 · 5 answers · asked by Stevie Do 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
The abbreviation of 'Xmas' for 'Christmas' is neither modern nor disrespectful. The notion that it is a new and vulgar representation of the word 'Christmas' seems to stem from the erroneous belief that the letter 'X' is used to stand for the word 'Christ' because of its resemblance to a cross, or that the abbreviation was deliberately concocted "to take the 'Christ' out of Christmas." Actually, this usage is nearly as old as Christianity itself, and its origins lie in the fact that the first letter in the Greek word for 'Christ' is 'chi,' and the Greek letter 'chi' is represented by a symbol similar to the letter 'X' in the modern Roman alphabet. Hence 'Xmas' is indeed perfectly legitimate abbreviation for the word 'Christmas' (just as 'Xian' is also sometimes used as an abbreviation of the word 'Christian').
None of this means that Christians (and others) aren't justified in feeling slighted when people write 'Xmas' rather than 'Christmas,' but the point is that the abbreviation was not created specifically for the purpose of demeaning Christ, Christians, Christianity, or Christmas -- it's a very old artifact of a very different language.
2006-12-25 03:18:50 · answer #1 · answered by Robwood 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have heard two different answers. The first answer is that it is crossing out the name of Christ. The second answer is that it was either the Greeks or some other people that used the sign "X" for the sign of Christ. I am just as lost as you are. Have a Merry Christmas!
-Kiarra S.
2006-12-25 11:16:16 · answer #2 · answered by Walking Contradiction 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm guessing Rau is correct, because it sounds knowledgeable. I thought it was just a commercial modification come about by the need to save space on print advertising.
2006-12-25 16:43:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The symbol of Christ is the cross that he died on. Originally the abbreviation was a cross and 'mass', but the x can be typed.
2006-12-25 11:16:07 · answer #4 · answered by Aggie80 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That was someones way of being lazy when they were writing it, but if you notice what are you taking out of the word? CHRIST- mas
2006-12-25 11:14:44 · answer #5 · answered by *queenfairy1*Antioch California 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋