The word XMAS?

Question

Where does it come from?

Answer 1

I bet.... AMERICA... with their lazy ways of doing everything.. like missing out all the U's and stuff...

i hate the term xmas, makes it even more materialistic lol

"lets just not even be bothered to say a full word shall we!!"

Answer 2

It actually has a very long history. It is not really a modern term. The Oxford English Dictionary documents the use of this abbreviation back to 1551. At the time the terms Xian and Xianity were in frequent use as abbreviations of Christian and Christianity. Historians believe it originated from the symbol X in the Greek alphabet, called Chi, with a hard ch. The Greek Chi or X is the first letter in the Greek word Christos. As early as the first century the X was used as Christ's initial.

These links will tell you more of the story. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

like XLNT it is an abbriviated basterisation of the word..

X = Cross
but pronounced as Christ -> who died on the cross etc..

try innov8 h8 2-4-1

from wiki:

"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 used but not universally accepted; some view it as demeaning to Christ, whilst others find it a helpful abbreviation.

Answer 4

I've always thought that the x was there so that each individual could attach their own meaning to the festival. In Mathematics, x can mean anything you want it to, so 'mass' is the festival, and X, is whatever it means to the individual. If, however it has religious connections, ill probably go back to referring to it as Yuletide, seeing as the festival technically isn't related to religion in any way. Sorry, but if you believe that, you've been lied to.

Answer 5

X is a cross, christ died on the cross and the americans are too lazy to spell long words and it saves 50% on advertising.....

Answer 6

x= chi= an abbreviation for Christ
mas= celebration, mass

Answer 7

I went to a church school and the head teacher used to go crazy if we put Xmas.He used to say that you were crossing out Christ.

Answer 8

it means Christmas but id ont like Xmas use christmas

Answer 9

X means cross - Christ was nailed to one. 'mas' the religious celebration of the church

Answer 10

The letter "X" is represented as a "criss-cross", and "criss" happens to sound like the "chris" part of "Christmas".