Why do so many people write Xmas instead of Christmas?

Question

If it weren't for CHRIST, we wouldn't even celebrate Christmas! If you write Xmas, why do you choose to do so? Thanks!

I didn't mean to get offensive to anybody.. I just think know that we Christians celebrate Christmas because of Jesus' birth...

Answer 1

The "X" is Christ. It is an abbreviation. The "X" represents the Greek letter chi (which looks similar to the Roman letter X), which is the first letter in "Christos" or Christ.

Answer 2

If it weren't for Christ, we would celebrate about the same as we do today.... we just wouldn't call it Christmas. Jesus WAS NOT born on Dec. 25.th... the Catholic church in an effort to get pagans into the church changed the winter solstice also known as a celebration to the sun god, into a celebration to the Son of God.

Almost every thing we do to "celebrate" Christmas was stolen from the Pagans. The tree, the gifts, the songs, eggnog, decorations......all were pagan.

The way we KNOW Jesus could not have been born on Dec. 25th is because the Bible says "The Shepard's were out tending their flocks by night." This was not done in December in that region because it is the rainy season. They had already started bringing ther flocks in by that time.

Another interesting note.... the wise men NEVER went to the stable. They showed up at a HOUSE, LONG after Jesus was born.. The only ones invited to the stable were the Shepards.

EDIT: I am a Christian and I DO NOT celebrate Christmas because of what is mentioned above.

Answer 3

During the days of the early Christians, they used symbols to represent Christ since they were often persecuted for their beliefs. One of these is the symbol of the fish, the other is the the letter "X" which was also in common use-age in ancient christian texts and artwork during medieval times either as an "X" or as "Xp". These usages come from the Greek word for Christ which is "chi" and is represented by the letter "X". So the word "Xmas" and "Christmas" are the same and have the same meaning. It is much the same as calling a friend by a familiar or shortened version of their first name (i.e. calling Johnathan "John" or Patricia "Pat" or "Trish"). And as a Christian, Jesus should be both Friend and Savior so the use is entirely appropriate.

As for Christmas, it was originally a pagan holiday. However the early church had a policy of working within the culture of the country rather than trying to change it. They used existing holidays and symbols and assigned a Christian Theme to them. The actual date for the birth of Christ is up to a variety of interpretations with a number of scholars believing he would actually been born in the early months of the year; the church decided to celebrate it on December 25th both since it fell within existing celebrations and it created a focus for the celebration of his birth.

Answer 4

I don't think it is fair to say that "if it weren't for CHRIST, we wouldn't celebrate Christmas." That is a false premise....

3000 years ago Norsemen celebrated “Yule” (with huge log that burns for 12 days) family feasts and evergreens that symbolize the promise of successfully surviving the winter and the fertility that would follow in the Spring.

The different Roman sects celebrated Saturnalia feasts, reversal festivals, Juvenilia parades that focus on giving children gifts, and the birth of Mythra, the Son of the Sun-god. Years later when pagan rome converted to the church, The papacy adopted these different coincidental celebrations as the date of the birth of Christ. This had the positive effect of lending legitimacy and a central focus to all of these disparate celebrations.

In the dark ages the focus was lost for a time. Medieval Irreligious Raucousness (born out of pagan Roman traditions) was nearly universally celebrated on the winter solstices when poor unfortunates are freely granted boons from the wealthy and children are universally fed well on a single day early in winter, Early colonial Puritan & Protestant churches attempted suppression of Christmas. Ironically the church nearly destroyed “Christmas”. There were fines and imprisonments, but the revelries continued unabated. Early 19th century American attempts to depopulate the calendar of the Old World customs evolved into an Post revolutionary American focus on simple, pure, family celebrations that were perfect for isolationist America.

But, soon enough America re-invented Christmas for the whole world. It is one of those untainted successes of the great American experiment.

So, Christmas really is an American holiday (without regard for religion). With a feel (and unfortunate commercial aspect) that has been adopted by the rest of the world. German immigrants brought the Tannenbaum. Mexicans brought the Poinsetta. Dutch brought the stockings and St. Nick. Italians brought the festival atmosphere. And, yes, the Catholic church re-contributed their most precious gift: Jesus Christ. But, when one considers the entirety of the 3000 year old Christmas-Yule-Winter holiday, the ONLY truly constant is family.

Answer 5

This is based on a common misunderstanding. The "X" in "Xmas" is actually a form of Greek (?) abbreviation for "Christ", but a lot of people are not aware of that, so they take offense not knowing that they are offended by something they don't understand is not offensive to them at all. The "X" might also be a symbolic representation of the cross, so it is not meant with disrespect or as an abbreviation.

Answer 6

My father, who was an Anglican priest always said that writing Xmas was leaving Christ out of Christmas.

Answer 7

Google it as several of the answerers have done. Both Xian and Xmas are old Xian words, but as you can see from many of the answers, people *assume* that they are new and are attempts to take "Christ" out of those words.

This is a good example of why we should pay attention to the facts and not just "belief" that something is true.

Answer 8

Christmas is more traditional now, than it is religious. Everybody wants to celebrate Christmas but some people don't believe in Christ. there have been complaints on companies who publicly put up "Christmas." So since lately people have been wanting to be so politically correct--in a liberal mind set--they put Xmas. this way it is for everyone now. personally its one of the most retarded things the public of this country is done. they are offended by what should be just a word for them.

Answer 9

The idea of using ‘X’ in place of Christ is not a modern idea. In the Modern Roman Alphabet, the first letter of the word ‘Christ’ is ‘chi’ which is represented by a symbol similar to the letter ‘X’.
You will frequently see people write Xmas as well as Xian, which means Christian, using the same principle. [Cross and Chi -- Two chi's superimposed upon one another. The chi in its normal position represents Christ. The chi in the position of the cross represents Christ's crucifixion.]

Answer 10

I say the two. I comprehend Christmas is approximately Christ in spite of the fact that it is likewise my brothers birthday so meh...haha....we will now call it Willmas. i think of it relies upon on while you're lazy or no longer, this is speedier to place yuletide. the two way, now days how many human beings certainly placed Christmas and the delivery of Jesus jointly? no longer many, human beings in basic terms prefer can provide, can provide, can provide and of course great nutrition!