Merry Xmas?

Question

Why is CHRISTMAS, downgraded to XMAS?
Where, when,& WHY did they start using XMAS

Answer 1

Using Xmas for Christmas used to bother me a lot then I learned that X is really a common and ancient Greek abbreviation for Christ.

Jesus Christ in Greek is ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ and written in the English alphabet is "IHCOYC XPICTOC" or "IHSOYS XPISTOS"

Starting in the third century the nomina sacra, or names of Jesus, were sometimes shortened by contraction in Christian inscriptions, resulting in sequences of Greek letters such as:

+ Jesus +
I (iota)
IH (iota eta)
IC (iota sigma) (first and last letter)
IHC (iota eta sigma)
IHS (iota eta sigma)
JH (iota eta)
JC (iota sigma)
JHC (iota eta sigma)
JHS (iota eta sigma)

+ Christ +
X (chi)
XP (chi rho)
XC (chi sigma) (first and last letter)
XPC (chi rho sigma)
XPS (chi rho sigma)

+ Jesus Christ +
IX
IC XC
IHS XPS
JX
JC XC
JHS XPS

The Greek letter sigma has been translated as both "C" and "S"
The Greek letter iota has been translated as both "I" and "J"

If abbreviating the name of Jesus Christ is good enough for the ancient Christian catacombs then I will let it slide.

http://www.jesuswalk.com/christian-symbols/chi-rho.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Haha. it is in basic terms 5:39 PM on the twenty fourth right here, and that i'm approximately to pass to my grandmother's abode for dinner. We open the promises from my aunt and uncles there. Merry Christmas to you too!

Answer 3

There was a time in the USA when it was common (and considered "in") to shorten words and create shorthand expressions. Some even claim that we should do it to make the language easier to learn.

This is why we see road signs with "THRU" instead of through (as in "Thru traffic keep right") or & being used instead of "and" and '83 instead of 1983...

X was extensively used for criss-cross (or either either or the other... sorry).

Railroad Xing (crossing)
Ped Xing (pedestrian crossing)

So replacing "Christ" with the first letter of his name (Xristos, where the X was pronounced more like a very strong H) probably seemed like the "in" thing to do as some time.

Answer 4

Because x in the Greek alphabet is the letter for chi the beginning of Christmas and Christ .

Answer 5

X is the symbol for christ in ancient christian art. Also X is the greek symbol for Christ as well. There are many different meanings. It is also said the X simply represents the cross Christ was crucified on and has no real meaning. Thats what I know. Hope this answers your question. :0)

Answer 6

I like it better because it's easier to type and write. It still means the same thing. I wouldn't call it downgraded. See? An X just like the crucifix only sideways.

Answer 7

If you look at the Greek alphabet you'll find that the way they spell "Christ" is with a letter that looks like an X.
The Greek for Christ is something like Χριστος (not sure if I used exactly the right letters!).
Our abbreviation is believed to have come from that.

Answer 8

it's a symbol romans associated with christ an abbreviation AND in greek language, X is chi so X was the first letter in christ . has nothing to do with Xing christ out of christmas

so it's been around for a long long time

Answer 9

I know! I don't like saying 'xmas'. It does seem to downgrade it.

Answer 10

It is really all down to laziness. It is so much easier and quicker to type Xmas rather than Christmas. Hence why you see it so much on here. xXx