Why would anyone write or say X mas instead of Christmas?

Question

It's just five letters more...but a WORLD of difference. Christ was born and died for our sins. The very least people can do is honor His name. Why are people who are not believers celebrating His birth?

Capt P.... my point is, people are purposely leaving out Christ's name, regardless of whether this is the actual season of His birth, whether we are celebrating His birth correctly, etc.

Answer 1

How funny! I was JUST talking to my husband about that last night!!! Christ should be written instead of X- that is just a horrible shortcut and most of those people are probably not Christians.

Also, I am not very fond with the phrases, "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" as if it's just a "Holiday" or a "Season" combined with New Years. Some people just don't understand how important Christ is, who created them in His perfection, or they just simply choose not believe or were never taught. I didn't learn about Christ until I was 23, 5 years ago as I was brought up in a non-religious home and never understood the Christmas story or why Christmas existed. I just thought it was a time to give and receive presents and I used to write X-mas on my cards- now I look back and all I could think is how ignorant I was. My husband taught me everything about the true meaning of Christmas when I was 23 and I broke down into tears and accepted Christ that very same day. I had no idea. I just wasn't raised by the right parents who are both non-believers and never brought it up to me.

Daisy, you ask very good questions!! I am keeping you on my contact list if you don't mind.

Answer 2

Xmas is actually rather fitting. Why you ask? Read on.

Jesus was NOT born on December 25th. He was born in late summer/early autumn.

December 25th is the ancient pagan festival of Yule. This is a festival of the winter solstice, when the days first noticeably become longer. The Roman Church could not stop people from Celebrating Yule, so they made it Christ's "official birthday", in order to Christianize the day.

Many of your "Christmas Traditions" actually come from Yule. Dispite the quaint stories you may have been told primary school, The tree, the lights, the log, the feast, the presents among other things, all come from Yule. Where do you think Yuletide comes from, huh?

People of all faiths and races have adopted "Christmas" so they don't miss out on presents. Even "Christians" don't think much of Jesus at "Christmas". They are more worried about food, presents and having better decorations than the neighbors do.

This is further perpetuated by the retail people, so they get lots of sales durring the dark, depessing time of year where sales would be bleak otherwise. Instead, people stick their necks out to buy gifts and the heating and eating budgets suffer in January and Feburary for it.

Bah! Humbug! Humbug, I say. Humbug indeed! it's not amusing. It just further shows why "Christmas" sucks and I can't wait 'till it's over.

Answer 3

Most people celebrate "Krismas" in honor of Santa and all things magical, not the birth of Jesus. The only thing "christian" about this time is the name. Everything else, including the celebration of the birth of a "crucified savior born of a virgin, etc. (Mithra)" was already celebrated by pagans long before Christianity came into being.

Answer 4

The phrase is literally and symbolically distasteful, according to its critics. Not only does it "X" out Christ, the religious figure at the heart of the holiday, it also represents a secularization of Christmas, what some see as focusing more on the presents under the Christmas tree and less on religious observance and the birth of baby Jesus. Other Christians, who feel that Xmas takes the "Christ" out of "Christmas," believe that the letter X is used because of its resemblance to a cross, or to avoid the proclamation of Jesus' name. This modern trend, they say, must be bucked, so that people can be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

But it turns out that "Xmas"­ isn't a modern convention at all.
It was used commonly in 16th-century Europe, when many people began using the term "Christos," the Greek translation for Christ, to refer to Jesus.

The letter chi in the Greek alphabet is symbolized by an X and translates to "ch." So along with the Greek letter rho for "r", the term Xmas was used to refer to the birth of Jesus as an informed abbreviation, not an offensive one.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/xmas-2.jpg

Xmas was a way for Christian scholars to refer to Jesus respectfully in an ancient language -- not to disrespect his name with a harsh symbol. In fact, variations of "Xmas" date back to 1021

Answer 5

because it's shorter. People have used X-mas for decades, it's nothing new and has nothing to do with Muslims. Christmas has been co-opted as an American holiday more than a religious one. I have several Hindu friends who celebrate Christmas.

Answer 6

Honestly, I think it's just lazy. Most people can't be bothered, why else do people write instead of or instead of . People are lazy.

I agree with you though, it's Christmas.... let's keep Christ in Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you!

Answer 7

Point well taken. Maybe they are celebrating the birth of 'X". As for me, I will celebrate Christmas.

Answer 8

in case you knew something regarding the history of Christianity, you would be attentive to that X has been used because of the fact the emblem for Christ for hundreds of years. something regarding the Latin for for Christ beginning with an X or something. it is not something that grow to be invented at the instant. you're getting disillusioned over something you do no longer be attentive to something approximately.

Answer 9

I don't think they're celebrating his birth. They're happy to get presents from "Santa".

Answer 10

I think muslims use Xmas while christians use Christmas.