I hate Xmas......
 

Really,

it seriously bothers me when people abbreviate Christmas as Xmas. When you do, you take Christ out of the holiday and help add to the commercialized and secular nature of some Christmas celebraters.

I understand that the source of the date for Christmas comes from various other celebrations, including pagan ones, but i hardly think that if Christmas was celebrated in september or october without the giving of gifts that the Winter Solistice or whatever pagan holiday was orginally in december would hold the same commercial sway.

So, leave Christ in Christmas. Unless of course you're a pagan or athiest, in which case, i don't expect you to be sharing gifts, singing carols or decorating trees.

Kitso
KS 361 happy yuletide thoughts to stir the pot

Someone told me that since "X" is the Greek letter for "Chi" (duh, we should all know that), then "Xmas" is an appropriate abbreviation. Though, isn't that explanation missing a few letters? I know that the traditional short-form Greek representation for Christ is a Chi and Rho (XP) often depicted with the with the two letters superimposed.

Does anyone know the story behind "Xmas"?


.....Kelly :)

I've heard something very similar. Chi is the first letter in Christos, the Greek word for Christ.

What the two above posters have written is exactly correct. In the early Christian period "X" was used as a symbol for Christ, and it still is in many church setting. X is by no means in the meaning of "X" or "ex" we have now. It's a Chi. :)

Have you ever been to a church and noticed XP embroidered anywhere? That's why. We have XP ornaments all over our church Chrismon tree, too.

Re: I hate Xmas......
 

Or unless you do believe in God, but are not Christian.

Re: I hate Xmas......
 

Well you should expect pagans to decorate trees since that is a pagan tradition and not a christian one.

AggieSigmaNu361 , I was taught (by nuns) at a very early age to NEVER-EVER use that abbreviation! To this day, I canNOT bring myself to use it, even when I'm writing lengthy correspondence. It almost feels sacreligious. Funny how things "stick" when you are little!

Did ya'll ever watch Futurama? I remember a Christmas episode where they no longer called Christmas "Christmas". It had officially become "Xmas" and was about giving presents:D

You can still catch it from time to time on Cartoon Network.

Hey, I'm not Christian, but I'll exchange gifts with my family and friends if I darn well please! After all, presents are what the winter holidays are all about (at least, according to South Park...) :p

As for Xmas being an appropriate abbreviation, that's the explanation I always heard (X = Chi = Christ). It still looks strange to me, unless I can see a good reason why it was shortened (e.g. someone decorating their house and writing "Merry Xmas" in Christmas lights - easier to do an X than spell it out).

Cool somewhat related fact:
The word for "fish" in Greek (ichthyus) is an acronym for "Jesus Christ Son of God" in Greek(I think it's iota, chi, theta, upsilon, sigma??). Something I learned in 4th grade confirmation class. Hence the fish being a symbol of Christianity (not to mention the "fisher of men" and the feeding of the 5000)

Re: I hate Xmas......
 

I think I'm about to call you out, but, um, I remember you calling it Xmas and I told you that wasn't cool because your leaving out Christ. Perhaps you've adopted this idea as your own recently. Good for you! :)

Re: Re: I hate Xmas......
 

What can i say? You're pretty convincing and reformed me. I just liked your explanation for it and have taken it to heart. Despite what others think of me, i can admit when i'm wrong :p

I'm now on board with the SATX school of thought :D

Kitso
KS 361

Re: Re: Re: I hate Xmas......
 

Woo hoo!!

So THAT'S what the Greek letters mean inside of the Jesus fish that people have on their cars! I never knew!

I remember I was out on a 3rd or 4th date with a guy and I saw one in a car and asked what it meant. He asked "Didn't you learn that in CCD (or some sort of class)?" and I replied "No, I'm Agnostic"

He didn't call after that...

I always preferred the Darwin fish, myself... ;)

I love the Darwin fish!

Wow...they let you get confirmed at 4th grade? Isn't that a little too young?

I should kick anyone's car with my 3 lb. Sketcher boots who has the Darwin symbol on the back of their car.

;)

I love the fish that eats the Darwin fish.

At least where I am... confirmation is being moved down the age of first communion (in the Catholic church)... I have a few Catholic-school teacher friends who explained the reasoning to me, but I still don't get it.

As to Xmas: My grandma told me it was a cross-mas but since we can't type a cross, they put and X. I"m soooo calling her on that. :P

Quote:

I love the fish that eats the Darwin fish

I've seen the opposite - the darwin fish eating the Jesus fish. I dislike them both. There's no reason to trash anothers beliefs on your bumper.

I learned it from the third Indiana Jones movie. So don't feel bad. ;)

I C Q U S

IesuV CristoV QeoV UioV Soter (Iesus Christos Theos Uios Soter) - Jesus Christ, Son of Man, the Savio[u]r. The initials of the Greek acronym means 'fish' - ICQUS (ichthus).

When I last visited OU a few years ago, a Bible study group composed of Greeks met under the name 'Ichthus'.

Doesn't bother me if Christmas is abbreviated Xmas. What bothers me is the crass commercialism that has subverted the meaning of one of the holiest of holidays to many Christians.

Hell, I don't even bother putting up a Christmas tree, and I quit believing in Santa Claus many years ago once the novelty wore off and I found out my parents were the ones who put the gifts under the tree.

Kitso, you sure have been complaining a lot lately.

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/xmasabbr.asp

Claim: 'Xmas' is a modern, disrespectful abbreviation of the word 'Christmas.'

Status: False.