The X in "Xmas"

[asianangel]

Why do people write Christmas like that? I remember when I was a little girl, my teacher told the whole class that it is offensive to write Christmas as "Xmas" because you are crossing out "Christ" in the name. How credible is this?

 

[malckiah]

Hello Friend, to me the Christmas is ALL about Christ! The world has turned Christmas into a circus parade where most people are mostly concerned with getting instead of giving. Not to mention that for alot of people Christmas is about santa claus and toys.....thinking nothing of the real reason for Christmas. If you say X-mas, then you are taking out the word Christ- which is the most important part! God Bless you!

 

[Sketcher]

Actually, the "X" in "Xmas" is the Greek letter "chi." One of the earliest symbols of Christianity was the Chi Rho, which is the X and the P put together, the chi representing Christ. So a Christian of a Greek background will recognize it immediately as "Chimas" which is just short for "Christmas." So any unbeliever who is wanting to take Christ out of Christmas by putting Xmas is really just defeating themselves.

 

[snoochface]

Nothing takes the Christ out of Christmas unless you do it in your heart. Santa doesn't take Christ out of Christmas unless you make the holiday about Santa instead of about the birth of Christ. Pine trees with lights and ornaments on them don't take the Christ out of Christmas unless you only celebrate Christmas for the trees instead of to celebrate Jesus.

X doesn't take Christ out of Christmas unless you are spelling it that way to "cross out Christ" in the word. For the vast majority of people, Christians included, it's just an abbreviation - nothing more.

 

[sistakrista]

I was once told, the X, originally was from the way the first believers communicated with each other. To recognize they were Christians, one would use their foot to draw an arc in the sand - like the top half of the fish symbol thingy - the IOXYE, fish, then if the other person was a Christian, they would draw the bottom half of it... & the X that makes the start of the tail, is the X of Xmas. I prefer that explanation, personally!

 

[Elijah2]

Now we know that the Apostles did not observe the day we observe as Christ’s birthday.

Tertullian writings in the middle of the 3rd Century, lamented the fact that Christians were beginning to observe the customs of the heathen in this regard, “Gifts are carried to and fro, New Year’s Day presents are made with din, and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproar.”

The Church structure, full of pagans since the reign of Constantine, became so corrupt in its efforts to recruit even more to Church membership that the heathen festival of December 25 was adopted and its name changed to “Christ-mass”.

It is not known when this was officially done, but it was not observed as a ritual of the Church before the 4th Century.

Now, that’s a brief summary of Christmas, and as far as I am concerned, if "Christ" is removed from the term, then it is not of God. To a Christian “Christmas” is the word, not “Xmas”

Love in Christ

 

[bigdAddyweAve423]

"X-Mas" is the worlds way of taking Christ out of Christ-mas.

 

[PilgrimChild]

"X-Mas" is the worlds way of taking Christ out of Christ-mas.

Yeah, I agree with this. I can see how others would say that nobody can take Christ out of your heart, and I agree with this, but I also feel that when somebody writes "xmas", then it reflects on them and their beliefs. How hard is it to write or type the extra few letters?

 

[bexliveforjesus]

the pastor at mychurch told me that the X is a chineese symbol for christian. so its fine to write xmas instead of christmas !!

 

[Godslilgurlalways]

I think some write it thinking they can take christ out of christmas. Trying to use x to replace it. I feel you can't take the christ out of christmas he is the point of having it

 

[asianangel]

the pastor at mychurch told me that the X is a chineese symbol for christian. so its fine to write xmas instead of christmas !!

Err I don't think so. I'm Chinese and I can't validate that.