why it is called x-mas
By shivram123
@shivram123 (656)
India
8 responses
@freethinkingagent (2501)
•
25 Dec 08
Those who believe this is somehow anti christian consperousy are just showing their ignorance. It is a shorthand used by christian monks. The Greek letter Chi, the first letter in the word Christos of Kristos, the Letter chi looks similar to the English letter x.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
30 Dec 08
Thnx to both Shivram and Freethinkingagent. I was always intrigued too by the term X-mass but no more. Its always good to know about other religions.
@shivram123 (656)
• India
25 Dec 08
thnks for the responce,
actually i made this post only to know abt it and i am not trying to hurt christians or anyone,sorry if it hurt anyone here
5 people like this
@Harisankar (59)
• India
26 Dec 08
taking out jesus...from the festivel..so that....
it can be easily screwed in other cultures.... :)
1 person likes this
@freethinkingagent (2501)
•
25 Dec 08
I am amazed how little Christians know about their history, and even the bible they quote so often. Score two Pagan, yes I am keeping count.
1 person likes this
@freethinkingagent (2501)
•
25 Dec 08
Thank You, it is not anti Christian, it is shorthand for Christ used by 16th century monks. X the letter chi in Greek.
@worldbestwriter2008 (1633)
• Philippines
30 Dec 08
for me it's not christmas literally..it's passover..It's my elder who teach me to call it passover and not christmas..so i am greeting everyone now...Happy Passover to all...it is commonly called as "christmas party" right...but i call it year end party..
@Troublegum (641)
• United States
24 Dec 08
X-mas was an early attempt to take Christ out of Christmas so that saying Merry Christmas wasn't offensive to anyone. Basically it was the first form of saying Happy holidays rather than Merry Christmas.
@freethinkingagent (2501)
•
25 Dec 08
Wrong, it has noting to do with taking Christ out. The X is Christ. In Greek the letter Chi which appearance is X as in Christos, or Kristos. It was used by 16th century monks as a shorthand for Christ. it only a way of shortening Merry Christmas.
@Troublegum (641)
• United States
25 Dec 08
Good to know, I always had it explained to me the other way. I actually took a pretty good toung lashing a while back when I wrote it on one of my christmas cards that way.
It made sense to me that way as X is the letter we typically use when we just want to get rid of a word part (See Malcom X) I will have to go back and do some looking at that.
@freethinkingagent (2501)
•
25 Dec 08
Yes many believe the way you do, X in mathematical grammar would stand for an unknown, X being the sum or product of an equation. But Xmas has fro centuries been the shorthand for Christmas, I have to laugh though when I hear theologians exclaim xmas is some satanic conspiracy to take Christ out of Christmas, makes me wonder where did they get their D.D..
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
25 Dec 08
A good question shivram, and I think freethinking agent has given us a very correct answer.
