Myth: “Xmas” is a non-religious name and spelling for “Christmas”.

Today I Found Out ^ | December 21, 2011 | Today I Found Out

[Dallas59]

Myth: “Xmas” is a non-religious name / spelling for “Christmas”.

It turns out, “Xmas” is not a non-religious version of “Christmas”. The “X” is actually indicating the Greek letter “Chi”, which is short for the Greek, meaning “Christ”. So “Xmas” and “Christmas” are equivalent in every way except their lettering.

In fact, although writing guides such as those issued by the New York Times; the BBC; The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style; and Oxford Press discourage the use of Xmas in formal writing, at one time, it was a very popular practice, particularly with religious scribes, who are thought to have started the whole “Xmas” thing in the first place. Indeed, the practice of using the symbol “X” in place of Christ’s name has been going on amongst religious scholars for at least 1000 years.

Eventually, this shorthand trick spread to non-religious writings where nearly everywhere “Christ” appeared in a word, the Greek Chi would replace that part of the word. For example, in the 17th and 18th centuries, there are numerous non-religious documents containing instances of “Xine”, which was a common spelling for someone whose name was Christine.

[Dallas59]

The “-mas” part on the end of Christmas and Xmas comes from the Old English word for “mass”.

Other classic common abbreviations for “Christ” were: “Xp” and “Xt”, again both an abbreviated form of the Greek for Christ.

The Greek letters “X” (Chi) and “p” (Rho) superimposed together was once a very common symbol signifying Christ and was called, somewhat unimaginatively, the Chi-Rho.

The Chi-Rho was also used by scribes in a non-religious sense to mark some passage that was particularly good, with it literally implying “good”.

In 1977, the Governor of New Hampshire issued a press release stating that journalists should cease taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas” as “Xmas” was a pagan spelling of Christmas. Perhaps he should have run that press release by a religious scholar before issuing it. 🙂

Although, even those well versed and respected in Christianity often make the same mistake, such as Franklin Graham in an interview on CNN: “For us as Christians, this is one of the most holy of the holidays, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. And for people to take Christ out of Christmas. They’re happy to say merry Xmas. Let’s just take Jesus out. And really, I think, a war against the name of Jesus Christ.”

[stars & stripes forever]

[They’re happy to say merry Xmas. Let’s just take Jesus out. And really, I think, a war against the name of Jesus Christ.”]

Those who define the language define the culture.

[chajin]

Malcolm, the reason for the Xmas season (/jk)

[right way right]

Interesting bump.

[AzNASCARfan]

Thanks for pointing out the origination, but definitions of words have changed in my lifetime. I would highly doubt that would be the reason for many people using it that way today... According to your post, what I was taught was wrong, which is good to know, but, since God is the reason for the season and I am writing in English and I will just keep the Christ in Christmas...

[sagar]

Is it already the time for war against Christmas?

[bigdaddy45]

That time is almost here! Happy Holidays!!!

[Talisker]

The Greek letters “X” (Chi) and “p” (Rho) superimposed together was once a very common symbol signifying Christ and was called, somewhat unimaginatively, the Chi-Rho.

Chi-Rho = Cairo.

[cloudmountain]

I had forgotten that.
Thanks for the reminder.

[Boogieman]

[chajin]

The Greek letters “X” (Chi) and “p” (Rho) superimposed together was once a very common symbol signifying Christ and was called, somewhat unimaginatively, the Chi-Rho.

Which would also make Christianity Chi-Rho practice.

[Talisker]

They don't say what the Rho (p) stands for. But this is the chi-rho symbol, it's called the labarum:

[chajin]

It’s the first two letters of Christ(os), the “X” being the Chi (ch) and the “P” being the Rho (r), Ch-r-istos

[mwilli20]

Wow, and here I thought xing meant crossing, it turns out it means Christing!

[x]

Historically that's correct.

But in today's world, the other side is right about what's going on.

[zeugma]

I’m fully aware of the history of the spelling of Christ, but nonetheless prefer to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas.