What symbolically does X in Xmas stand for?

Answer 1

Let's start with the Tree!

Christmas tree: evergreen tree to represent eternal life.

The Star on top of the tree: Represents the star of Bethleham (sp) the place Jesus was born. This star was to lead the three wise men to Jesus.

The three wise men: Where actually kings! Three kings travelled far to find Jesus following the Star to give gifts for his birth.

The candy cane: Red represents the blood Jesus shed for our sins. White represents the purity of Jesus and the innocence of children. The Shape of the candy cane is that of a shepard's staff. (given to children during christmas services to keep them quiet.

The Nativity Scene: represents the site of Jesus' birth, in pretty much a barn with many different animals present to witness the birth.

The wreath: it's shape is to represent how love is unending hence a circle...this is also represented when one gets married.. to represent unconditional love.

The colors: Red represents blood that Jesus shed for our sins. Green represents the evergreen with eternal life. White is for purity and cleansing of sins.

christmas lights/candles: represents Jesus, he represents the light in the midst of darkness. Think-Hope.

Santa Clause: Represents Jolliness, helping others, he is in honor of the Saint named Nicholas. The original Saint Nick, gave to the poor, he showed unselfishness by giving to others, he was a very thoughtful, caring, and kind Christian man, a saint that lived by Jesus' name. Also believed to help keep kids behavior in check, hence the good list and the naughty list...so you better be good for goodness sake!

Santa's reindeer: Represents Hope, Trust and working together to get goals accomplished.

Santa's Elves: Also a symbol of working together to getting things accomplished that some think are impossible.

Stockings: Hung by the Chimney, Stockings are pretty much socks. It is said they were hung by the fire to dry them, and Saint Nick would supposely sneak in and fill the stockings with goodies.

Answer 2

There are a number of ways to interpret the X symbolically, including:

• a way of excluding Christ from Christmas thus x-mas.
• it is not meant to be the letter x: it is a representation of a diagonal crucifix (aka a St. Andrew's Cross).

  Some churchmen feel that a reference to the crucifixion goes better with Easter than Christmas, and they may have a point, but Christian congregations are increasingly making their own decisions as to what they will do, and how. They certainly won't give a warm reception to a suggestion that they are excluding Jesus from Christmas by putting a cross on a Christmas card.

For an explanation of what the X actually means rather than what it might symbolise please see the Related Question, below.

Answer 3

Xmas is a common abbreviation of the word Christmas.

The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass,

while the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as "Christ".

There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas".

Answer 4

X is "Christ" in Greek.

The "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as "Christ".

There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas".

Answer 5

Christ, it is an old Greek Symbol.