answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The words Christmas and Xmas are both shortened versions of the phrase Christ's Mass.

Christmas is a simple contraction of the two words and it is easy to see how Christ's Mass became Christmas.

The first letter of the word Xmas was not originally an X as we use it in the English language; what looks like an X is actually the English representation of the Greek letter Chi, χ, the first letter of the word Χριστός, meaning Christ.

The letter Chi "χ" can also stand alone to represent the word Christ, so Xmas therefore literally translates as Christ-mas and that is how it should be pronounced, never as ex-mass.

A more detailed explanation.

The word Xmas was used long before cell-phone text messaging although texting may have greatly increased the usage of that particular word over Christmas.

Centuries ago, Greek was the language of Christianity. The New Testament was written in Greek and we can still see traces of this in symbols and phrases that we still use today, such as calling God 'the alpha and the omega', meaning 'the beginning and the end', because alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last. It is like calling Him the A to Z.

Similarly, the 'Chi-Rho' symbol that looks like an 'X' superimposed over a 'P' is actually the Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P) which are the first letters in Christ's name. This symbol, like the fish, is almost as old as the Cross symbol of Christianity and can be found even in the early Christian Church catacombs in Rome, scratched on the walls. The co-incidence that the 'X' Chi letter also looks like a cross helped it being adopted to replace 'Christ'.

So, from very early times Christians have used the Greek letter that looks like an X as an abbreviation of Christ. More recently, people have used an actual X instead, particularly if they don't know Greek.

Some people object to the use of Xmas because they see it as 'crossing Christ out of Christmas' as though this is a modern practice attempting to appease other religious groups, but the use of Xmas seems to have became more widesrpead long ago, in the Middle Ages, when European religious clerics used it as a form of shorthand in their writings.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Many people don't like that fact that it has CHRIST in it. If people celebrate it that aren't Christians, they don't like the fact the Christmas has to do with Christ. So, somebody took it out and replaced it with X. Like in the olden days, if you couldn't write, you would write an X. It just replaces it to get the CHRIST out of CHRISTmas.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why is Christmas also known as Xmas?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What is Xmas in relation to Christmas?

Xmas is a shortened way of writing Christmas.


Is Xmas an abbreviation for Christmas or does it have another meaning?

it is an abbreviation for Christmas 'aka Xmas'


When do you get your presents on Christmas or Christmas Eve?

If you believe in Santa then he delivers them on Xmas Eve and you open them on Xmas Day, if not it should get to your home on Xmas Eve and you open them on Xmas Day.


Are there any abbreviations for Christmas apart from Xmas?

No. Xmas is an abbreviation of Christmas - but there are not other English words for it.


What is the origin of the term Xmas?

"Xmas" is an abbreviation of the word "Christmas".


What is another word for Christmas tree?

Well, a Xmas tree is a pine tree, and a pine tree is also known as a fir tree. So there ya go!


What are two other names for Christmas?

Xmas Yuletide


What is the correct abbreviation for Christmas?

Xmas is the abbreviation of Christmas.


What was the Christmas surprise in minecraft?

the christmas suprise was on xmas eve, xmas and a few days after, the chests look like presents


What is another word for the Christmas season?

Xmas, Christmas Eve, Christmastime, Christmas Day.


What does Xmas represent?

Xmas stands for christmas, it's just a shortened version.


What is the website Xmas Fun about?

The website "Xmas Fun" is all about Christmas. The website is Christmas themed. The website contains Christmas songs, Christmas videos, Christmas jokes, as well as a countdown timer to Christmas Day.