The X in Xmas is the Greek For Christ

[AB Editor]

I just found this on the Wikipedia entry for "List of Common Misconceptions": http://en.wikipedia.o...common_misconceptions

From Wiki:

"Xmas" is not a secular plan to "take the Christ out of Christmas." "The usual suggestion is that 'Xmas' is ... an attempt by the ungodly to x-out Jesus and banish religion from the holiday." However, X stands for the Greek letter Chi, the starting letter of Χριστός, or "Christ" in Greek. The use of the word "Xmas" can be traced to the year 1021 when "monks in Great Britain...used the X while transcribing classical manuscripts into Old English" in place of "Christ". The Oxford English Dictionary's "first recorded use of 'Xmas' for 'Christmas' dates back to 1551."Paul Brians adds that, "so few people know this that it is probably better not to use this popular abbreviation in religious contexts."

Interesting, as many rail against it either being a secularisation of the holiday or an Americanisation... and yet, it isn't!

Of course, you all knew that already, right?

[rsvp]

no - thank for enlightening me -

[B00]

Obviously, how thick did you think I was?

Aherm!

[craft1948]

So the X Factor really is.................

[AB Editor]

Craft, it's true, a Christian conspiracy via the medium of mundane pop music!

[craft1948]

Bet triggs is now worrying about subliminal messages on his X box.........

[AB Editor]

Oh X! It's everywhere!

[AB Editor]

Generation X would have something to say about this I'm sure...

[jackthehat]

And just 'who' has won every election ever held? :o/

[AB Editor]

That's the thing about X, he moves in mysterious ways.

[B00]

And The X Men???

[WAZZARD]

Very good - Yes 'the biter bit' - I use Xmas & understood what you say AB to be the case - nice to have it set out so clearly here - I'm a 'newby' How do I get my thumbnail pic on here ?

[AB Editor]

The X-Men.... and I thought it was all about the civil rights movement....

[atrollope]

XX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXY2EmuMLDg

[Nibble]

Just for the paranoid/divorees ------ watch out for the X (ex) coming back to you!!!! Sorry, couldn't resist, LOL

[joggerjayne]

I knew this already.

MarkRae explained it, a few weeks ago.

[tiggerblue10]

Malcom X!

[tiggerblue10]

Ooops! I mean MalcoLm.

[Old_Geezer]

Hadn't heard that claim. But I'm sure I've heard the Greek thing at some point though, now that you mention it. Normally I just assume it was X because a few centuries ago folk had trouble with more than such a mark to represent someone's name.

[rojash]

The problem is the first letter of Χριστός is not X, it just looks like X. It is Chi (pronounced like the ch in loch). Which is why Christmas begins with Ch.

Therefore to write Xmas and pronounce it Exmas has nothing to do with the Greek for Christ.