Why Is The Abbreviation For Christmas "Xmas?"

[BassKing813]

This has really been annoying me lately. I keep seeing people abbreviate christmas with "xmas." How did this abbreviation come to be and when did it start? To me, it doesn't make any sense. The "X" basically replaces "Christ," but what in God's name does an X have to do with Christ?

[Catt]

When it started I haven't a clue, I think it was in the early to mid 70's

Why? To take Christ out of Christmas!

[Replica.]

Political correctness.  Same reason why some stores greet you with happy holidays instead of merry christmas.

[preach4bass]

The first letter for "Christ" in Greek looks like our English letter "X."  When the early Church was being persecuted, instead of asking others if they were Christians, they would mark an "X" on the ground, much like they did with the "Jesus fish" we see as bumperstickers today, so they wouldn't get their heads chopped off or be burned at the stake.  No, it wasn't originally intended to be a politically correct name for "Christmas," but that's probably what it has evolved into today.

[bassdocktor]

preach4bass definitely hit that one on the head. We spent an entire class talking about that my senior year in highschool.

[Guest avid]

My knowledge of the subject is from a historical rather than religeous orientation. Preach4bass' explanation is consistant with my understanding.

I also think that coincidentally it just happened to be a perfect way to turn Christmas into non denominational retailers dream without losing "plausable deniability" with the Christain community.

[BucketmouthAngler13]

I think the whole "happy holidays" thing is lame. I mean, if it where not for CHRISTmas, then there wouldn't be a holiday season!

[Catt]

I also think that coincidentally it just happened to be a perfect way to turn Christmas into non denominational retailers dream without losing "plausable deniability" with the Christain community.

BINGO  

[Murray]

yeah--xp was what the early christians used for the word 'christ' x meaning "chi" and p meaning "rho"

[Matt Fly]

I never looked at it that way, it was just a short abbreviation.      Ever try to put Merry Christmas on one of those small To: and From: tags on a present, sometimes its hard and Merry Xmas was easier.

Matt.

[Zel]

Wow, some still call it Christmas Day, I thought it was replaced by Commerce Day.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

It's just easier to write,lol.

[Guest avid]

I think the whole "happy holidays" thing is lame. I mean, if it where not for CHRISTmas, then there wouldn't be a holiday season!

Well, I hate to get nitpicky, but this is actually not true.  Virtually all civilizations in the Northern Hempishere historically have celebratory events at the end of December.

The reason is obvious.  These are the shortes days of the entire year. This lack of daylight is spooky and depressing. The ancients, in their ancient wisdom sort of way came up with a great solution.  "Let's party"

I don't know how the devout Christians among us feel about what I am about to say, but astronomers are  pretty much in agreement that Jesus was born in April not December.  

The beauty of Astronomy is that very little changes over the course of thousands of years, which is a blink of time in the cosmological sense.  There was an astronomical event in april of the year Jesus was born. There occured a unique confluence of stars  This is the only plausable stellar event that would have had significance to the "wise men" who were avid astronomers. Thus the star of Bethlehem is rooted in science as well as faith. The celebration of Christmas in the third week of December follows pagan holiday ritual.  

If I have offended anyone, please accept my apology.  It is not my intention to offend.  But Christmas has been so thoroughly distorted by so many for so long, that I truly believe we must overcome the hype, for better or worse with the truth.

I appreciate dissenting opinions, or factual references to the contrary.

Yours in the spirit of Peace on Earth, Good will toward men.

avid

[Catt]

Mr avid has answered correctly and now has control of the trolling motor  :

[jb_from_texas]

no offense taken at all....but i find it hard to believe that millions of christian churches have the date wrong.  surely someone in the christian organization(s) would have researched this and determined 12/25 is the correct date.

i'm saying this not to fire anyone up, i just find it hard to believe everybody has it wrong.

I think the whole "happy holidays" thing is lame. I mean, if it where not for CHRISTmas, then there wouldn't be a holiday season!

Well, I hate to get nitpicky, but this is actually not true. Virtually all civilizations in the Northern Hempishere historically have celebratory events at the end of December.

The reason is obvious. These are the shortes days of the entire year. This lack of daylight is spooky and depressing. The ancients, in their ancient wisdom sort of way came up with a great solution. "Let's party"

If I have offended anyone, please accept my apology. It is not my intention to offend.

avid

[Glenn]

Regardless of the date it is actually held, the spirit of Christmas is to celebrate His birthday.  The fact that the entire world celebrates it on the same day is amazing in itself.  Every man, child, woman, sister, brother, mother, father... all stopping what they're doing in their lives to celebrate on the same day.  That is FAR more important that nickle and diming over actual dates vs. celebrated dates. Fair enough?  

Let's also keep in mind this is a fishing board.  And as innocent as it may seem, it's impossible to keep ANY thread regarding religion from flaring up. It ALWAYS happens.  So....

Let's stop before that happens.  

[BucketmouthAngler13]

I think the whole "happy holidays" thing is lame. I mean, if it where not for CHRISTmas, then there wouldn't be a holiday season!

Well, I hate to get nitpicky, but this is actually not true.  Virtually all civilizations in the Northern Hempishere historically have celebratory events at the end of December.

The reason is obvious.  These are the shortes days of the entire year. This lack of daylight is spooky and depressing. The ancients, in their ancient wisdom sort of way came up with a great solution.  "Let's party"

I don't know how the devout Christians among us feel about what I am about to say, but astronomers are  pretty much in agreement that Jesus was born in April not December.  

The beauty of Astronomy is that very little changes over the course of thousands of years, which is a blink of time in the cosmological sense.  There was an astronomical event in april of the year Jesus was born. There occured a unique confluence of stars  This is the only plausable stellar event that would have had significance to the "wise men" who were avid astronomers. Thus the star of Bethlehem is rooted in science as well as faith. The celebration of Christmas in the third week of December follows pagan holiday ritual.  

If I have offended anyone, please accept my apology.  It is not my intention to offend.  But Christmas has been so thoroughly distorted by so many for so long, that I truly believe we must overcome the hype, for better or worse with the truth.

I appreciate dissenting opinions, or factual references to the contrary.

Yours in the spirit of Peace on Earth, Good will toward men.

avid

yes avid, your right. Now one knows at all what the exact date was. However, in this culture, the month of december is "christmasy", meaning you hear christmas songs, see christmas lights, and so on. The holiday season has 3 major holidays, thanksgiving, christmas, and new years. Since thanksgiving is in november, the two main events near the end of the year are christmas and new years. Thus the saying, "Merry Christmas and a happy new year."

I'm not saying its wrong to say "Happy Holidays", its just when people say that instead of using "christmas" just so they can take the christian part out of it, It takes the point out of saying it.

I mean, christmas is still part of the holidays, so when you are saying "happy holidays" you might as well say "Merry christmas and a happy new year", becuase they mean the same thing.

My point is, say "Merry Christmas" or "happy new year", because "happy holidays" means bolth, so if you are trying to take one out, it doesn't work.

And like you said avid NO OFFENSE intended, this is JMHO. If you disagree with what i said, then thats fine becuase no one can totaly agree about everything with anyone. If anyone takes offense, I apoligize, becuase none is intended at all.

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving, has a very merry christmas and a happy new years.

Matt

EDIT

Sorry Glenn, i just saw your post now about "stopping anything before it happens". I hope i made myself clear that this is just my opinion, nothing more. I assure you this is my last post opon this topic.

And you are right, who cares when it happend. Everyone has a good time and there is joy. The only question is, if Jesus was acualy born in April, then are we throwning his party 4 months early or 8 months late? lol