Where does the word XMAS come from?

tweenies

Anyone????

This is a query I have had for years I have tried looking it up on the web but to no avail. I just don't understand how Christmas could become Xmas. Ok they both end in mas but where the heck does the X come from?

I hope someone can answer no matter who I ask they just don't know, but I am sure one of you wise ones can elighten me :T :T

x x

piglet6

“Xmas” is not (as many think...) an attempt to exclude Christ from Christmas, but is actually using an abbreviation of the Greek spelling of the word “Christ” with the “X” representing the Greek letter chi (which is written as "X").

Hope that helps!

Piglet

hilstep2000

Or maybe because we use X as a kiss, it's "Kissmass"!

thriftlady_2

Surely, it's a cross representing Christ ? That's what I've always assumed anyway. Lots of Christians say don't like Xmas because it 'crosses Christ out of Christmas'

maow425

I always thought it was a cross, but in the "criss cross" sense - so christmas crissmas xmas...

kathyd_2

They all sound plausible, don't they? Me?...... I haven't got a clue but I hate any shortened form of the word Christmas.

andi2

Piglet 6 is right :>))

Debt_Free_Chick

I agree - piglet6's explanation appears in our Church magazine this month

margaretclare

Yes, agree with piglet. The 'mas' part is 'mass' as in Catholic Mass i.e. the Mass of Christ. 'Christ' written in Greek used the 'chi' letter which looks like X.

Margaret

BillScarab

Piglet6 is correct, if you look on wikipedia there is an entry explaining it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas

helen_caslass

along same lines as piglet the x (kind of) was used by christians to tell other christians who they were a secret symbol so to speak altho then it was more fishy looking (X sort of thing drawn in the sand