'X'-mas <--means?
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From: Lufkin
'X'-mas <--means?
Just curious to all you pig pennians out there. Do any of you know what the X means in X-Mas? I know it stands for Christmas like it's abbreviated or something, but why the X? I think I know the answer, but do you guys?
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From: Whittier, CA
Because America likes to celebrate its Christmas TO THE E<b>X</b>TREME!!!!
I actually read about this... I think it was on a calendar. I'm pretty sure this was the explanation given: back in ye olden tymes, before 1200 dpi copy machines or even murky ditto machines, everything had to be copied by hand, and the poor ol' monastery scribes were getting hand cramps writing Jesus Christ this and Jesus Christ that, so they started substituting the letter X--X as in the Greek alphabet "chi," pronounced with a hard "ch" sound, and the first letter in the Greek spelling of Christos--for the "Chris" in long words like Christmas and Christianity. With this time- and cramp-saving abbreviation in place, scribes, friars and other Christian types were subsequently free to explore what would become other long-standing Xtian traditions like debating how many angels could dance upon a pin and playing bingo for money (which certainly is not gambling!).
I actually read about this... I think it was on a calendar. I'm pretty sure this was the explanation given: back in ye olden tymes, before 1200 dpi copy machines or even murky ditto machines, everything had to be copied by hand, and the poor ol' monastery scribes were getting hand cramps writing Jesus Christ this and Jesus Christ that, so they started substituting the letter X--X as in the Greek alphabet "chi," pronounced with a hard "ch" sound, and the first letter in the Greek spelling of Christos--for the "Chris" in long words like Christmas and Christianity. With this time- and cramp-saving abbreviation in place, scribes, friars and other Christian types were subsequently free to explore what would become other long-standing Xtian traditions like debating how many angels could dance upon a pin and playing bingo for money (which certainly is not gambling!).
Last edited by soksniffer; Dec 21, 2003 at 10:36 AM.
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From: N. Florida - The "No 4x4
I can't put words in his mouth, but if it is, it's insightful sarcasm.
Most of the folks I have personally met that use - I mean really use - "x-Mass" do so with anti-Big Guy sentiments.
No, I'm not talking about folks disliking Big Orn
.
That is not to say there are not a lot of exceptions too. I also know some folks that couldn't care less one way or another about he Big Guy, but use the "x-mass" to represent the generic spirit of sharing and caring" - but they are not the majority I am aware of.
FWIW.
Most of the folks I have personally met that use - I mean really use - "x-Mass" do so with anti-Big Guy sentiments.
No, I'm not talking about folks disliking Big Orn
. That is not to say there are not a lot of exceptions too. I also know some folks that couldn't care less one way or another about he Big Guy, but use the "x-mass" to represent the generic spirit of sharing and caring" - but they are not the majority I am aware of.
FWIW.
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From: northern ca
Originally posted by true4.2
Was that sarcastic?
Was that sarcastic?
I think most who use X-mas, either can't spell Christmas, or are too lazy to.pretty sure its not a malcom X thing.
anyway happy holidays
whether you celebrate
Christmas or
X-mas or
Haunakah or
the Solstice or
just a day off work
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Postmaster
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From: Nevada
from Random House online:
Usage. The abbreviation XMAS for Christmas dates
from the mid-16th cent. The X is the Greek letter
chi, the initial in the word Xpi s t ós (Christos)
"Christ." In spite of a long and respectable
history, today XMAS is objectionable to many,
perhaps because of its associations with
advertising. It is not used in formal writing.
Usage. The abbreviation XMAS for Christmas dates
from the mid-16th cent. The X is the Greek letter
chi, the initial in the word Xpi s t ós (Christos)
"Christ." In spite of a long and respectable
history, today XMAS is objectionable to many,
perhaps because of its associations with
advertising. It is not used in formal writing.
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From: TimBuck2
i think the "X" in x-mas usually started out with people who didn't believe in God... but this was some time ago. and it is just used so often that over time, people just used the expression not knowing that they were using a phrase that originally was used so they didn't have to say "Christ"...
i hate the phrase "x-mas" myself...
Nascar Junkie
i hate the phrase "x-mas" myself...
Nascar Junkie
