I'm actually going to cheat a bit on this one. Below is an excerpt (in italics) from a post I wrote way back in December of 2005 right here on this blog. All about the whole "X" in "Xmas" thing. I see it brought up each year so figured I'd share the truth in case you don't know. Also, please forgive the childish humor. That's how I used to write back then. Aw heck, I still do on occasion. Anyway, enjoy!
I was one of those card carrying Catholics as a youth. Very into my church. Loved Sunday school, going to church, the youth organization, etc. I even pondered upon being a priest in 8th grade. I was a teacher's assistant in my senior year of high school. I couldn't get enough of Jesus! I didn't consider myself a Jesus freak. Yes, his poster adorned my wall along side Madonna. Not his mother, Mary, but the singer, Madonna. Oh, I was so clever. Christmas was and is my favorite time of year. Well, December is cuz it starts off with my birthday on the 9th! By the way, I'm still waiting on those presents, bitches! I remember wearing a pin that said, "Keep Christ in Christmas." Which had a double meaning of course. Keep the name Christ as part of the word Christmas and as the other pin said, "Jesus is the reason for the season." No Xmas. That is sacrilegious! For years, the Catholic dogma had me hate seeing Xmas in place of Christmas. Then, over the years, I thought, "What's the big deal?"
I did the research awhile back and found out when the "X" came into play. The Greek transliteration of the word Christ is Xristos, the first letter which is the Greek letter "chi". The shortening of Christmas to Xmas by educated persons who knew Greek has been common since the sixteenth century, with the "X" often symbolizing a cross. "Xmas" was an ecclesiastical abbreviation used by churchmen in tables & charts. More recently the use of "X" has been associated with irreverent commercialism, leading to the saying "Put the 'Christ' back into Xmas". The American profanity "Jesus H. Christ", may come from the second letter of "chi", and has been in the use in the United States at least since 1850.
And I always thought the "H" stood for Harold. I'll have to look that up again. So there ya have it! Xmas still means Christmas!
So no need for offense, kids. It's all good! While starting off as a religious holiday, I realize it's become very commercialized over the years. And many like myself may not celebrate the religious aspect of it, but I think if we celeberate the spirit of it (i.e. spreading peace and love) throughout December then perhaps we're doing something right.
Look at that, Charlie Brown. You learned a lesson!
Happy Xmas, all!
p.s. I didn't really have a poster of Jesus on my wall. Though I may have had a Madonna one. Like a virgin indeed!
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