how to spell Christmas?

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My heart bleeds everytime I see this written “Xmas” to denote Christmas. The reason? The most important word inside the word is being replaced with an X. Don’t you think it’s unfair to the person Himself?

 

Would it be ok for you to have your name replaced with an X or any letter (that sounds like a good replacement for the lost word/name)? Say for example, Rose’s Birthday = X’s Birthday. Isn’t it weird? It’s like you don’t know the person. It’s like a birthday of someone unknown.

 

Admittedly, I also used the shortcut. Quiet often. But since my Algebra teacher pointed this out, I became more careful. X in Algebra usually represents an unknown. And replacing “Christ” with an “X” makes Him Someone unknown.

 

Indeed. And even if you don’t know Algebra, you would know that replacing your name with a letter that sounds like it would make you appear someone the other person does not know.

 

Why have a (grand) celebration for someone you don’t know (at least by name)?

Update: Dear friend Charlotte did some research (while I just blog about how i feel bad about this abbreviation and did not research at all) and found out the X in Xmas is actually a Greek letter chi, which means Christ.  Not bad after all to use “X”.  But then, again, “Christmas” spelled out completely looks way better than “Xmas”. Thanks Charm!

15 thoughts on “how to spell Christmas?”

  3. I guess it’s such a real dilemma. by the way I can’t believe why I can not leave a comment on your blogspot’s blog. snyways, I totally agree with Florence. wot’s your email address?

    Reply

  5. christmas = xmas
    waiting = w8ting
    good morning = gud am
    good evening = gud pm

    and so the list goes…
    mangled grammar. horrible spelling.
    the world is getting lazier and lazier by the minute.
    thanks for posting this. we all need reminding. 🙂

    Reply

  7. I blv 8s d rslt of us being a vctm of d rush hour mntalty, a prblm of our own makng. We wnt thngs 2 b fst n shrtct as possble.Sad but true.

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  8. it’s really no problem that we want to use shortcuts, that we want to make things faster than usual. it’s for efficiency.

    it all depends on whether or not the person you are writing to gets the way u shortcut words.

    but Xmas for Christmas just ain’t good though everyone (or almost) understands this representation.

    Reply

  9. hey i found this from answer.com:

    Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the X represents a Greek chi, the first letter of Χριστος, “Christ.” In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian, “Christian.” But people unaware of the Greek origin of this X often mistakenly interpret Xmas as an informal shortening pronounced (ĕks’məs). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas

    seems like Xmas does have a valid meaning that has been lost in the translation and got misinterpreted!

    Reply

  13. I wonder if the world in general knows about the Greek letter. I doubt most do. So, it comes down to intent then (the way I see it). We, as Christians, should *intend* to keep Christ at the heart of Christmas, whether it be in traditions or focus during the season, or in the spelling of His name in the word CHRISTMAS. The world, otoh, would have no trouble at all using an “X” in place of His name, especially as so many deliberately seek to “X” Him out in every way possible. JMHO.
    Blessings,
    ~Toni~
    p.s. Merry CHRISTmas. 😉

    Reply

  14. Hi, I’m having now 8 credit cards but all they are from local banks. I need online credit application service. Where can I get it? So far I was at a website, but can you ensure it’s worth applying there? Please see and tell me, thanks. It was

    bad creit card

    Reply

  15. Actually the language used when Christ was alive was Greek and the word for”Christ” began with an X (pronounced chi), so both ways are correct to a Christian

    Reply

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