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X-Mas - is that a proper term?

Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
I started a thread back in 1986 with several questions -
but on this thread - lets consider if we should use the term X-mas.

I am linking the 2016 thread - to see what people said back some 6 years ago
Christmas Questions
 
Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Baptist Believer said:
It's exactly the same as Christmas. It is even pronounced the same way.

If someone says, "ex-mas," they are simply revealing their ignorance.
Click to expand...

Christ·mas
/ˈkrisməs/

Xmas (also X-mas) is a common abbreviation of the word Christmas. It is sometimes pronounced /ˈɛksməs/, but Xmas, and variants such as Xtemass, originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation /ˈkrɪsməs/. The "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Christós (Greek: Χριστός), which became Christ in English.[1] The suffix -mas is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass.[2]

There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secularizing tendency to de-emphasize the religious tradition from Christmas,[3] by "taking the Christ out of Christmas"; nevertheless, this usage dates back to the 16th century, with the "X" deriving from the New-Testament Greek spelling of "christos" (meaning roughly "[the] anointed [one]"), and corresponds to Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Episcopalian[citation needed] liturgical use of various forms of chi-rho monogram.
 
M

Marooncat79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Early Christian’s used the X for Christ

the actual name of Christ in Koine starts with the letter X
 
Deacon

Deacon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Salty said:
Christ·mas
/ˈkrisməs/

Xmas (also X-mas) is a common abbreviation of the word Christmas. It is sometimes pronounced /ˈɛksməs/, but Xmas, and variants such as Xtemass, originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation /ˈkrɪsməs/. The "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Christós (Greek: Χριστός), which became Christ in English.[1] The suffix -mas is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass.[2]

There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secularizing tendency to de-emphasize the religious tradition from Christmas,[3] by "taking the Christ out of Christmas"; nevertheless, this usage dates back to the 16th century, with the "X" deriving from the New-Testament Greek spelling of "christos" (meaning roughly "[the] anointed [one]"), and corresponds to Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Episcopalian[citation needed] liturgical use of various forms of chi-rho monogram.
Click to expand...
English - Christ
Greek (transliterated) - Christos
Greek - Χριστοῦ
 
K

Keith Mullins

Member
I personally never use it. I completely understand the original use and it's use. However, I am an Appalachia and the vast majority of locals are not and they would see it as a secular replacement of Christ.
 
Baptist Believer

Baptist Believer

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Keith Mullins said:
I personally never use it. I completely understand the original use and it's use. However, I am an Appalachia and the vast majority of locals are not and they would see it as a secular replacement of Christ.
Click to expand...
That's fair. You know your audience.

However, whenever the issue comes up, you can use the conversation to disciple Christians in the faith.
 
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