[68 grunt]

Xians!

[cyncooper]

The "X" is the Greek letter "chi" and is used as an abbreviation for "Christ".

I don't use it, either, but I don't believe those who do have bad intentions.

[Charles Henrickson]

Who invented "X"mas? Why not C'mas, instead? My guess is that it was some twisted lefty from the heyday of communism in America. Someone who thought it important to X out Christ, not simply abbreviate.

The thing that looks like an "X" is not an "X." It is the Greek letter, Chi (equivalent to our "Ch"), the first letter in Christos, "Christ."

Go into most any historic, traditional Christian church (e.g., Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Greek or Russian Orthodox), and you will probably find that "X" on the altar or pulpit or somewhere. You'll find it in one of the most ancient and universal symbols of the Christian faith, namely, the Chi Rho, which looks like an overlaid "XP" but actually is an overlaid "CH-R," the first two letters in Christos:

BTW, the other half of "Xmas" usually is ignored, but it too has religious significance. It refers to the "Christ Mass," the Divine Service of Word and Sacrament celebrated on the Festival (i.e., the Feast, referring to the Lord's Supper) of the Nativity of Our Lord.

Finally, even the seemingly innocuous word, "holiday," is religious. "Holiday" = "Holy Day," a day set apart for special religious devotion.

The secularists just cannot do away with the pervasive religious heritage of Western Civilization. They remind me of the Communists trying to expunge every mention of unwanted names from their society.

[Caesar Soze]

According to Turanga Leela, "Christmas" is an archaic pronunciation of "Xmas" (pronounced ECKS-mass), the holiday on which Santa Claus unleashes his wrath.

[lepton]

x is the letter "Chi" in Greek.

[RightWhale]

English only? X is the secret sign for Christ, has been since the beginning.

[latina4dubya]

X is the Greek symbol for Christ... there's is nothing unChristian about X-Mas, in it's original sense... some people didn't feel worthy to write the name Christ, so they used the X--(meaning Cristo)...

i always sign my letters "ysiX" when i write to my Christian brothers and sisters... it stands for "your sister in Christ."

[The_Reader_David]

Numerous posters have already correctly pointed out that the X in Xmas is a Greek chi, not a Latin ex, and stands for Christ (Xristos).

There really is only one other thing to add: on Orthodox icons of Christ, regardless of whether other inscriptions are in Greek, Slavonic, Arabic, Aleut, English, Japanese or any other language, Christ is always identified with the Greek inscription IC XC abbreviating Jesus Christ (Iesus Xristos), the C's being final sigmas in an old Greek script, placed in the background near Our Lord's head, and by the letters
omicron, omega, nu, in the numbus around his head (a Greek version of I AM--the name God gave for Himself to Moses).

[fso301]

Well, it's getting to be about that time of year for certain posters to try and educate all of us about Christmas being pagan.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Who invented "X"mas?

This man:

:)

[Oztrich Boy]

Who needs research and study when you can guess?

Clue: It's not an X.

[Nick Danger]

[Leroy S. Mort]

from the Swedish Chef Dictionary of American Usage (bork, bork)

Xmes SYLLEBICETION: X·mes PRONOoNCIETION: krsms, ksms NOOoN: Chreestmes. Um gesh dee bork, bork! ITYMOLOGY: Frum X, zee Greek letter chee, furst letter ooff Greek Khrstus, Chreest. Um de hur de hur de hur. See-a Chreest. Um de hur de hur de hur. USEGE NOTE: Xmes hes beee used fur hoondreds ooff yeers in releegiuoos vreeting, vhere-a zee X represents a Greek chee, zee furst letter ooff , “Chreest. Um de hur de hur de hur.” In thees use-a it is perellel tu oozeer furms leeke-a Xteeun, “Chreestiun.” Boot peuple-a unevere-a ooff zee Greek ooreegin ooff thees X oofftee meestekenly interpret Xmes es un inffurmel shurteneeng prunuoonced (ksms). Muny zeereffure-a froon upun zee term Xmes becoose-a it seems tu zeem a cummerceeel cunfeneeence-a thet oomeets Chreest frum Chreestmes. Um gesh dee bork, bork!