Does Xmas take Christ Out of Christmas?
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The Xmas vs Christmas Debate.
I'm sure you're familiar with the whole controversy about whether or not it's a bad thing to use the abbreviation “Xmas” instead of writing Christmas. In recent years, it's become more of an issue with all of the culture wars going on.
Well, recently the Xmas debate came to my inbox as it related to a newsletter that I sent out.
The Accusation
Just this past Sunday, I got an email from a reader that took me off guard.
I had sent out a newsletter entitled:
“Today Only Essential Oils Savings – FREE Shipping, Discounts, & Xmas Delivery”
This reader replied to my newsletter saying “You lost me with the “X” instead of “Christ”mas. “
I felt horrible, but I quickly emailed a response to address her concerns and it led me to want to address this publicly.
I figured it would straighten things out for the future, plus it's a fabulous opportunity for learning more about the Early Christians.
The “Xmas” vs. Christmas Debate
There has been some talk over the years regarding those who use the term “Xmas” instead of “Christ”mas are doing so in order to “take the Christ out of Christmas”.
Is that what I was doing?
No, and it grieves my heart to think that someone would think that that was my motive.
So let me explain.
When I was finishing up my newsletter, I needed to choose a title for it and the space allotted to me is quite short. If I type in too many characters, the full title won't show and it doesn't always make sense. So while figuring out how to shorten the title, I decided to use “Xmas” instead of “Christmas.”Typically, in years past, I wouldn't have done that due to the talk about taking the “Christ” out of Christmas and my not wishing to participate in removing Christ from Christmas — or any Holiday, for that matter :).
I heard folks talking about the need to say “Merry Christmas” and stating that if one used “Xmas” instead of “Christ”mas, that they were trying to secularize the Christian Holiday by avoiding saying “Christ” and it concerned me.
I even remember sheepishly writing “Xmas” while taking notes in college. I justified my actions by thinking “well, no one else is seeing this–I'm just trying to write as fast as I can and take advantage of a convenient abbreviation.
My Xmas “Conversion”
So how did this “concerned about Keeping Christ in Christmas” gal end up using “Xmas” in a blog newsletter title?
Here's how.
One thing you might not know about me is that my husband has an MDiv (a Master's of Divinity). That's pretty much the Master's Degree that one gets when thinking about going into the pastorate.
He had intended to use the degree on the mission field, but also for his PhD as his area of concentration is John Milton, who is arguably one of the most famous Christian writers.
We had a change of plans and now he is an English Professor, but suffice it to say he cares a good deal about his faith.
We both do.
The Meaning of the “X”
Well, typically we think of the “X” as being an unknown as in algebra where we solve problems like “x + 2 = 3y” and such.
Or we think of the X in X-rated (not a good association).
Or the “X” means to cross out or mark a space (e.g. “x-out the answer or “x marks the spot”)
But in this case, the X in Xmas is really not an X, but instead it's a reference to Christ.
While in seminary, “Whole New Dad” (he's really not called this–I'm just calling him this for fun) took COPIOUS notes and he had “Xtian” (Christian) written numerous times in the margins of books and elsewhere.
I noticed it, and asked him about it, since I'd thought that the “x” was removing Christ from a word, but here it was being used by someone who certainly wouldn't want to do that.
“Whole New Dad” corrected my thinking, informing me that the “X” is actually indicating the Greek letter “Chi”, which is short for the Greek
, meaning “Christ”.
The first letter of the Greek word “Christos” is represented in our English alphabet as an X. And the X has come been a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ throughout history.
Interesting, eh?
So it then follows that “Xmas” isn't a non-religious version of “Christmas”.
Instead, it's just a way to write “Christ” in a shorthand way.
Additionally, I think it's interesting, in thinking of the way that Christ died, that the “X” forms a kind of cross.
Instead of worrying about the “X” being a problem, we could actually be excited about our connection to the Early Christians in our use of their symbol for Christ.
(Source)
More Posts about Christmas
Here are a few more posts to make your Xmas a little bit healthier.
- Healthy Stocking Stuffers
- How to Slow Down for Christmas
- Gluten-free Christmas Cookies
- Healthy Christmas Cookies
- Homemade Natural Christmas Gifts
I hope that you and yours have a Very Blessed Xmas!
I'd love to hear your thoughts about this!
If you have to go to such lengths to justify the x, maybe you are trying to hard!
I’m a believer and I learned this lesson the hard way when I left Christ out in a “Merry Xmas” window painting, just to save room.
I quickly discovered that I had made a huge mistake. I realized that and admitted I was wrong and changed it!
No need to be right…it’s leaving CHRIST out in the eyes of the world and other belivers.
So, maybe there is some long complicated reason…but the bottom line is you substituted x for CHRIST. Sorry, but you would do a lot better by just saying I was wrong!
Don’t help the world seperate Christ from Christmas! They won’t be reading your long story of why that’s ok.
Sorry for the long delay in replying. I really don’t understand your comment b/c I was clear about my thinking. I am not at all trying to justify it. In fact, I used to think it was a problem to use X for Christ, but after doing research into the issue, I found that the X really means Christ.
I wasn’t trying to be right. I was trying to find out what the truth was.
I hope that clarifies. I’m not going to admit I was wrong when I wasn’t. That wouldn’t be honest.
Happy to dialogue more about this if you’d like. Perhaps you didn’t read my post carefully enough. I think, if you read my other posts here and on FB, you will see that I have changed my mind on a lot of things over the years and am willing to admit I’m wrong. I hope you can be more charitable in the future in your assessment of my motives. Thanks.
Thank you for the education on the origin of Xmas. I never would have guessed. And just for the record, I never thought either was a Satanic holiday, even people who don’t celebrate Christmas in the spirit of Christ. The Christmas season starts after advent ends on Christmas eve and continues at least to the the Baptism of our Lord.
So Merry Christmas or Xmas, whatever works!
Thanks, Judy and you are so welcome! Sorry for not responding sooner. I wish it was just tons of Christmas / Xmas celebration that led to the delay, but alas it’s been a lot of other stuff. Take care!
Our Creator thought “christmas/xmas” as an abomination from the get go, so why observe the satanic holiday? You do know it’s satanic, right? With a little bit of research, you can find everything about it’s pagan/satanic origin AND in Scripture where it warns not to celebrate it.
Hi there. Is the origin of some of the things like the tree, etc. what you are referring to?
I am deleting old emails since I am up to 57,759, and I came across this post about Xmas. My brother was deaf mute, and in writing letters he always used Xmas because the deaf community shortened everything when using sign language. My grand-daughter was named Xion (sounds like Zion), because we a Messianic (Jews who believe in Yeshua/Jesus). My daughter named her Xion Hope referring to Zion (Israel) with the emphasis on Christ. The people who are so distressed at the change from Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays are insensitive to other religions. Jews celebrate Hanukkah for instance. As Messianic we celebrate Christ’s birth AND Hanukkah. Just a little FYI. Love your posts and your recipes. I have 47 food sensitivities including gluten, dairy, egg, cashews, plus some of the substitutes such as chia, flax, amaranth and cassava. Bummer.
LOL 57,759 – really? I have a LOT of emails and am trying to clean mine out!
I know about Messianic Judaism, at least a little bit. Thanks for sharing! I love your grand-daughter’s name! How lovely!
Thanks for the kind words. I’m trying to do more these days, but it’s a lot of work to keep this going. You might be interested to know that as we worked on our overall health, our allergies and sensitivities have started to go away. There is that possibility for you as well. You can read a bit about that here: https://wholenewmom.com/about-me/
Take care and hope to see you around more!
Thank you for this explanation. In our Christmas series this year our pastor addressef Christmas myths and explained this one to us, saying very much the same you did, that early Christians used this and that X represents Christ.
It just shows that a Christian is never too old too learn something new.
I trust you and your famly had a blessed Christmas this year,
Hi Susan – yes we for sure can keep learning. My husband has an MDiv and has studied the Bible for many years. He still learns. He says this often–he has a PhD and can still be wrong / not know as much as someone without a PhD in his area of focus. Someone might have read something that he hasn’t read on a topic and will know more about it than he does. We should always be willing to listen and be wrong and learn. About most things of course – there are very very few things that are things I know I am not wrong about–who Jesus is, that God exists, and that there is corruption everywhere. And even then, I’m willing to hear people out who have different thoughts or beliefs on those topics, but I am not going to change my mind about those :). Thank you for the kind wishes – – We are stretching things out as usual. Had a lot of bumps this year and so we’ll be celebrating some more today. This post talks a little bit about that and though it’s not always what I want, nor for the reason I want, it can be really helpful https://wholenewmom.com/slowing-down-for-christmas/. Take care!
Thank you for a kind, well-written post, Adrienne. Merry Christmas to you & your family.
Thank you for the kind words and Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.