Xmas
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, translit. Khristós, lit. "anointed, covered in oil"), which became Christ in English.[1] The suffix -mas is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass.[2][3]
There is a
Style guides and etiquette
The term Xmas is deprecated by some modern
History
Use in English
Early use of Xmas includes Bernard Ward's History of St. Edmund's college, Old Hall (originally published c. 1755).
Since at least the late 19th century, Xmas has been in use in various other English-language nations. Quotations with the word can be found in texts first written in Canada,[18] and the word has been used in Australia,[12] and in the Caribbean.[19] Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage stated that modern use of the term is largely limited to advertisements, headlines and banners, where its conciseness is valued. The association with commerce "has done nothing for its reputation", according to the dictionary.[16]
In the United Kingdom, the former
Use of X for 'Christ'
The abbreviation of Christmas as Xmas is a source of disagreement among Christians who observe the holiday.
The December 1957 News and Views published by the Church League of America, a conservative organization co-founded in 1937 by George Washington Robnett,[21] attacked the use of Xmas in an article titled "X=The Unknown Quantity". The claims were picked up later by Gerald L. K. Smith, who in December 1966 claimed that Xmas was a "blasphemous omission of the name of Christ" and that "'X' is referred to as being symbolical of the unknown quantity". Smith further argued that the Jewish people had introduced Santa Claus to suppress New Testament accounts of Jesus, and that the United Nations, at the behest of "world Jewry", had "outlawed the name of Christ".[22] There is, however, a well documented history of use of Χ (actually the Greek letter chi) as an abbreviation for "Christ" (Χριστός) and possibly also a symbol of the cross.[23][unreliable source?][24][unreliable source?] The abbreviation appears on many Orthodox Christian religious icons.
Dennis Bratcher, writing for Christian website The Voice, states "there are always those who loudly decry the use of the abbreviation 'Xmas' as some kind of blasphemy against Christ and Christianity".
[F]or us as Christians, this is one of the most holy of the holidays, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. And for people to take Christ out of Christmas. They're happy to say merry Xmas.[26] Let's just take Jesus out. And really, I think, a war against the name of Jesus Christ.[27]
Roland Martin likewise relates the use of Xmas to his growing concerns of increasing commercialization and secularization of one of Christianity's highest holy days.[28] Bratcher posits that those who dislike abbreviating the word are unfamiliar with a long history of Christians using X in place of "Christ" for various purposes.
The word
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and the OED Supplement have cited usages of X- or Xp- for 'Christ-' as early as 1485. The terms Xtian and less commonly Xpian have also been used for 'Christian'. The OED further cites usage of Xtianity for 'Christianity' from 1634.[1] According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, most of the evidence for these words comes from "educated Englishmen who knew their Greek".[16]
In ancient Christian art, χ and χρ are abbreviations for Christ's name. in Greek.
Other uses of X(t) for 'Chris(t)-'
Other proper names containing the name 'Christ' besides those mentioned above are sometimes abbreviated similarly, either as X or Xt, both of which have been used historically,[33] e.g., Xtopher or Xopher for 'Christopher', or Xtina or Xina for the name 'Christina'.[citation needed]
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Xene and Exene were common spellings for the given name 'Christine'.[citation needed] The American singer Christina Aguilera has sometimes gone by the name "Xtina". Similarly, Exene Cervenka has been a noted American singer-songwriter since 1977.
This usage of 'X' to spell the syllable kris (rather than the sounds ks) has extended to xtal for '
In popular culture
- In the animated TV series Futurama, Christmas is referred to just as "Xmas", in speech and writing.
See also
- Christogram
- Christmas controversies
- Labarum
- Names and titles of Jesus
- Xtal in science, an abbreviation for crystal
References
- ^ a b c d "X n. 10.". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Liturgy of the Mass". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ISBN 978-0-19-992358-8.
- ISBN 978-1-4000-6660-5.
The usual suggestion is that 'Xmas' is [...] an attempt by the ungodly to x-out Jesus and banish religion from the holiday.
- ISBN 978-0-06-091315-1.
- ^ "Crucifix - Catholic forms of religious expression - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "X" (1921 edition) and "Xmas" (Third Edition, 2020)
- ISBN 978-0-8129-6389-2, pp 66, 365, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008
- ^ a b c Griffiths, Emma, "Why get cross about Xmas?", BBC website, December 22, 2004. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
- ^ Fenwick, Millicent, Vogue's Book of Etiquette: A Complete Guide to Traditional Forms and Modern Usage, Simon and Schuster, 1948, p 611, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008; full quote seen on Google Books search page
- ISBN 978-0-8129-6389-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-87821-0, p 872, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008
- ISBN 978-0-310-48771-5p 412, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008
- ^ a b "Xmas, n.". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-19-871134-6, p 216, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87779-132-4, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008
- ^ Perry, William (1800). The Royal Standard English Dictionary. Boston: Isaiah Thomas & Ebenezer T. Andrews. p. 56.
- ISBN 978-0-7735-2292-3("We had singing practice with the white men for the Xmas carols", written by Sadie Stringer in Peel River, Northwest Territories, Canada), p 50, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008
- ISBN 978-976-640-145-0("The most day I enjoy was Xmas day" — Bdos, 1985), p 388, retrieved via Google Books, December 27, 2008
- ^ "The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "Subject Guide to Conservative and Libertarian Materials, in Manuscript Collections". University of Oregon.
- ISBN 0-8283-1288-5.
- ^ "Christian Symbols and Their Descriptions". Ancient-symbols.com. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
- ^ "Why Is There a Controversy Surrounding the Word 'Xmas'?". tlc.howstuffworks.com. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ^ "The Origin of "Xmas"". CRI/Voice. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- ^ Amaefule, Chigozie (2019-12-16). "Merry Christmas Messages, SMS, Whatsapp & Facebook Status". Vereeke. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ American Morning: A Conversation With Reverend Franklin Graham, CNN (December 16, 2005). Retrieved on December 29, 2009.
- ^ Martin, Roland (December 20, 2007). Commentary: You can't take Christ out of Christmas, CNN. Retrieved on December 29, 2009.
- ^ Christian Symbols: Chi-Rho Christian Symbols, Doug Gray, Retrieved 2009-12-07
- ^ "Monogram of Christ". New Advent. 1911-10-01. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- ^ Rev. Steve Fritz (December 22, 2012). "The 'X' Factor". Lancaster Online. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- OCLC 236708
- ^ http://www.all-acronyms.com/XT./Christ/1136835 "Abbreviation: Xt." Date retrieved: 19 Dec. 2010.
- ^ "X". Everything 2. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
External links
- An icon of Christ featuring the abbreviations IC and XC in the upper corners
- "Why get cross about Xmas?" (BBC, December 22, 2004)