12-23-2003, 07:21 AM
I've been told many times that "X-Mas" should not be said instead of "Christmas" 'cause it is some kind of unrespectful word.
Well, that's not true. I've been researching.
Christ comes from Latin "Cristus" that comes from Greek "Kristós". Its main meaning is "anointed", but it also means "crucifix". In the times of the first christians, the symbol "X" was used to denotate the cross and by extension the "crucifix" (they marked their galleries in the roman catacombs where they hid to cellebrate their faith with crosses, fishes, cups and other symbols), and the crucifix is Jesus Christ in his very auto-sacrifice to save the world, so X-Mas is just the same thing as Christmas.
"Jesus Christ" means "Jesus crucifixed" (Iesus Kristós).
Just to clarify things, as I am seeying people writing "X-Mas" here and I fear that some may take it wrong
Well, that's not true. I've been researching.
Christ comes from Latin "Cristus" that comes from Greek "Kristós". Its main meaning is "anointed", but it also means "crucifix". In the times of the first christians, the symbol "X" was used to denotate the cross and by extension the "crucifix" (they marked their galleries in the roman catacombs where they hid to cellebrate their faith with crosses, fishes, cups and other symbols), and the crucifix is Jesus Christ in his very auto-sacrifice to save the world, so X-Mas is just the same thing as Christmas.
"Jesus Christ" means "Jesus crucifixed" (Iesus Kristós).
Just to clarify things, as I am seeying people writing "X-Mas" here and I fear that some may take it wrong