Why it is okay to say "X-Mas"

[na_th_an]

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

[relsoft]

Merry X-mas!!!!!!

Woot!!!!!
Feliz Navidad!!!!

[Plasma]

I thought this was where it came from:

"Christmas" means "Mass of Christ," later shortened to "Christ-Mass." The even shorter form "Xmas" - first used in Europe in the 1500s - is derived from the Greek alphabet, in which X is the first letter of Christ's name: Xristos, therefore "X-Mass."

In either case, I agree, there is nothing disrespectful with "X-Mas"...

[Zack]

I *believe* that that term was invented by non-Christians, where they didn't want to say "Christ", as it would be disrespectful to their religion.
I think, I'm not sure.

[SJ Zero]

I *believe* that that term was invented by non-Christians, where they didn't want to say "Christ", as it would be disrespectful to their religion.
I think, I'm not sure.

I think it was invented by lazy christians who didn't feel like having to write out "christmas" on a thousand christmas cards every year.

Merry xmas!

[TheBigBasicQ]

I think we should wait for you-know-whos response. It will be interesting =P.

[relsoft]

I think we should wait for you-know-whos response. It will be interesting =P.

Who? Voldemort?

[TheBigBasicQ]

omg Harry you spoke his name. RUN! Before he catches ya!

[SJ Zero]

*SJ Zero hands out copies of Nietzches Beyond Good and Evil and Thus Spake Zarathustra, just in case. :bounce:

[adosorken]

na_th_an's research is accurate, although it is true that it was not really used very much until the 1500's, as noted in Plasma's post.

Anyone who considers X-Mas to be disrespectful is blissfully ignorant of their own religion.