Bit upset seeing 'Xmas'

[DjF]

I get just a little bit upset every year when i see the word Xmas instead of Christmas.

I understand not all people believe in Christ and thats their right ,please believe im not condemning them. Just the taking of the word Christ out of christmas makes it so cold and it just bothers me. Is it because people are to lazy to write the whole word and use it as a shortcut? Or the word doesnt hold the same value to others?

[Seekrit]

From here. (http://wilstar.com/xmas/xmassymb.htm)

Xmas
This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect.

:)

Merry Chrissy ;)

[RedPanda]

Interesting Seek! I always thought it was just a shortcut, like "Thru".

[Cheekychops]

Thank you Seekrit!!!! I sometimes write Xmas - but don't believe anything about if taking Christ out of my celebrations!!! It's not the word for me that holds the value I guess - for a long time I would only ever write christmas....but then decided it's my heart that matters!!! If that makes sense - for the record I usually write Christmas.....but now I will write Xmas without feeling guilty thanks to Seekrit!!!

[bigglet]

I thought the X was supposed to signify the cross.... and thus the short form.

But yeah I always write it as Christmas because the Xmas thing irked me as well. :p

[MrsMiggins]

I do tend to write Xmas in casual settings, but Christmas where it is more formal.

I am not at all religious now, but when I was younger, it did bother me a bit using Xmas.

The reason it doesn't bother me to use it now, is that although I am not religious, I still do celebrate Christmas as a time to be with family and just to relax & have fun. I love the Christmassy feel of December!! I'm always happy coming up to Christmas!!! For me, Christ is not a part of why I celebrate Christmas, so therefore Xmas has become acceptable to me.

I don't mean to be offensive to anyone who feels strongly about Christmas as a religious celebration, that's just how I personally see the Xmas/Christmas thing.

(PS: Only 3 months to go!!!! :smiliedance: )

[WeThree]

My DS came home in year 2 and said his teacher told the class that when people write Xmas they are taking Christ out of Christmas. (This at a public school mind you, lucky Im a Christian, but um, yeah, that would be a whole other thread in itself! :D )
I just told him that for most people its certainly not their intention, its more just an abbreviation (interesting to read where the abbreviation originally comes from Seek!) but I do find myself writing 'Christmas' alot more ever since he said that :p

[porridge]

oooh, this is an interesting one!!

did you know that christmas actually has its origins in pagan festivals and has nothing to do with Christ. The Roman Catholic church took it up and changed it to a 'christian' festival...

The date of christmas was originally the date of the festival to the pagan god odin... whose symbol is the pine tree...

[sam's mum]

getting right off the topic Easter was the pagan ritual of Oster, the fertility goddess. It was a compromise when christianity was first getting started in order to get people to attend services. They would time the gatherings for a pagan festival to ensure that people would attend, and then preached the Christian word to convert people from paganism.

[reAllytee]

Yes porridge i knew this :thumbsup:
There is a good chance Jesus was actually born in March but its all still being argued about etc because really no-one can ever really know the truth.

I dont find Xmas offensive because even though i believe i know what the X stands for, for me & thats Jesus !
So i use it more casually like Mrs Miggins said then Christmas when its more formal & called for :D

[melfunction]

I think the world has bigger problems.

[DragonFly Baby]

I think the world has bigger problems.

lol totally agree!

Not something to get upset about:rolleyes:

[WeThree]

oooh, this is an interesting one!!

did you know that christmas actually has its origins in pagan festivals and has nothing to do with Christ. The Roman Catholic church took it up and changed it to a 'christian' festival...

The date of christmas was originally the date of the festival to the pagan god odin... whose symbol is the pine tree...

Yup, I think its common knowledge that its highly highly unlikely that Jesus was actually born on the 25th December, whats important to me and other Christians is celebrating it, period. Doesnt matter what day has been chosen to do so, its just symbolic really.:yes:

[Cheekychops]

Yup, I think its common knowledge that its highly highly unlikely that Jesus was actually born on the 25th December, whats important to me and other Christians is celebrating it, period. Doesnt matter what day has been chosen to do so, its just symbolic really.:yes:

This is true - it isn't Jesus actual birthdate - but a wonderful opportunity to celebrate his birth!!! :thumbsup:

[Mojogal]

So glad a few people have brought up the fact that the celebration in December actually began as a pagan celebration. Many christmas greeting cards actually use the words Yuletide - Yule is the name for the pagan festival, and is still the name used by pagans the world over. There are heaps of old pagan symbols used by Christians to commemorate christmas (and other festivals and celebrations too).

To me, it doesn't matter whether we are pagan or Christian, as long as we get into the spirit of togetherness and of sharing at this time. It means that as a pagan myself, I get to celebrate the Xmas festival (I call it Yule) along with the rest of my christian family, and take to the celebration my own ideas on its origins and my own beliefs as to what is actually important at this time.

[SamanthaJane]

I never understood how they got Xmas from Christmas, so thanks for letting me learn something new! But i've never been offended by it... I dont think its disrespectful at all...

[B-belle]

I think Id need to start a petition for more postcode box's on envelopes if we couldnt use the word xmas! It fits so nicely..

I dont think its offensive at all. Like someone else who posted I alwys thought x was for the cross:laughing:

now I know..

[TwoBlue]

I always knew it was an abreviation but a few years ago i met some people who actually wrote the X as a symbol for them of "taking Christ out of Christmas"

Since then i have never written Christmas with the X and when i see it that way it bothers me a little as i know "some" people do it for the wrong reasons...

[Milliner]

I think the world has bigger problems.

I totally agree.

[Mamaduke]

I never write Christmas with an X - Christmas to me is all about the birth of Christ and the celebration around His birth...I just wouldn't write it with an X out of respect...how I was brought up.

BTW...the world has bigger problems than alot of the topics that are written here but that never stops anybody, and neither should it.

[Little_Toad]

You should be glad you don't live in Canada,

They don't even say Happy Christmas anymore. It's Happy Holidays instead to be politicaly correct. Which sucks! and I'm not even religious.

So Happy Christmas, Happy hanukkah and Happy Ramadan

[DjF]

Thanks for the reply Mamaduke and not disregarding my feelings regardless of what you think!Its nice.
And i dont know a lot about pagan celebrations, thankyou to Seekrit for posting about the greek origins. You learn a new thing everyday!

[DjF]

ps Little Toad - your right, it is currently Rammadan!

[Bessie]

I have to disagree slightly about Easter, the timing of Easter is based on Passover, which is calculated by observing the moon. This is because Jesus was crucified at this time of year... although it we have to guess for the exact day. However, the egg and bunnies are pagan (though I mean pagan as in the Baal worship of the Old Testament rather than what you'd consider Western European Pagan).
The world has bigger problems true, but that doesn't invalidate the thread at all.

[our little treasures]

My mum hates the word XMAS and forbid us to write it when we were young!! I don't write it but I really don't see an issue anymore as it has become part of the season really!!