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Patriot Update

The story of the ‘X’ in Xmas

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

How did the word Christ come to be replaced by the letter “X”? Turns out it goes back to the very beginnings of Christianity.

“Using the symbol ‘X’ for Christ is a tradition that dates far back into the history of Christianity into the first few centuries. That’s because our letter ‘X’ is identical to the Greek letter ’chi’, which is the first letter for Christos in Greek, and so early Christians many times would see the letter ‘X’ or combine that with the letter ‘rho’ in Greek to symbolize Christ,” said Father Robert Busch, PhD, Amarillo Diocese Schools Director.

Xmas therefore means “Christ’s Mass,” so in many ways, the “X” in Xmas stands for Christ. But people unaware of the Greek origin of this “X” often mistakenly interpret Xmas as an informal shortening pronounced (eks-mas). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas. It’s also important to note that it is a written abbreviation, and should not be pronounced ’X'mas, but instead as “Christmas”.

Another interesting fact, in olden times when paper and ink were precious commodities, the “X” was used to save space when printing.

Post Continues on www.connectamarillo.com

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Dan-o

And now you don’t hardly even hear Xmas being used, Just Happy Holidays or Winter Break.
- Lillian Garrett
  
  I too believe in Merry Christmas. If you go back and study the Hebrew roots and see how Christmas was started, also Easter. You see How everything was changed about 300BC.
  I have just started studing this and I hope we do know that we know the truth. You can see how the names were changed and why even Lahsua was changed to Jesus. Yahvae and Elohim was changed to God and Lord. Is Yahvae wanted us to know the truth about his Hebrew names?
http://moseyabx@hotmail.com Maureen

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Los

ASK NINA TOTENBERG TO LET YOU TELL THAT STORY ON COMMUNIST NPR — THEY MAY SEE THE LIGHT
- Doug
  
  I’ll bet totenberg is planning to spend some time off on Christmas Day. But she won’t admit it.
http://monzillafirefox Dennis Waltrip

I still believe in Calling ti CHRISTmas, not Xmas. We read English not Greek!!
- CJM
  
  Had the symbol ‘X’ not been on the lintel of each home, many of the Christians would not have survived; after all, this was the symbol God commanded His Angels to give to the masses….then where would you be? It is an honorable memorialization to the many who were sacrificed in the name of God. Besides, as the author of the artical stated, it should be pronounced ‘Christ’ (or ‘Christmas’) and not as an ‘X’.
  - Larry
    
    I totally agree. Its CHRISTMAS NOT xmas.
- John Rieske
  
  “Christ” happens to be Greek as well.
- Jacque
  
  So let the Greek’s call it X-mas. This is America. Here it is Christmas, so Merry Christmas to all.
Dave

Well, IF that were really the case, It should be TOTALLY in greek… As it is now, if X is the first letter in greek for Christ, then the english translation would be “C mas”, or pronounced Chi-mas which makes no sence at all.
This is just another feeble attempt at blotting out the precious name of Christ Jesus.
- Larry
  
  Amen Dave. The world’s Lord and Savior was called JESUS CHRIST not JESUS x .
David

The ACLU, Media Matters, B’nai Brith and several other groups are on their guard to catch any use of the word “Christmas”…or to see if it is displayed in public. They want to eradicate any public presence of Christianity. They seek to first defile, then destroy. Like a cancer, our values, in matters religious and secular are being eroded, and supplanted with stuff that is base and vile.
- David
  
  ACLU…Definitely, Media Matters…Without question, but B’nai Brith??? What are you smoking? Their focus is on anti semitism, they have nothing against Christ, or Christmas.
- Dave
  
  All the ACLU wants is for all Religions to be treated equally by our Government.
  - http://aol.com Jack Hashim
    
    Fr. Busch obviously has a limited knowledge of Greek. If he has problems with “Christmas”,I feel sorry for his congregation! When signs were used to identify a Christian during the early days of the faith, it was to guard against hate mongers. That’s the spirit of today.Anyone who truly knows Jesus Christ will only wish you a Merry CHRISTMAS! Jack
  - rimshot75
    
    Not true. The ACLU goes out of their way to persecute and prosecute Christian works and ways in any public square. The ACLU has never thwarted a Muslim work ever. I don’t ever recall hearing them slap the hands of the Jewish folks and I never hear of them badmouthing LDS or Atheists(yes, atheism is a religion). So I would have to say that the ACLU must be targeting Christianity; that is what their work, so far, represents.
Texas John

Merry CHRISTmas, I don’t know whether I believe these kind of stories or not, so I’ll continue using the whole word CHRISTmas. After all, CHRIST is the whole reason for the season, and holiday.
- http://johncothren@comcast.net John Cothren
  
  If you think Christ is the “reason for the season”,….remove the $$$$$$$ and see how long it lasts. I am a Christian and a Baptist and have no reason to celebrate the
  Christ–mass since the whole story is a lie
  from square one. It is pagan in origin.
  - Bea
    
    Come on Cothren,
    grow up and quit being a scrooge.
    Get some Christmas cheer man!
  - Jacque
    
    I bet the Baptists are happy to hear you claim that! ! !
  - Aaron, TX
    
    Well then happy birth of Christ Day. What ever you want to call it. Regardless of the propaganda attached to it (which i do agree with you on), Christmas will be what you believe it to be. Is it a time when we all need to remember the message of Christ and that he was sent to us by God to show us his love and take the burden of sin from those of us who accepted him as our savior. For those who do not agree i weep for your soul. For those who not only disagree but wish to convince the rest of us that you are right or force us to forsake him, the worst of luck to you. When will we as Christians remember what our ansestors did in honor of God. I know there were plenty who did evil in the name of God but that is not who i speak of. What of those who were persecuted because they refused to rebuke God. Ask your self, if you were faced with the same circumstance, would you be burned at the stake or forsake the lord.
  - Dawn
    
    You have a point. “Christmas” is not in the Bible, nor is December 25 mentioned as the Lord’s B-day. The only remembrance we are commanded to observe is communion. But Christmas was instituted to help keep former pagans from backsliding into their winter solstice celebrations. So it was meant to prevent pagan style worship but was instituted by man, not the Bible, the apostles, or X.
    - Randy
      
      Jesus was actually born in the early spring.. hence they were on their way(Joseph and Mary)to pay their taxes when Jesus was born. I really have no idea why we celebrate his birth in December except I know it should be celebrated year round. When the wisemen and all showed up inquiring about the baby Jesus, he wasn’t in a stable(Manger) as so many believe. He was two years old when the Kings and Wisemen beheld him! This is why King Herod had all the kids killed that were two years old or less. There are a lot of things that we portray at Christmas that isnt factual. Even so, I celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ as the Bible tells it. Merry Christmas to you all.
      - Observer
        
        Randy, back in the 4th century (years 300-399), Constantine was a soldier who saw the sign of the cross in the sky during a battle. This sign converted him to Christianity, and later, as a conquering ‘king,’ he wanted all in his kingdom to become Christian. He was the one who formalized which books became the New Testment, leaving out such books as the Gospel of Peter, the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene), and others. It was politically correct at that time to eliminate certain thoughts that were counter to his idea of what Christianity should encompass. For example, the Gospel of Mary recounts what her relationship to Christ really was: that of a true confidant, and the leader of the apostles; she was the main teacher of his holy word, chosen specifically by Him. However, because women at that time had no ‘voice,’ it didn’t sit well with Constantine and other (male) philosophers that she should have any merit, and the easiest way to eliminate her influence was to downgrade her to a prostitute. That’s how the Bible’s New Testament was conveniently (for a male dominated society) coalesced. All of this is in the writings of the Gnostic sect; there were multiple christian sects at that time, and Constantine wanted one, universal belief system that played to society as it was back then. And, to combat paganism, Christ’s birthday was moved to December to counter the pagan celebration/feast/revel of the WInter Solstice, usually around the 21-23 of December. Calendars have changed in the succeeding centuries; we used to have a Julian calendar, but now use the Gregorian calendar, so the dates shift slightly.
    - rimshot75
      
      Dawn: there are two commands instituted by Jesus: Communion and Baptism (Matthew 28:19)
  - KYFAN
    
    John, I am a Christian and a Baptist also and to me anything that makes people think of Jesus and His coming to save us is wonderfully OK with me. One can make it a commercial event or a religious experience.
    
    Also, I see no problem in giving gifts to ones we love as long as we do not stress out and overspend and always remember the reason for the season.
    - ksmead
      
      Well said, for a KY fan
  - rimshot75
    
    Calling and/or claiming your faith as Christian yet rejecting the birth of Christ and its celebration is akin to our President calling himself Christian in light of all he has done to prove the opposite. How can you refute or reject the birth of the Messiah and yet claim you are subject to His mercy? Did I miss something?
  - Regina
    
    How can you call yourself a Christian if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ? It’s just a myth???
  - Tony
    
    Cothren, The JEWS put the $$$$$ in CHRISTMAS.They are as greedy as they come, especially the ones in the entertainment world.
- Lon Pearson
  
  For 2000 years the X–meaning Christ– continued in all the western languages. For example, if someone could not write, their placing an “X” on a documente testified under Christ that they were the person that they were claiming to be.
- rimshot75
  
  In the first century Christian church (which consisted of ‘house churches’) there was much persecution. Many Christians were burned alive, skinned alive, thrown into the arena to fight wild animals (ending up as their food by the way). For this reason, to be labeled a Christian would allow the Romans to find and arrest you. Since people of ‘The Way’ wanted to band together, they would mark their homes with the ‘Chi-Rho’ as a sign of their faith. One can argue they should have been more ‘faithful’ and printed out CHRISTIAN on their homes; but to any who think that way I would ask them how they would have responded if they were in that predicament?
CJM

Be thankful that we can celebrate anything at all this year–if Obama, ACLU, and SLPC continue to have their way, we won’t have any celebrations at all next year. Heck, we won’t even have a United States of America; under Obama’s tutelage, it will be the US of Communist America that is patterned after Russia! No American traditions will exist, neither will any American freedoms. Merry Christmas and let’s hope for a much better year in 2011 where we will re-establish our long-held traditions, including prayers in school.
- Randy
  
  I agree
- Jo
  
  What the heck does that have to do with the “X”? And further more, what the heck is with congress voting against each other instead of blaming the president????
  - Tony
    
    You stand corrected : he’s not the prez, hes the puppet on a muslim, and soros string!
- Dave
  
  Read Richard Wurmband’s ” Tortured for Christ” to see the work of Christ under a godless regime. God’s word says “the heavens declare the glory of God” – anyone seeking God with all his heart especially today with all our technology can find him. Sad to say, many of us are “in the middle” – the atheists affirm him every time they note the date, Christians miss his full face because of their unconfessed sin!
http://patriotupdate.com Raymond

New CEO
The board of directors for a large company, believing it was time for a shake-up, hires a new CEO.

This new boss is determined to rid the company of all slackers, so on a tour of the facilities during his first day, the CEO notices a guy leaning casually against the wall.

The room is full of workers and he wants to let them all know he means business, and wasting time on the clock is not acceptable.

The CEO walks up to the guy and asks, “And how much money do you make a week?”

A little surprised, the young fellow looks at him and replies, “I make $300.00 a week. Why?”

The CEO reaches into his wallet, hands the guy $1,200 in cash, and screams, “Here’s four weeks pay, now GET OUT and don’t come back!”

Feeling pretty good about his first firing, the CEO looks around the room and asks, “Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-off did here aside from standing around?”

With a sheepish grin, one of the other workers mutters, “That guy delivered our pizza.”
- Dave
  
  Old as the hills but at least it is not as mean spirited as most of your old jokes Raymond.
- Richard
  
  Raymond: Do you have anything to offer relative to the subject?
California Christian

Thank God for all those Christian organizations that
fight these kind of groups to preserve our founding Christian principals!
Our great nation is under attack by this groups!!
Tim

I agree with Dennis! I speak American English. And in my language I proudly pronounce it “Merry Christmas”!!!
The emphasis is on Christ! My Lord and Saviour that was born on that very special day! Thank God!
http://n/a P.E.Poss

ACLU and most atheist organizations are divisive and want to divide us all – like divide and conquer. So I like to see the full name indicating Christmas, the celebration of the birthday of Christ. Christians and many of our religious organizations work to unite us – not divide us.
guyb

Christmas isn’t Christmas until it happens in your heart!!!! Thank you JESUS CHRIST for all you have done for the world and may America always remember and give thanks to JESUS on Christmas day regardless of the aclu or obama or ant other anti american person. AMERICA—MERRY CHRISTMAS and may our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST BLESS OUR TROOPS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!!!!!!!
M Prewitt

I’ve known many years that “X” was often used in antiquity as an abbreviation for “Christ”, and that this is the supposed historical basis for “Xmas”. (In some ways it is reminiscent of the more ancient abbreviated form “YHWH” used as the name for God, or the contemporary practice of some to use the theta, alpha, or omega Greek characters to mean God.) However, in PRACTICE, Xmas is used mainly by people who want to OMIT “Christ” from Christmas. Moreover, I don’t know too many, if any, devout Christians who use Xmas, except pejoratively to show that they believe modern Christmas has been secularized.

Remember that meaning, in its current forms, has less to do with etymological roots, than with current usage.
- omegaman
  
  Very informative explanation. Thank you.
Bea

Bullhooy.
It’s Christmas, plain and simple
Tom T

dave, you are acommunist! John if you are refering to the birth of Christ as a pagan story you are not a christian nor do you understand what the word means.
http://patriotupdate.com Raymond

Merry Christmas.
Allen

“Christ” is so easy to spell!
Richard Gibbard

How about that? I thought it came from the early days of telegraphs when people had to pay by the letter.
Richard

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! The dude who occupies the White House has what he calls a “holiday tree” and won’t allow any decorations upon it which have any reference to Jesus. Yet he claims to be a Christian??
http://yahoo.com Tod

Still say it’s Pagan Worship.Nowhere in the Bible,watch (the forgotten day).
viva

This article is referring to what was used in the very first centuries of christianity-not about current day Christians OR Greeks. I have observed that most people are saying, “Merry Christmas”, not Happy Holidays. If you prefer the former, then do what YOU can to promote it. Send only cards that say it. I use “Sharpie” red ink pens to write Merry Christmas on AlL outgoing mail.
Chris

Merry Christmas to All!! I have always taken the time to spell Christmas in full, since Christ is the only reason for the season!! As Christians we need to stand strong for the day our Saviour was born and call it what it is!! Don’t let anyone or anything take that away from us. This is America, a Christian Nation. As Christians, please unite with other Christians who want to Christ in the forefront all year long. Join us at; http://www.PatrioticChristiansToday.com wear the wristband with our message with Pride!!
Walt

Merry Christmas everyone!
I am almost 68 and the one way that I have always kept Christ in Christmas is to NEVER use the “X”. I know that people may deny Christ but I also know that according to the scriptures, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD!
- Dave
  
  AMEN – and HALLELUJAH!! Walt
betty stalcup

the early christians used the sign of a fish to denote to other christians as to where they resided. but the holiday is not MERRY ICYTHUS. i believe that the X was not originally meant to denigrate Jesus at all.
1953 Korean Vet

In these times, it’s more likely that someone
in the business-material world–has decided to “Delete” Christmas, as decided by his mind
to do so-! But, I laugh as I “see” another side to the picture-! In our past, a person
who couldn’t write his own name, was allowed to sign it with an (X), witnessed by others to confirm his legal intent–as such-! But being that many of these illiterate souls were also Christians–it’s can be said that they also confirmed their Christian Faith, by
signing it with an (X)-! At least, it makes a
“Good Story” with a punch-line-! Who knows-?
1953 Korean Vet

I’d forgotten to add to my former posting-!
“Merry Christmas to all, wheither you believe
or not-! Good Will unto all Men & Ladies too,
Amen-!” For those who never knew me–I too faced death twenty-times, but God allowed me
to live–against impossible odds-! I’ve been
buried ‘alive’ once & am still here–”Saved”
in the miracle of Christmas-!
- Dave
  
  More blessed are those who have been “born twice” – physically and spiritually. To be born physically and still spiritually dead is to die physically and to be eternally separated from God the Father and Jesus Christ as well as the Holy Spirit.
KYFAN

Dear Vet, Praise Jesus for protecting your life so many times!

Merry Christas, dear friend.
http://yahoo deweymccall

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO FIGHT FOR US AND OUR FREDOM
Ron Hob

I don’t know what all the fuss is about. It was just a fade a few years ago, I haven’t seen or heard “Xmas” in a few years. Thank God. Merry Christmas
BILL

EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS THE SAME, IT STILL MEANS MORE TO EVERYONE IF CHRISTMAS IS USED, INSTEAD OF XMAS. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET OTHERS TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS INSTEAD OF HAPPY HOLIDAYS OR TO YOU TOO. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO “JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO THE FATHER, BUT BY HIM” BE SURE TO ASK HIM INTO YOUR HEART, FOR HIM TO BE YOUR SAVIOR. AND TODAY IS THE TIME FOR SALVATION. DON’T WAIT, FOR TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME. BILL B