Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas, not Xmas.

The other day I wrote about Internet abbreviations, I know they are sometimes needed when people are in a hurry but I dislike them really. I use them though, but there is one that I really don't like: using xmas or Xmas instead of Christmas. My friend Darin made a really good point about that one to me a few weeks ago. He said that it was like deleting Christ from the celebration, you know the 'X' being a abbreviation for delete. That is sounded awful so for me I will always use Christmas. Just say'n.

OK so my other friend, Mike, sent the following definition from the Wiki:
"Xmas" is a common abbreviation of the word "Christmas". It is sometimes pronounced/ˈɛksməs/, but it, and variants such as "Xtemass", originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation /ˈkrɪsməs/. The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for "Mass",[1] while the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as "Christ".[2]


There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas[3] by taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas".
So I stand in correction and humility. :)









http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas



1 comment:

Ally said...

I'm guilty of the sin...but I must say I have an awareness of it and 'try' not to! Merry CHRISTMAS my friend!! :)