November 24, 2007
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Christmas or Xmas?
A Christian group is asking Christians to avoid shopping at stores that censor the word “Christmas.”
Here is the link: Link
So it is that time of the year where we need to ask the question:
Does it bother you when people use the abbreviation Xmas instead of Christmas?
Comments (176)
nah. they’re just lazy.
argh. what do i care?
nope, it doesn’t bother me. i use that abbreviation myself.
It bothers me that organized religion still exists.
Also, it bothers me when people tell me merry Christmas, KNOWING that I’m not a Christian.
STFU, Christians.
I don’t wanna hear it.
superevilpoptart, don’t be offended. christmas isn’t about christ. it’s about the pretty lights and the alcoholic eggnog.
eh.. a little..
It IS called Christmas after all..
hmmm, not really since the greek x stands for christ and that the origin and not an x to cross out the name necessisarily. I am a christian and i dont base my decisions on what some group says i should think or do but what i say – hopefully, basing that somewhat on what Jesus would do and what would make God happy and there will be some morals and ethics involved – but i am not some christian robot taking my faith direction from human operators.
Daniel (doubledb)
no i don’t care but right now i don’t particularly like either.
Well, I would have to say that it is appropriate. Christmas has basically nothing to do with Jesus anymore, it has basically just become a secular holiday. Even some churches seem to have forgotten the reason for the season.
You know, it never did before, but yesterday my son said why is it Xmas? I replied that some people didn’t like thname of CHRIST in Christmas or that sometimes hey were to tired or lazy to write out Christmas.
After I thought about it a bit neither one of those are really verygood things… so yeah, I’m going to say that this ear it bothers me a little.
Yikes. Do people have nothing else to complain or worry about (they both say Christmas).
I’m bothered by people who are bothered by organized religion, actually.
Anyway, Xmas is okay. People who make a deal out of it are just trying to get attention for their church, name, or whatever.
-David
another big question is merry christmas or happy holidays? I say merry christmas but if someone is not christian and tells me happy holidays i am not offended – since they dont believe in christ. My reaction, and i hope most other christians, should be to respect others or simply explain why we say merry christmas insead of happy holidays. Christmas is not the season for drama, and hate, and politics but love and remembering the greatest gift of all – MONEY! lol, joking – I believe it is Jesus Christ.
Daniel (doubledb)
A bit.
I think if you’re going to bother wishing anyone a “Merry Christmas” at least write out the whole word. Otherwise, stick to “Happy Holidays“. Or… is it “Happy Hdays“… ?
I don’t really care enough to let the fact that other people do it bother me. I, however, don’t say Xmas… I spell out Christmas. What’s a few extra letters? And for personal reasons, I want to leave the Christ in there. But hey… if you want to type out xmas instead of Christmas, more power to you. Now, people who get all huffy over Merry Christmas altogether, and think that it should just be “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” should get knocked upside the head. THAT’S ridiculous.
I like ‘Yuletide’ myself!
xmas just feels a little informal to me but it doesn’t really bother me that much
No it doesn’t bother me at all and neither does saying Happy Holidays.
No, it’s just a word. I ain’t going to get all bend out of shape when they say that.
ugh, over sensitive christians talking shit again >_>
when are they gonna shut up?
…never =(
No, I’m not that obsessive about Christmas. Seriously, it’s just become an excuse for commercialism and Jesus wasn’t even born in December. And I celebrate Jesus’ birth EVERYDAY by just living my life for Him. So they could abbreviate Christmas “Satanmas” and I probably wouldn’t care.
No, but I think the word Christmas is prettier.
As a Christian, yes it does. Very much. CHRISTmas began with Christ coming into this world.
morbidFRAGRANCE, I’ll never stop standing up for my Savior. So no, you’ll never hear me stop. And we’re not over-sensitive. We’re passionate about what we believe in, therefore I think it’s GREAT to see Christians who actually stand up for what they believe in.
Absolutely.
Not.
When I’m an adult, I’m gonna celebrate Hannukah, Christmas, and Ramadan. Yay for cultural differences!
It doesn’t bother me. I’m still going to call it “Christmas” even if I’m not Christian.
It’s a Hallmark holiday, really.
A bothers me that people are trying to tell others what to do.
I don’t use the “Xmas” version, but I don’t have anything against someone who does.
*hugs*
…O…k..O_o…
Read my profile, I have my answer there. ^___^ <33333
P.S. I don’t care if people say X-mas or Happy Holidays or Happy Hanuka or Merry Christmas, etc. It doesn’t bother me because not everyone has the same religion as me and thats okay. :] <333
I don’t care that they’re taking Christ out, or whatever. Whatever.
I just loathe people that use abbreviations. Xmas is so stupid-looking. Sheesh.
Only because most who do it are trying to offend.
But X was traditionally a Greek symbol for Χριστός (
Christós
). But no one knows that.
If you want to offend me you have not succeeded, but then why not spend my money were they are not trying to offend me. They want it more, so I should spend it there.
it used to until i found out that there was a reasoning behind the x in xmas. apparently in some culture (i forget which one), they sometimes substituted the letter x for christ. hence the xmas. personally, i like using christmas and not xmas. at one point, i thought it was more laziness to write xmas but now it’s just writing christmas seems more complete in a weird way. but that’s just a personal preference.
but going back to the original question, it used to but not like it did before.
I prefer seeing “Christmas”, but I won’t avoid a place just because they use “X-mas”.
Everyone is a bitch! This is a fucked up Christmas, Xmas, Kwanzaa looting spree whatever the fuck.
No one has any money this year. I’m going to fly across the Atlantic to attend a rave for Christmas.
If it weren’t for that I would be dead.
I really don’t care either way.
Dan some of the children commenting today seem to have forgotten their meds.
No. What the hell does it matter what WalMart or Target thinks about Christmas/Xmas/Happy Holidays, anyway? If it matters so much to you, you probably shouldn’t be looking to department stores as a moral standard, anyway. Well, no one should, really, but that only furthers the point.
Yes, it doesn’t take much to spell the entire word out. The first 6 letters in Christmas is the most important because that is who we celebrate this holiday season. But to ask this question is very touchy to some and to others who have left comments and given a hateful, tacky responses are obviously missing out on the real meaning of Christmas. Just my honest opinion. Have a great evening!!!
No, but I remember my step-dad (who is pretty religious) once talking about how he gets upset by it.
That’s not really something that would bother me… especially not now.
No.
I write Christmas as a general rule because XMas looks retarded.
I do write Xmas if I’m being lazy.
not that anal – a cross is a perfectly good substitute…
Hey, you asked that last year xD!
And it doesn’t matter to me.
Takes a pretty good dab of ignorance on both sides to waste time fighting about this one. Christmas and X-mas are the same thing. The X stands for Christ in Greek. Just go celebrate people, for whatever reason. This broken world could use a lot more joy, peace, and goodwill (mixed with a fair amount of cheer) than it needs the petty bickering we’re so enthralled with.
Yes it does.
“X-mas” is just ugly looking. Though, it’s never really bothered until I’ve stopped to think -_-
I use Xmas. The X stands for Christ. I’m sure several people above me probably already said that, but I don’t have time to read all the comments right now.
This one I’ve never really thought about, but I can’t say I like abbreviations. In fact - in disgust – I stopped going to Kentucky Fried Chicken when they changed the name to KFC. I eat like I live and love, with things that have meaningful names, not dumb-ass smart-ass acronyms some punk ad man invented to make it look cool. KFC could be making cheap paint for factory walls for all its name now says to me.
no.
and honestly, a lot of people celebrate christmas with gifts and spending money. not jesus. not everybody, of course, but …. a lot of people.
It’s Christmas, CHRISTMAS. It’s funny because the Jews don’t even care, it’s the atheists that fuck it all up for the rest of us.
It doesn’t bother me. I use ‘Xmas’ in emails and Xanga posts.
drisio
It’s Christmas, CHRISTMAS. It’s funny because the Jews don’t even care, it’s the atheists that fuck it all up for the rest of us.
Word up!!! It is, after all, the United States of America, Theocractic extraordinaire– and just as our Christian forefathers wanted, a place where the rights of non-Christians are fucked over.
X actually stands for Jesus Christ so it actually makes sense.
Um, exactly what doubledb said.
People who get upset over Xmas without looking into the reason for using the X are just looking for something to be offended by. They need to educate themselves before they start jumping to conclusions. Its like saying “If its not King James, its not the Bible.” (And yes, I’ve totally seen that on a bumper sticker)
But anyway:
If you look at the tops of old churches, you’ll see a crossed P and X. That’s greek for Chi Ro, which are the first two letters in Christ’s name. Chi is Ch, and Ro is R. So just using the Chi is abbreviating it a little, but its basically still using Christian iconography.
No offense to anybody, but I think Christian groups do a lot to limit acceptance rather than spread it. A personal reason why I don’t follow the Christian faith. I don’t have a problem with god or Jesus, I have a problem with pretentious pricks who believe they have the right to dictate what’s right or wrong.
psh…does it even matter?
Ok Christians shut the fuck up and do your research.
Christ was not born on December 25th.
End of discussion.
The spelling doesn’t matter.
No. The X in Xmas is the closest representation in the Latin (i.e., our) alphabet for the Greek letter chi. Chi is also the first letter in the Greek spelling of the name Christ.
Christians who are bothered by this need to do a little research. And I’m also Christian.
-Guru on the Hill
Damn, Tavia_n_Jones beat me to it. More power to you.
-The Guru
It doesn’t bother me. But why do Atheists celebrate Christmas? That sort of bothers me.
Theologians use the abbreviation “X”mas all the time in reference to the Greek cross.
There are much bigger things to worry about at Christmas time… like feeding all the hungry mouths… instead of where to spend your hundreds and thousands of US Dollars to remind the world how superficial your family’s idea of “Christmas” is, anyway.
Yes it’s annoying for a few reasons. One being they obviously are too lazy to spell out Christmas, and two maybe they have no respect for the true meaning of CHRISTmas.
What I find completely comical is seven or eight people have used the same explanation of the greek letter x, which in essence means Christ. Do people not read the comments and jump to the bottom? Obviously.
What’s even better for me is Christmas is a pagan holiday to begin with. The whole Christmas thing is backwards. Christmas doesn’t actually BEGIN until December 25th. The whole twelve days of Christmas? Yep, it starts the 25th of Dec and follows for the next 11 days. We blow our load on Christmas long before Christmas actually occurs.
The other thing I love is the use of wise men and shepherds in the same manger scene. If people follow the account of the bible for their nativity history, then they would realize that the shepherds and wise men were never near the manger at the same time.
If you want to complain about Christmas, use one of these as your basis for being upset. Personally, I think we make too much hullabaloo about this season. And I peddle Christianity for a living.
Good grief, no. Anyone with a basic knowledge of church history / ancient Greek (which should be anyone who has gone to Sunday School) should know why.
“…then they would realize that the shepherds and wise men were never near the manger at the same time.”
That, and they weren’t “three kings” either. It doesn’t say how many there were, and they are never referred to as kings.
Idiots celebrating a holiday and getting mad at people using “Xmas” when they don’t even read their own Gospels.
Gosh no!
Bother me? Nah, though I do think they should remember why it is Christmas, or at least remember that the X in Xmas stands for the Cross.
X-mas is not a censorship issue. It’s an abbreviation with a long history. X comes from Greek symbol “Chi.”
There’s nothing offensive about the original use of the X. It’s an abbreviation and that’s all it is.
It should also be pointed out that the Liberty Counsel (yes, related to Liberty University and Jerry Falwell, as I’m sure you know) said nothing of the “X-mas” issue.
By the way, it was a professor and the vice-Chancellor of Liberty University that explained the origin of the abbreviation to me… he uses it all the time.
nope. not at all. but then again, i’m atheist.
I think that it’s not right. I’m having anxiety about gift giving and it’s only November. I feel that I’m not teaching my kids the true meaning of Christmas. But that’s just my own Catholic guilt.
It depends on if that is their intent. Like most things, people who use it probably don’t even know why it is abbreviated that way . . . .
Actually, I wish there was a little more Christ in Christmas. Be real. For a large part of the masses, Christmas is about Santa and presents rather than what it was intended to be about. That is sad, because in actuality Christmas started to offset a pagan holiday. (It’s higly doubtful Jesus was born on Dec. 25th!) In a lot of ways, it has become a pagan holiday in and of itself. That bothers me!
and everyone talking about atheists or making fun of christian people, shut up. really. it just makes you look ignorant.
Guess who doesn’t care.
andddd i agree with hum__hallelujah
‘It doesn’t bother me. I’m still going to call it “Christmas” even if I’m not Christian.’
It’s just lazy abbreviation.
uh thats been happening for years. it doesn’t bug me one bit. getting upset about it does bug me though becuase um, really? is that all you have time to think about?
Not in the slightest.
I think those of us who don’t care for what the Christians want, should abbreviate Xmas even more just to piss ‘em off.
XMASXMASXMASXMASXMASXMASXMAS
shtupid…
yes it does.
but to avoid a store because they use it is ridiculous.
but not too much. i’m aware that some people use it because they’re fingers don’t want to put out the effort in typing “christmas”.
I don’t care. X is a symbol for Christ, so… no matter.
naw but christmas just sounds better
NO…why???? Because the X is the Greek word/symbol for Christ. I think we need some Greek scholars to explain that.
It used to. Now, no longer.
Hmm… it always has since it was explained to me that it’s taking Christ out of Christmas, but after reading doubled’s comment.. if that’s true, it doesn’t bother me.
the “christ” in christmas sounds more wholesome somehow. i mean, x was the beginning for christ, but how many people really know that? if their intention really is to censor than they might as well just avoid saying xmas altogether and use “winter/holiday sale”. i don’t say happy holidays, i say merry christmas.
…
and now i just bothered to click on the link. they’re actually making a naughty and nice list of stores that do and don’t mention “christmas”?! i guess it’s not a matter of “x-mas”, but avoiding christmas in advertisements.
this makes it look even more stupid.
?!
wal-mart got on the nice-list because it mentions christmas??
that can’t compensate for diminishing other businesses and child labor.
(sorry fourth comment)
Whats wrong with saying Merry Christmas? It’s like wishing you a good day, only in a seasonal sort of way. But I don’t really care about the Xmas thing. If I am insant messaging I say Xmas because its faster. I think everything remotely formal should say Christmas though. Oh and the people who don’t want Christ in Christmas need to remember that Christ is in fact the reason for the season. Not everyone has forgotten that. ( I know people who are only allowed to go to Christmas parties after the first day of Christmas. It kind of bugs me too that people celebrate Christmas starting in November and pretty much ending like the day after Christmas. Christmas goes until Epiphany a whole twelve day Christmas season.
Knowing that the “X” is used to make fun of Christ (if I have to I can dig up references) makes me not happy about seeing it.
If you are going to take the time to say or write Merry Christmas don’t be lazy about it.
I always thought it was dumb. These things only bother you if you let them bother you. Some people are more bothered by not having anything to complain about.
CHRISTmas.
Wasn’t this asked last year?
Well, the name Christ in certain texts is spelled to begin with an X, so “Xmas” doesn’t bug me at all.
I dislike online abbreviations in general. X-Mas is just lazy and rather stupid. Call it Christmas. And stores need to get over calling it that. How come we can have pictures of menorahs for Hanukkah but only Santa for Christmas. It’s stupid.
Ah tis the season to be folly… I do hate the holidays.
You ask this every year. (:
Nah, it’s no big deal. I’m not a fan of text talk abbreviations of any sort, but it doesn’t offend me or anything.
Well, of course it doesn’t bother non Christians, they don’t care about the Christ that Christmas is about…..the giving of gifts is a symbol of the gift God gave us in His Son Jesus Christ. So of course Christ should not be left out of Christmas. But of course, those who don’t believe in Christ and want to leave Him out will find themselves left out…not in the cold, but in the heat. Ok, pick it apart naysayers!
godlywoman you’re being ridiculous.
the mere fact that you can’t see that christmas really truly in this country has absolutely NOTHING to do with christianity is sad. now, its just all about commercialism.
and arguing over whether or not to be lazy when spelling a word is just stupid >_>
how the fuck does the X make fun of Christ?!? wtf?
lol i agree with bite_me_jerk
i have all the respect i can for Christians that don’t spend all their time arguing to the world petty occurrences related to their faith.
we should say xmas twice as much just to piss them off XD muahahahaha
XMAS!!!!!!!!!!
ps: christians. do some research on the x, greek philosophy people. i believe someone already said what the x means but you should do the research so you can feel dumb in the process =D
First, allow me to say that I am a Christian who knows in my heart that Christ Jesus, the LORD is the reason for any hope, joy, peace, or good will toward all mankind. Having said that, no Jesus was not born in December, no the Maji were not at the manger (olde time word for feeding trough) as they probrably came up to two years later. Now as for those who would be offended at the whole “X-Mas” thing, personally I think you are idiots. These little squabbles do not in any way edify our LORD or His Church. If you have a problem, I suggest that you just continue to follow my lead with what I am about to do.
To all who would trash and dishonor the name of my Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ and incedentally the one who holds YOUR existance in his ever so patient hands, I would like to extend these words to you; Merry Christmas. May your days be filled with hope, joy, peace, and love and may you truly prosper in this world. And once again, Merry Christmas and a blessed new year.
rx_8fan…you missed the point.
people are defending their right to be lazy. nobody is even thinking of dishonoring the name of Jesus or whatever. actually, this whole thing started with christians attacking the abbreviation for no goddamn reason. seems like everyday i hear more bullshit coming from christians who can’t interpret things correctly. like that whole taking harry potter off the shelves bullshit >_> (its a children’s book, lighten up.)
me as a non-christian (you can ignorantly accuse me of atheism if you’d like, i’m tired of convincing people otherwise) find great pleasure in my group of christian friends who aren’t overzealous in their religion; i enjoy those who do not try to force their religion in other words!
or does that not sound familiar?
the point is, stop forcing your religion all over pointless shit. if you really have faith, find something better to do than attack an abbreviation invented by your materialistic america. if you really have faith, an abbreviation THAT MEANS NO HARM TO YOUR GODDAMN RELIGION shouldn’t phase you =) now should it?
<_<
and calling people names just because they don’t agree with you shows how unchristian you are. or maybe it proves you more christian?
>_> whatever.
and yeah i don’t do the whole comment back thing. if you want to have an INTELLIGENT discussion over anything, contact me on aim: miyashu maru.
i’m bored and i need someone to entertain meh for five minutes XD
^^^ “goddamn religion” That made me giggle. Oxymoron, no?
Yes, very much. It’s just another way to eliminate God.
Do we say Xoween? Xterans Day? Nope. And they have more syllables.
Dear morbidFragrance, I was not attacking you, If you took the time to properly read my first post, I said that those who were offended by use of the abbreviation were rather childlike in their approach. In answer to all of the being offended, I just told them they were being silly. So many used the whole X=Christ so that did not need to be restated, again. But if you would like to discuss this we can. I do not believe you are an athiest. I don’t know you, I don’t know your beliefs and so I do not presume to know anything about you, so please do not make presumptions about me. I am not trying to force my faith on you, I mearly wished you the best for your life. Since when is it a bad thing to give someone a wish of good will and joy?
argh. idon’tcare.
i love xmas.
morbidFragrance,
I would love to have an intelligent conversation with you but I am afraid that you are not ready to hear (or read) that which I have to say. I do not have AIM, so that is not even an option. In leiu of that, have a nice evening, you will have to look elsewhere for your “entertainment.”
No, because it still means Christmas. “X” is Roman for Christ. Constantine had a dream about God with the symbol (more accurately an X combined with a P). When he went to war, he put that symbol on his shield and won the battle.
meh. it kind of bothers my inner grammar nazi, but I really would rather we didn’t celebrate “christ” at all.
Nope, Christmas has nothing to do with Christ.
Anyway, it’s sort of like LaX (lacross). The cross, Christ, both similar in symbolism.
RX 8fan
To all who would trash and dishonor the name of my Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ and incedentally the one who holds YOUR existance in his ever so patient hands, I would like to extend these words to you; Merry Christmas. May your days be filled with hope, joy, peace, and love and may you truly prosper in this world. And once again, Merry Christmas and a blessed new year.
How nice of you. =)
Despite its obvious shortcomings, Judeo-Christianity does a good job in propgating warmth & fuzziness.
I don’t mind when people write it down, I just don’t like it whe people say “X-mas” instead of “Christmas”.
What’s wrong with the word “Christmas”?
morbidFragrance, you’re cool. =)
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Ah, pre-season PC stupidity. I love it!
’nuff said….
According to DoubleD, it’s Greek, not Roman. I don’t trust myself remember whether it was Greek or Roman so I would say it’s Greek, but I assumed Roman because I know the symbol started with Constatine. And it’s Christ, not God as I mentioned. Right, and if people (assuming they’re atheists) call Christmas X-mas, so what? If an atheist calls Christmas Christmas, doesn’t that demean the meaning of Christmas by calling it Christmas but don’t believe in Christ? Sort of like using God’s name in vain. But ultimately, we give the word meaning, and the word we use reflects what we believe in. The meaning or concept behind the holiday (or Christmas, X-mas, etc.) is similar. Whether we believe in God or not, the truth is, Christians go shopping have Christmas carols and so on. The commercialism is always there. The point is, I believe you can say what you mean, or have a general term, but in the end, it’s about what we do, and what it means to a certain group or individual.
I have Christmas with my family, and X-mas with my wife.
Honestly, I don’t care. It means the same thing.
not until it became a big thing to say happy holidays instead of merry christmas and all of that…
As a Jew…um…I don’t see the difference? These people should not be worrying about tiny little discrepancies like this, they should spend their time fighting for more worthy causes.
If a person says “happy holidays”, a Christian may obviously be offended at the loss of meaning to Christmas, but maybe the person is atheist. And while a Christian does not agree with an Atheist, they can certainly get along in the real world. Why should it be different here? The person with a different view from “Christ” is simply expressing their views. There is nothing wrong with that, unless it is the Christians who are trying to suppress other people’s opinions, which is a rather shameful history in Christianity.
Or maybe the person who says “happy holidays” is Christian, but wants to respect other people’s beliefs. I believe that is also admirable.
Here’s a thought for those people. It was X-mas long before it was Christmas. The x in x-mas is derived from the greek symbol that was used to denote Christ. How many of those “Christians” would brag that their bibles are direct translations of the Greek bible (one of the oldest known versions). I imagine if these guys would actually take the time to research Christmas traditions, they would find their celebration includes more pegan rituals than Halloween.
No…Xmas and Christmas are the same.
I knew it will come out by this time of the year…
Another thing, this is a very very very very very old argument. It is the same ole thing over and over. UGH!
yeah i am pretty sure the church condones that thing.
i hate christmastime. but also i love winter.
life sucks.
BitterCatharsis, I could not agree more about fighting for worthy causes. There are too many people who are hurting in this world. Too often, and I am guilty of this too, the Evangelical Christian denominations take internal conflict to the court of pubilic opinion, in this case, Xanga. The truth is that there are literally thousands of evangelical churches in the US alone adding up to millions of members, and yet we often fail in the Tasks that our Savior laid out for us. Right now, the tasks I am talking about are ones that anyone from any faith can appreciate. They are clothe the naked, feed the hungry, shelter the homless, and bring the Light of Love in to a dark and cold world. At this time of the year more than any other, people need to know that they are loved. My father is a hospice chaplain, and it always takes me off guard that more elderly people die around the holidays than any other time of the year. Suicides are up as well as domestic disputes and crimes of rage and passion. Somtimes I wonder if it would not be better to just skip the holidays… so much for brotherly love and kindness.
Well…kind of…but i don’t really mind.
no. Holidays is actually more appropriate in the historical sense, anyway. Some Christians really give us a bad name.
I’m a Christian, proud to be one, and I don’t give a rat’s ass on what Christmas called, be it Xmas or Christmas. I just know the real reason for the season! That’s all that matters to me.
And to those who can’t stand organized religion… *yawn*.
That one does both me. I see no reason for them to leave it out.
When I was a kid I never knew why they did it…I just thought they were being lazy.
It pisses me off because it looks retarded
X means christ
so
it’s the same thing
The X is the Greek symbol for Christ, so I don’t know what this group is so up in arms about. I don’t mind that Christians are passionate about what they believe in, but there is such a thing as picking your battles.
> nope
peace
Not me. I know what I’m celebrating. I don’t need commercial America to remind me.
But it is nice when someone there holds it up as well.
not really
I’m a Christian and I don’t mind “xmas” being used. What offends me is censoring all references to Christ during CHRISTmas. It’s stupid to do so even if you don’t believe in God – eliminating tradition to be politically correct is retarded.
OK, uneducated people. The X stands for Christ. It’s not taking Christ out of Christmas. It’s just writing it a different way. Isn’t there enough in the world to actually have our panties in a twist over???
I dont see what the big fuss is all about like another one of your commentors x equals christ… besides it is easier for some people to write
Umm..Not..Really..
Sometimes, it actually just depends on my mood on whether or not abbreviations annoy me…sometimes I’m just like “Why are you so lazy to not spell out the whole word?!” and other times my mood’s like “Whatever, I’m just as lazy as you are, I’m typing it like that too.” Hee hee.
Damn! U cant please anyone these days!
Why should it matter?
Those who insist that the celebration of the holiday has to be their way or the highway make Christianity appear to be a very harsh and judgemental religion. This has the potential of becoming just like any other in group fighting over doctrine. First you can only say “Merry Christmas”, then someone will insist you have to say Merry Christmas in Jesus name. Then will rise up the demand that you can only purchase goods at stores that say Merry Christmas in Jesus name and don’t display any images or references to Santa Claus.
This is petty legalistic religion rearing it’s ugly head. This kind of bull drives people away from religion all together. It is but one other issue that takes the true spirit of the Christian faith out of the holiday.
This “is” a holiday, hopefully a happy one. It is a “season,” there is nothing morally wrong sending people good wishes for a happy holiday season. Trying to imply that anything but the sanctioned greeting is unallowable makes Christians look like the Taliban, and sends thinking caring people running far and fast in the opposite direction.
Goodness. One more reason why people think Christians are crazy.
The ‘christians’ who are offended by the use of X need to educate themselves. X has been used for over 1000 years. Read about it here.
I am amused when people are bothered by it when the word Xmas is a Christian invention, the X being the Greek letter standing for Christ. For a long time, that’s how the word was spelled by the Christian population. Lots of times now I feel like the Christians in this country are just looking for an excuse to cry persecution.
Why the HELL would non-Christians go Christmas shopping? This question is retarded.
No. Christ in Greek is an X with a wavy line over it. . .And it’s faster. I use it all the time.
Something that is funny…. The people that are saying this is offensive prolly have a crucifix hanging from their neck…displayed around their house or at their church…. I’m a Christian, and it doesnt bother me a bit!
Let’s be offensive.
I think it’s funny how Christians are so self-centered when it comes to holidays. They’re upset because some stores are wishing people ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas,’ not even caring that there are other religions out there that don’t celebrate it! If I only shopped at stores that displayed posters saying ‘Happy Hanukkah,’ I’d never be able to leve my house again.
Oy vey.
It’s stupid, it isn’t de-christianizing Christmas.
What is an X? A CRIS-CROSS!
Cris- ChRIStmas, the birth of ChRISt- CHRIST, who died on a CROSS.
Sheesh people!
Oh my gosh, people, get an education.
X is the first letter of the word Christ in Greek.
So, X has been an abbreviation for Christ since about, oh, 50 AD?
I mean, sure, maybe now it makes things more PC, but in all honesty, since when has Christmas been about Jesus anyway?
the x actually stands for the greek word Christ…
so, no.
I agree with Doubledb 100% on this. Besides, I’m a Christian, not a brain-washed moron who does whatever some random group of people want me to do.
Hey, sometimes you get in a hurry and you just don’t have to spell the whole fricken word. It happens. Xmas-Christmas…who gives a fuck people?
“We’re passionate about what we believe in, therefore I think it’s GREAT to see Christians who actually stand up for what they believe in.”
Sadly, a lot of Christians don’t think it’s great when we agnostics/atheists stand up for what *we* believe in. We’re just as passionate as you all, probably more.
Im surprised so many people are disturbed by that…it doesnt bother me either way, it means the same thing
I dont like when people say Happy Holiday,its so generic!
Not at all.
X (chi) was used as an abbreviation for Christ back in the day.
QQ
I understand for the sake of brevity. However, I prefer the proper name be used whenever possible.
Jeez Dan, as a Christian I would have thought you knew that the X was a symbol for Christ. So, whether most people know it or not, Xmas is not, in fact, taking Christ out of Christmas.
yes it sometimes dose bother me.
sorry i don’t put the X under “Christ” in Christmas. thank you.
using an X is an abbreviation, not censorship. Jeez, sometimes I really wish that Christians would seriously shut the hell up, because I’m sick of them making a mockery of themselves and other christians……man.
AND I think Christians need to get over themselves about that movie the Golden Compass. I am a christian, I go to church every week, and I still want to see the movie and I think that they are way extreme, and it pisses me off. It’s fiction! Da Vinci code was fiction! AHHHH!
sorry, needed a good vent.
Don’t care, Dan.
*cough* CULT *cough**cough*
X used to bother me, but then I learned that it comes from a greek symbol (or some other ancient symbol, I’m pretty sure it was greek, but feel free to correct me if you’re an authority on that sort of thing) that means christ.
It bugs me now that people don’t know that.
If they know their facts…they’d know that the X would stand for Christ…and is in no way disrespectful.
No, that’s okay.
What the hell? Writing Xmas isn’t “censoring” Christmas. The X means the Greek letter Chi which stands for Christ. I wish people would get their facts straight.
I read the answer to this in a magazine called Collegiate.
The X represents the Creek letter “chi,” which is the first letter in Xristos, the word for Christ. Because printing wasn’t as easy back then as it is today, it was tedious and expensive because the typesetting had to be done by hand. The church caught on to this and started using the X abbreviation as well (and to save money).
Christmas is about Christ’s birth, for he truly was born, now the calendar has been through a bit of confusion since those times ….But the truth is, that he was truly born and he impacted the world with goodness and eternal life for the the faithful, now what the world has done with this, is beyond me and many more…..but the wise men did bring their gifts and this Holiday Season absolutely started with him, but people are so twisted and materialistic now , they make all kinds of excuses to exclude him from their lives, thats ok but you can’t take him away from CHRISTMAS…..
no, my father (pastor) told me that xmas abbreviation is actually a christian abbreviation… x is supposedly some greek symbol (i think) that I can’t remember.
It may seem that Xmas is an attempt to “cross out Christ” but, in all actuality, it’s another way of writing Christmas, literally. In the Greek alphabet, the letter X (Chi) is used as a way to honor martyrs. There is also the labarum, or the Chi-Rho, is a symbol used to represent Christ. Coincidentally, this symbol resembles an X.
So, Xmas could be seen as an attempt to secularize Christmas, but, for most, it is just another way to honor Christ.
It’s Christmas. I expect the Christmas cards I get to say “Merry Christmas” not “Merry Xmas.” It’s a “Christmas Tree,” not an “Xmas Tree.”
HA, religion.
“hmmm, not really since the greek x stands for christ and that the origin and not an x to cross out the name necessisarily. –doubledb”
It doesn’t bother me for the reason that Daniel stated.
To me it doesn’t really matter. I am a christian but there are lots of other holidays this time of year. Now if a store is will to use other holidays but not Christmas that bothers me but the Happy Holidays stuff doesn’t bother me at all.
Xmas means you’re Xing out the Christ in Christmas….