Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Why is There an "X" in Christmas?

I am sorry I didn't get to blog last night.  I was on the phone with a friend--one of them who could really use the prayers and, well, just let me shout "GOD IS AWESOME!"  lol!  So, yes, I thank you very much for your prayers.  The situation has worked itself out in my friend's favor, at least for the time-being.

Now, for a little bit of business.  I was asked where the KNK Swap is held.  When you are on the Paperthread's Forum, scroll down to the bottom of the screen.  Where it says "Wanna Swap" is where the swaps are hosted.

And if you are hesitant to join us, please set those fears aside!  It's an awesome way to learn your software and, at the end of the swap, it's just like your birthday with lots of presents.  Yep, you get to play with your software, get the satisfaction of making your own file, and you get free files just for playing along.  It doesn't get better than that!

Oh, and if you don't have a KNK or KNK Studio GE, and you want to play too, just let me know and I'll host a different kind (AI, GSD, SVG, or WPC).  How cool is that?

And, now for a bit of timely trivia.  Why is there an "X" in Christmas (as in X-mas)? 

The first person to correctly tell me the answer will get their choice of a free file and all those who guess will go into a drawing for a free file.  You can comment here or send me an e-mail at ijr41ug @ yahoo.com (please, take out the spaces).

Until then, Happy Creative Time!

14 comments:

concretenprimroses said...

X is a symbol representing the cross and therefore Christ. So Xmas truly is a legitimate abbreviation of Christmas. I don't know for sure but I suspect that whenever it cameinto use was a time when most people were illiterate and such a short cut using a symbol was meaningful and helpful. I think I learned this as a child.
Kathy

Kelly S said...

Thanks for asking the question. I had never really thought about it before. After doing some searching online, I found this:

It appears that the X is the first letter of the word Xtos (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ), which in Greek is the word for Christ.

Sue aka barracudasue said...

I have NO idea why THERE is an x in CHRISTmas but I HATE that!!!!! There's not too many things I feel that strongly about but putting an X in place of the TRUE meaning of CHRISTmas really gets a nerve going. As much as I'd love to win a file from you, I am NOT curious as to WHY! I think ALL things concerning CHRISTmas SHOULD include the entire phrase! There, that's my thoughts on this X thing....

AHHHHH, I feel better now. :)

Sue aka barracudasue said...

fact; it appears that the X is really the first letter of the word Xtos (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ), which in Greek is the word for Christ.

NOW that I went a head and looked it up, I feel like a fool! I NEVER knew.... Now, I'm not SO mad about it. I just thought they were leaving Christ out of Christmas...

I'm SORRY.......

Rockin Robin Caldwell said...

Ileana...love your "challenge" question. I think the answer has to do with the greek name for Christ, which is Xristos. I guess it is used as an abbreviation. Some people think that it's an atheist "slam" since they don't seem to like the word Christ. I am hoping that it's the "Greek reason". Hugs, Rockin Robin C

Sandy Hentzel said...

the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as "Christ"

tonyakaye said...

X represents a Greek chi, the first letter of , “Christ.”

momof5 said...

I did previously send you an email with my answer, but thought I would post a comment here as well.

The greek letter 'x' is the first letter for the greek word for Christ, Xristos.
Xmas therefore means "Christ's Mass"

momof5 said...

I previously sent you an email with the answer, but thought I would post a comment here as well.

The greek letter 'x' is the first letter for the greek word for Christ, Xristos.
Xmas therefore means "Christ's Mass"

Carol's stuff said...

X is the fist letter in the Greek word for Christ :-)

Anna said...

I was told and then I looked it up that in Greek the "X" is the first Greek letter of the word "Christos", Christ.

Ileana said...

Normally, I do not publish the comments when I'm having a contest because I don't want people to see somebody else has guessed and not to guess themselves but tonight I'm making an exception.

You can still guess!!! I'll close the contest when I blog tomorrow.

Lisa Avolio said...

What a great question! Great for ESOL students (or teachers), too! It's an ancient form-
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Xmas

Xmas "Christmas," 1551, X'temmas, wherein the X is an abbreviation for Christ in Christmas, from first letter of Gk. Christos "Christ" (see Christ). The earlier way to abbreviate it was Xp- or Xr-, corresponding to "Chr-," and the form Xres mæsse for "Christmas" appears in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" (c.1100).

So glad to hear your friend could enjoy God's work in her situation.

Human to Bear, Boris & Tasha said...

Thanks for those who looked it up, I never knew... thought it was just a lazy writer one day started it and it caught on to save writing the Xtra letters....LOL