The term “Xmas” originates from Christian symbolism, not secular abbreviation.
Origin
- The “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi (Χ), which is the first letter of “Χριστός” (Christos) — meaning Christ in Greek.
- Early Christian scribes used “Χ” (Chi) as a sacred abbreviation for Jesus Christ, often combined with “Ρ” (Rho) to form the Chi-Rho (☧) symbol — one of the oldest symbols of Christianity.
Evolution
- By the 11th century, “X” was commonly used as shorthand for “Christ” in religious writings (e.g., “Xpian” for “Christian”).
- “Xmas” appeared in English texts from the 16th century, fully meaning Christmas, not removing Christ from it.
Summary
- “Xmas” = “Χ-mas” = “Christ-mas”
- The “X” is Greek Chi, not an attempt to secularize the term.
- Only in modern times (20th century onward) did people misinterpret “Xmas” as “removing Christ from Christmas.”