Why Xmas = Christmas

Some folks believe that the use of “Xmas” in place of “Christmas” is disrespectful – or even a deliberate attempt to secularize the holiday. But this abbreviation is nothing new. It’s been used since ancient times, with written references going back at least a thousand years.

So why the X?

The Greek word for Christ starts with the letter “chi,” which is represented by an X in the Greek alphabet. In early manuscripts of the New Testament, Christ’s name was often abbreviated as X. And in the Middle Ages, “Xian” and “Xianity” were used to shorten Christian and Christianity.

(Source: Snopes)

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