Christmas Quote by Andrea Barham
““At school, my religious-education teacher expressly forbade us to write "Xmas." It was regarded as a foul blasphemy. How would I like it if people used an anonymous X in place of my name? However, it would seem that the word "Xmas" is not blasphemous after all. In the original Greek, "Christ" was written "Xristos," but the X isn't the Roman "ecks"; The Cassell Dictionary of Word Histories explains that it is the Greek letter "chi" (pronounced with a k to rhyme with "eye"--k'eye). The x is simply a stand-in for "the first letter of Greek Khristos--Christ." Indeed, the Chi-Rho (CH-r--the first two syllables of "Christ") illumination can be seen in the ancient Irish manuscript of the Gospels, The Book of Kells, which is housed at Trinity College in Dublin. This work dates back to the ninth century. Of course, strictly speaking, Xmas" should still be pronounced "Christmas" because it's an abbreviation, not an alternative word.””
About This Quote
The abbreviation X‑mas derives from the Greek letter chi representing Christ, not a blasphemous term.
In simple terms: Xmas is a shorthand for Christ, not a curse.
Key Takeaway
Recognize cultural origins before judging language.
Themes
religion
language
history
culture
abbreviation
Mood
thoughtful
curious
Type
explanatory
historical
When to use this quote
- education
- writing
- public signage
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Greek chi
Christian symbolism
semantic shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How does understanding etymology change our perception of words?
- Should tradition dictate language usage?
A Different Perspective
Critics may still view it as disrespectful despite historical basis.
