People's minds blown after figuring out why Christmas is sometimes called Xmas

21 December 2023 , 09:00

1005     0

Experts have revealed the etymology of 'Xmas' (Stock Photo) (Image: Getty Images)

Whether people call the big day Christmas or Xmas is personal, and will likely cause debate - but did you know there was a reason that sometimes the name is shortened?

For some, Christmas is the only way they want to write it, but others will use Christmas and Xmas interchangably without even thinking twice about it. But not everyone is familiar with the etymology behind the words - and some make their pick not knowing the difference between them. If you're confused, you aren't the only one, as lots of people are only just finding out the different origins behind the two terms.

At the same time, others are just realising that both hold religious meaning, contrary to the popular belief Xmas is a secular version of its longer counterpart. If this sounds a little confusing, fear not, as the experts at Dictionary.com are on hand to help.

A post on the website explains that '-mas' comes from the old English word for mass. So far, so good - most people will have noticed the reference to the church service. Equally, the origins of 'Christ' in Christmas are simple to understand. But what about the X that replaces 'Christ' in Christmas?

Well, Xmas was used as an abbreviation as early as the mid-1500s, according to Dictionary.com. The experts explain: "X represents the Greek letter the initial letter in the word Χριστός (Chrīstos). And what does Χριστός mean? '(Jesus) Christ.'"

Viral sausage roll debate leaves Brits confused about how to order at Greggs

Dictionary.com adds that X has been widely accepted as a representation of the word Christ for hundreds of years, with its common usage explaining why the word sometimes appears in the abbreviated form.

Regardless, for some Christians, it is important to use the word that centres 'Christ', as they do not want to remove the true meaning of Christmas. But others are happy to use the X form, with its religious connotations.

How people choose to use the two words is personal, however, earning the origins of the words is a good first step. For lots of people, the reason Christmas is sometimes called Xmas is new knowledge. You only have to browse X, formerly to find a range of tweets from social media users keen to understand the difference. Elsewhere on TikTok, viewers have previously been left stunned by videos dedicated to the topic.

In a post about 'Xmas' and why it is often seen as secular word for Christmas - one that reflects the holiday's more commercialised aspects - @thepiosilva said: "The real origin of the X comes from the Greek name for Christ himself, if you were referring to Christ as Christos or Chi (X) in Greek." In response, one viewer said: "Thank you, my whole life has been a lie", while a second replied "Mind-blowing."

Danielle Kate Wroe