Saturday, April 27, 2013

X is for Xmas.

But first, a brief, though affeXionate Xplanation about the perhaps less than Xceptional quality of this Xample of my Xpression. Dr. Pat Xplained on Wednesday that my Xcellent immune system had an unXpected encounter with some Xsisting pneumonia germs and I've been busy with the blitzkrieg to banish them. Now, on to X . . .

XMAS.
I remember hearing worried adults pontificating that using the word Xmas was an attempt to remove Christ from Christmas. Well, worry no more, ladies and gents. X is actually a substitute for the word Christ, as it derives from the first Greek letter of Christ, chi, which looks similar to the roman letter x.

Much ado about nothing, I say.

There was a time in the history of my Christmases that no one gave a second thought to the origins of the Christmas tree, or worried that belief in Santa Claus might undermine a child's faith in God (!), or freaked out about whether to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, or saw that discussion as an attack on one's beliefs. Oy vey, Xmas has gotten complicated.

While I'm not going to head out and pick up Merry Xmas cards, it is an awfully handy abbreviation for texting and quick notes and signs. Never mind that Xmas has even gone pretty much by the wayside these days for the more inclusive term Holidays. 

Whatever you celebrate, whenever you celebrate it, whatever you call it, make it meaningful and wondrous. 

What is your take on the word Xmas?

    E  F  G  H   I  J      N   O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

4 comments:

Jocelyn Rish said...

I think X is my least favorite letter when doing the A to Z Challenge. And I agree that all the handwringing and pearl-clutching about PC terms for the holiday is out of control. All I want to do is wish people happiness for the season, and now I have to worry so much that I might offend someone with the wrong term (since now there even seems to be a backlash against Happy Holidays) that it's easier just to stay quiet. Bah humbug! Hope you're feeling better!!

Anonymous said...

Hope you feel better soon. Very happy that Xmas has featured in AtoZ as it's my favourite celebration. Take care.

Rob-bear said...

I do hope you are better soon. Being sick benefits no one but the germs causing the problem.

I hope your Christmas becomes joyful and deeply creative, again.

Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting

sherilee said...

I love all things Xmas or Christmas or holidays or whatever! It's just a great time of year, and a great choice for X for A-Z, too!

Feel better soon. Your first paragraph made me smile.