Why I Don't Go Ballistic Over Xmas

When I refer to the religious festival, secular holiday, or commercial bonanza that happens this time of year, I write "Christmas." Not "Xmas." That's because I'm fairly fast at key-entry, like the 'sound' of "Christmas," and don't want to upset folks who feel bad when they see "Xmas."

Counting the title, I've written "Xmas" three times so far in this post. Four with that last sentence.

Not because I'm trying to make anybody feel bad, but because I've seen discussions of "Xmas" in various places. Some apparently more informed than others.

I've run into a few explanations for why some folks write "Xmas" when they mean "Christmas:"

• People are lazy
• It's an attack on Christianity
• The X in Christmas is
  • St. Andrew's Cross
  • The Greek Letter Chi, expressed in our Latin-derived alphabet

I don't doubt that some folks, when they write "Xmas," intend to 'attack' Christianity. Or at least are trying to annoy tightly-wound Christians. Some folks may write "Xmas" in an effort to avoid writer's cramp. The version I heard first, and give some credence to, is that the "X" is a reference to St. Andrew's cross. Which, by tradition, was shaped more-or-less like an "X." (More about that in the background articles, at the end of this post.)

I won't insist on that explanation, since I haven't verified it. The 'X means Chi' explanation makes sense to me, too: but again, I haven't thoroughly researched the matter.

Again, I prefer to write out "Christmas." But, like I said in this post's title, I don't go ballistic when I see "Xmas." There are many possible explanations for why a particular person might use that abbreviation. And besides, if I must get upset: I'd rather pick a less ambiguous target.

Which reminded me (ADHD, remember?):

We Worship the Post Exchange?!

Considering how many Christian churches have a labarum, or chi-rho symbol, prominently displayed in the sanctuary, I'm a little surprised that I haven't run into someone claiming that 'those people' worship a Post Exchange, sometimes referred to as the PX. (See AAFES/Post Exchange (Mini-Mall): "The Post Exchange (PX) is a modern self-service shoppette....")

Colorful as the idea of people worshiping a PX is, the Chi-Roh symbol predates the American military, the Norman Invasion, the fall of the Roman Empire, and the conversion of Emperor Constantine.

The labarum, or chi-rho, been a Christian symbol for a long time, and represents the first two letters of my Lord's title, Christ, as expressed in the Greek language (Catholic Encyclopedia) - and subsequently picked up by barbarians who were using variations on the Latin alphabet. A lot can happen in two millennia. And has. And that's another topic.

Almost-related posts:

• "Demons aren't Dull"
  (November 30, 2010)
• "When 'Secret' Doesn't Mean 'Secret:' The Vatican Secret Archives"
  (November 12, 2010)
• "Halloween, Emperor Palpatine, Electric Eyeballs, and Getting a Grip"
  (October 29, 2010)
• "Apathy is Rampant, But Who Cares?"
  (October 4, 2010)
• "God's Creation: He Seems to Think Big"
  (September 23, 2010)

Background:

• "Andrew, the Protoclete"
  Benedict XVI, General Audience (June 14, 2006)
• "St. Andrew"
  Catholic Encyclopedia, via New Advent
• "Labarum (Chi-Rho)"
  Catholic Encyclopedia, via New Advent