# X-mas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 30, 1999, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-mas/43 "1999-04-30T04:53:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 1999, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-mas/43/1 "1999-04-30T04:53:00Z")
My curiosity has been jogged and I fear this question has been posed in the past, but why is Christmas commonly refered to as X-mas? Does it have something to do with the representation of the cross, or just a shorthand created by some lazy columnist? Cecil? * * * The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me. The distinction is yours to draw… Omniscient; BAG ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 1999, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-mas/43/2 "1999-04-30T18:35:00Z")
The Greek letter _Chi_ that looks like a Roman _X_ is represented in Roman alphabets by the letters _CH_, as in Christ, Christmas, Chrism, Chimaera, Chrome, Chorus, Chrysalis, etc. In Ancient Greek paintings, (I don’t know if it appeared in writings), the common ways to abbreviate were to use the first two or three letters (e.g., the Chi-Rho symbol for Christ that looks like a _P_ superimposed on an _X_) or to use the first and last letters, (Chi Sigma to abbreviate **C** risto **s** ). ## X-mas is a derivative of the latter method of abbreviation. _X_ (Chi) simply stands for Christ. Tom ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 1999, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-mas/43/3 "1999-05-06T21:50:00Z")
This was answered by SDStaff Mac in the Mailbag… go to the Archives and search on “XMAS”. Basically, of course, Mac says the same thing that TomnDebb has posted here. Check the archives!