X-MAS

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

It's begun.  The battle of Salutations.  "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Holidays!" 

But there is another battle that wages during this time of year:  "Christmas!" or "X-MAS!"

At least I assumed it was another battle.  I become irritated every time I see 'X-MAS' instead of 'Christmas.'  Do you?  Every time I see it, I think, 'The world is erasing Christ from Christmas!'  But are they?

It was time to finally research this out.

I was surprised by what I found.

According to Dictionary.com "the abbreviation predates, by centuries, the gaudy advertisements. It was first used in the mid-1500's. X represents the Greek letter Chi, the initial letter in the word, Xpiotos.

(Christos) Xpiotos means 'Jesus Christ.' 'X' has been an acceptable representation of the word of Christ for hundreds of years. Other abbreviations for Christ include Xt and Xp, the P here representing the Greek letter rho, the source of our letter R.  A stylized version of the Greek chi (X) and the rho (P) is a symbol of Christ called a Christogram.  Just as the dignified terms Xpian and Xtian have been used in place of the word Christian."

That explains the X.  Now the MAS-

Dictionary.com continues, " The -mas in Xmas comes from the Old English word for mass, as in a church service, especially the Roman Catholic Church."

And there you have it, a little history lesson for today.

I confess, even though I now know the definition behind the abbreviation, I will still choose 'CHRISTMAS!' 

Not everyone will research the meaning behind the things they see, and I don't want any confusion when it comes to my faith in Christ and why I celebrate Christmas each year.

For me, I choose, 'Merry Christmas! '..

    No abbreviations, no shortcuts...

        Just Christ...

            But that's just me!

" A little child, a shining star, A stable rude, a door ajar.

Yet in that place, so crude, forlorn, the Hope of all the world was born!" Anonymous