We who post at ABC Wednesday are lovers of the alphabet, and we are sometimes fascinated by the flexibility of the letter X. It can be used to represent the sacred, the profane (X-rated), and the unknown (X-ray).
How many of you have ever wondered why "XMAS" is used as a short form for the word ''CHRISTMAS"? How many of you really know the reason. Have you ever heard the saying "Jesus is the reason for the season"?
The history of the word "Xmas" is actually quite respectable and predates by centuries its use in gaudy advertisements. X is the Greek letter "chi", the first letter in the word Χριστός. And here's the kicker - Χριστός means "Christ." Using the letter X to represent Christ, known as a "christogram," has been an accepted representation of Christ for hundreds of years.
So, in order to fulfill my promise of a short post this week, may I wish you all MERRY XMAS! The following is not a slideshow, just a Xmas card to you all....but do turn up your sound if you enjoy the song "O Holy Night."
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Thanks for the reminder: Xmas is NOT a dis!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks to Leslie for Xcellent work!
Merry Xmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you. Have a nice holiday with some well deserved peace and happiness. - Margy
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wishes.
ReplyDeleteI wish the same for you and Lorne.
Praying for a Happy and Prosperous New Year for both of you.
Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas - hope this new year is kinder to you than the last one!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Xmas, Leslie! x
ReplyDeleteSo I can use the word "Xmas" ..
ReplyDeleteBut still prefer Merry Christmas , hope you and Lorne have a wonderful day and an even better New Year. x
Lovely post and collage, greeting from Belgium, Wishing you all a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteWonderful, exquisite!
ReplyDeleteSearching for beauty and find hope
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014! Hugs from Spain. Leovi.
Merry Xmas, Leslie! x
ReplyDeleteNice to be reminded of its Greek origin. Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas time.
ReplyDeleteApparently there are also people who believe that the word Xmas stems from a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas", but its use dates back to the 16th century.
ReplyDeleteLoved your card and O Holy Night is one of my favourite carols. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and wish you a wonderful 2014
ReplyDeleteI hate the word Xmas because it's so ugly and even the fact that it is a legitimate name doesn't make me like it more!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you had a great Christmas and that you and Lorne were both well enough to enjoy at least some of it!