Putting the X back in X-mas

*sigh* Every year it happens. This year I read it in a letter published in the Winona Daily News over the weekend from a young girl who's a student at St. Martin's lutheran school. She was bemoaning the use of the term "xmas" instead of "Christmas" and saying how it took away from the religious aspect of the holiday, secularizing it. According to her, it was unchristian and unreligous to say or write "xmas." What she, and others, obviously don't know is the origin of the "x" in "xmas." The original Greek spelling of Christ's name was "Xristos." So the "x" in xmas is simply meant to represent Christ, not to replace him with something else or an unknown (this ain't an algebraic equation). "Xmas" may be a shortened version of "Christmas" --and these days everyone seems to be shortening everything up for email and text messaging purposes -- but it's not meant to be anti-Christian.

Of course, I don't blame the young girl who wrote the letter. The WDN pointed out where she attended school. I have some personal experience with St. Martin's lutheran church, and they certainly indoctrinated me with a lot of disinformation over the years.

Merry Xmas, everyone!