Xmas

[faxonfive]

So my kids asked me why some call Christmas – XMAS?

Well:

Christmas is also sometimes called Xmas. Some people don’t think it’s correct to call Christmas ‘Xmas’ as that takes the ‘Christ’ (Jesus) out of Christmas. But that is not quite right! In the Greek language and alphabet, the letter that looks like an X is the Greek letter chi (pronounced ‘kye’ – it rhymes with ‘eye’) which is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Christos.

The symbol of a fish is sometimes used by Christians (you might see a fish sticker on a car or someone wearing a little fish badge). This comes from the time when the first Christians had to meet in secret, as the Romans wanted to kill them (before Emperor Constantine became a Christian). Jesus had said that he wanted to make his followers ‘Fishers of Men’, so people started to use that symbol.

When two Christians met, one person drew half a basic fish shape (often using their foot in the dust on the ground) and the other person drew the other half of the fish. The Greek word for fish is ‘Ikthus’ or ‘Ichthys’. There are five Greek letters in the word. It can also make up a sentence of Christian beliefs ‘Ie-sous Christos Theou Huios So-te-r’ which in English means “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour”. The second letter of these five letter is X or Christos!

So Xmas can also mean Christmas!

I didnt know that!!!

[suey]

There you go you learn something every day! 🙂

[mdowdy]

Neither did I Lynn. Interesting

[faxonfive]

I know!! I always didnt like writing Xmas either.

[jaime]

I never liked using the X either…now I know…thanks! Love the tree one too 🙂

[tsgal]

Thanks Lynn, I never knew this either. But I still like using Christ…..That’s the one that I can read. Don’t know much about Greek…..

[mcnerd]

The symbol of the fish of course comes from being in the Age of Pisces (Fish)

[faxonfive]

Yes McNerd the symbol is used for that too 🙂

[mcnerd]

It’s more than “used for that too” since the Age of Pisces is the Age of Christianity. They are one in the same. It is said that Jesus was born a few days after the start of the Age and the bible states that he will be with us until the end of the Age. The interesting part is that the Age ends in four years.

[wilbe95]

Thank you McNerd for the explaination. Interesting that it will end in four years (2012). My 12 year old is fascinated with some of the concepts of what 2012 will hold for the world.

[faxonfive]

Thank you McNerd for that update! Will keep that in mind for the future 🙂

[mcnerd]

Even more interesting is that we are living in the period of the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Interesting times for sure and the future of mankind is a positive one despite the bad times ahead.

I can’t help but be reminded of the 1984 movie sequel ‘2010’ which ends with a 2nd Sun in the horizon and the monolith shown then to be on Earth, an indication that it will be the next to change and be reborn. Fantasy? Perhaps, but it depends on your own research.

What does your son say on the subject?

[wilbe95]

Fro awhile is was the “doomsday effect” for 2012. Was recently reading book and has changed his mind that 2012 will be a new beginning for Earth as we have known it to be.

[mcnerd]

If one doesn’t do any research, it is ‘doomsday’ in people’s minds for sure, but if one digs deeper and searches out the facts, then a peace of mind is achieved.

[faxonfive]

Thank you 🙂 hope it brings peace to me – I need it!!

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