Merry Krishnas!

n.
Christmas.

[From X, the Greek letter chi, first letter of Greek Khrīstos, Christ. See Christ.]

USAGE NOTE Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the X represents a Greek chi, the first letter of Χριστος, "Christ." In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian, "Christian." But people unaware of the Greek origin of this X often mistakenly interpret Xmas as an informal shortening pronounced (ĕks'məs). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas.

Xmas
This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect.

http://wilstar.com/xmas/xmassymb.htm

Thank you for posting that. The reason it was changed to xmas was for commercial reasons. It was cheaper for advertisers to use X instead of Christ because of less letters.

Phoenix,

I realize that, but it became more in the public eye when advertisers started using it, don't you think?

dys,

I would think you could say the same thing of the non-believers, etc.? Don't you think the Christians might think you are trying to put your spin on things? It seems no matter what we say about something, someone counters it with something opposite.

I think your head is stuck in the other end of the elephant.