Although there are Christians who find the term offensive because it removes the name of Jesus Christ, history reveals that the exact opposite is true.
With the arrival of the end of year festivities, a recurring cultural debate returns: is the use of “Xmas” a disrespectful or secularized replacement for “Christmas”? Critics often argue that the abbreviated form removes Christ from the celebration. Historians and theologians, however, claim that this interpretation is incorrect and ignores centuries of Christian tradition.
The controversy surrounding “Xmas” is not new. Public objections to the term go back at least as far as mid 20th century. In 1957, the League of Churches of America’s News and Views magazine published an article titled “X = The Unknown Quantity,” suggesting that the abbreviation diminished Christianity.
The idea was later promoted by Gerald LK Smith, a political firebrand and clergyman known for spreading conspiracy theories. Smith denounced “Xmas” as blasphemous, claiming that erased the name of Christ.
In fact, the “X” in “Xmas” comes directly from early Christian practice. The New Testament was originally written in Greekwhere Christ’s name appears as Christos (Χριστός). The first letter of the word is the Greek letter qui (Χ), which is very similar to the Roman letter “X”, explains .
From the earliest centuries of Christianity, scribes used the X as a reverential abbreviation for the name of Christ, particularly in manuscripts where space was limited. Far from being irreverent, the symbol was considered sacred. Early Christians also used the Chi-Rho symbol (☧), formed by the Greek letters qui and rho, as a secret sign of faith during periods when Christianity was prohibited in the Roman Empire.
The abbreviation arrived in English long before modern cultural debates. One of the first records of use dates back to 1021 AD, when an Anglo-Saxon scribe wrote “XPmas” to save parchment. Over time, spelling evolved. In the 16th century, variants such as “X’temmas” appeared in official documents, including a letter written during the reign of King Edward VI of England. Literary uses followed, with poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge referencing “Xtmas” in an 18th century poem.
Scholars note that “Xmas” was never an attempt to remove Christ from Christmas, but rather reflects an ancient Christian abbreviation rooted in the original language of scripture.
