[net.followup] X in Christmas

svw (01/10/83)

The "X" in Xmas is not a commercial shorthand, but a religious
one. It's some sort of Greek symbol for Christ, I believe.

heliotis (01/11/83)

Yes.  "X" stands for the Greek letter Chi, written X.  The Greek work
for Christ is Chi-Rho-Iota-Sigma-Tau-Omicron-Sigma.

			Jim Heliotis
			    (Chi-Epsilon-Lambda-Iota-Omega-Tau-Eta-Sigma)

CSvax:mab (01/12/83)

The "X" in Xmas is from the Greek for "Christ."  The Greek transliteration
of  "Christ"  begins  with  the character "chi," which is written like the
character "X" in our alphabet.


Matt Bishop
mab@purdue, {decvax|ucbvax}!pur-ee:csvax:mab

woods (01/14/83)

  To Graeme: You must think the "average American" is pretty stupid! 
  Atheism is a religious/philosophical viewpoint and Communism is 
  a political viewpoint. They aren't even remotely alike. Contrary to
  "popular" belief (whatever that is), there is nothing in the Communist
  philosophy about religion at all! 

                        GREG
			ucbvax!hplabs!hao!woods
			menlo70!hao!woods
			harpo!seismo!hao!woods
			decvax!brl-bmd!hao!woods

P.S. I am a capitalist and an agnostic (which is NOT the same as an atheist!)