Why is the "x" in Xmas capitalized?

All holidays I’ve seen are capitalized. I don’t think it has much to do with the content of the “X”.

The Chi Rho is one of the earliest symbols for the Christian religion.

It is formed by superimposing the first two letters of the word “Christ” in Greek, chi = ch and rho = r. Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ.

The Greek letter Chi looks like what we call an X, So Xmas is an effective abbreviation for Christmas, and we wouldn’t lower-case Christ or Christmas, so it’s capitalized. Here’s a little more on the etymology of Xmas.

Ironically, there are those who say that the rampant use of “Xmas” is a way to “take the Christ out of Christmas.” It is apparent that they haven’t looked very close at their own religion’s history. ;)

I was always taught exactly what @laureth wrote.

I actually realised that I knew the answer after I already posted the question. It’s early.

Thanks!

@laureth that is a much better answer than what I grew up knowing to be the right answer, that X was simply an abbreviation for Christ/cross (of course why wouldnt t/T be better). Still remember some religious nut freaking out about abbreviating Christ which in her mind was worthy of typing out every single time.

Maybe it’s because Xmas has the X factor. Whatever that is.

Because it is a proper noun, it should be capitalized.

Huh – I was totally of the mind that it was the “taking Christ out of it” combined with the “proper noun” reasons.

I’ve been schooled by @laureth – something I always can appreciate.

@laureth I once worked with a woman who would go on daily rants around this time of year on how The Liberals were taking Christ out of Christmas. I finally snapped and went off on her for 20 minutes, saying what you said, which I learned at my Christian private school….

@TheOnlyNeffie Why were you modded for using it?

@papayalily because it needed to be capitalized, and I never remember to capitalize it. Although I already knew what @laureth said, somehow my brain failed to recognize it as a proper noun. I’ll just go back to saying giftmas.

@TheOnlyNeffie ::snort:: I like that…

Χριστός: Here’s the Greek. Chi, rho, iota, sigma, tau, omicron, sigma. (Christos).

My father, a man of faith who was also a teacher of theology, would not allow anyone in his family to write “Xmas” (including on boxes of ornaments being packed away) even though he knew exactly what its origin was, as @laureth explained. And yet in his notes he used the abbreviation “Xty” for “Christianity.”

I was past 40 and my father had been gone for years when I finally shed enough guilt to go ahead and write “Xmas” on boxes of decorations and wrapping paper (much more efficient), but I still cannot wish someone a Merry Xmas.

Names of specific holidays are “proper nouns.” Proper nouns are capitalized, indicating that they refer to a specific named thing, rather than a creative use of words using only their meanings.

(Why schools seem to have stopped teaching about proper nouns and the practice of capitalizing them, I don’t know, despite having asked the question and having received many answers about it on Fluther.)

@Zaku I think you’re reading too far into this. I obviously realise that Christmas should be capitalized.
As an atheist I spell god with a lowercase “g”, I do not use it as a proper noun. I think that in that process somewhere I had a brain fart and assumed I could do the same with the “x” in xmas, Despite already knowing what @laureth posted, I still managed to confuse myself. In the meanwhile, I’ve come to realise that neither “Xmas” or “Christmas” suit me. I know that proper nouns should be capitalized, I did learn that in school.

Ok. :-)

The same reason Fluther is capitalized. They are both important.

If I give a name to the third dirt clod on the fourth step on my back stairs, its name would be capitalized too, even if the unnamed boulder blocking my front door were more important.

@TheOnlyNeffie you should use Yuletide instead. And then bang on about the hijacking of the festival by Christians, and how they’ve taken the Yule out of Yuletide ;)