為什麼X`mas會是Christmas的簡寫?

　

Xmas

[From X, the Greek letter chi, first letter of Greek Khrstos, 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, “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 (ksms). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas.


Xmas幾百年來使用在宗教書寫上，因為在希臘文中，X代表著chi，也就是基督（Christ）這個字的字首。這種用法與Xtian代表著Christian（基督教徒）的用法是一樣的。但很多人不曉得原來 X 這個字的字源是來自於希臘文，因此以為 Xmas的是不正式的縮寫，而將發音唸成 'x'-'mas'，甚至還有人認為 Xmas 是因為商業方便而將 Christmas 中的 Christ 直接寫成X。這些都是錯誤的想法。