The “X” in “Xmas” Doesn’t Take the “Christ” Out of “Christmas”
Myth: “Xmas” is a non-religious name / spelling for “Christmas”.
It turns out, “Xmas” is not a non-religious version of “Christmas”. The “X” is actually indicating the Greek letter “Chi”, which is short for the Greek
, meaning “Christ”. So “Xmas” and “Christmas” are equivalent in every way except their lettering.
Although writing guides such as those issued by the New York Times; the BBC; The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style; and Oxford Press discourage the use of XMas in formal writing, at one time, it was a very popular practice, particularly with religious scribes. In fact, the practice of using the symbol “X” in place of Christ’s name has been going on amongst religious scholars for at least 1000 years.
Eventually, this practice spread to non-religious writings. Pretty much everywhere “Christ” appeared in a word, the Greek Chi would replace that part of the word. For example, in the 17th and 18th centuries, there are numerous non-religious documents containing instances of “Xine” being a common spelling for someone who’s name was Christine.
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1965 - Ben Stiller
1947 - David Mamet
1937 - Ridley Scott
1874 - Winston Churchill
1667 - Jonathan Swift
It turns out, “Xmas” is not a non-religious version of “Christmas”. The “X” is actually indicating the Greek letter “Chi”, which is short for the Greek
, meaning “Christ”. So “Xmas” and “Christmas” are equivalent in every way except their lettering.Although writing guides such as those issued by the New York Times; the BBC; The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style; and Oxford Press discourage the use of XMas in formal writing, at one time, it was a very popular practice, particularly with religious scribes. In fact, the practice of using the symbol “X” in place of Christ’s name has been going on amongst religious scholars for at least 1000 years.
Eventually, this practice spread to non-religious writings. Pretty much everywhere “Christ” appeared in a word, the Greek Chi would replace that part of the word. For example, in the 17th and 18th centuries, there are numerous non-religious documents containing instances of “Xine” being a common spelling for someone who’s name was Christine.
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Now you Know
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Granny Knows
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1965 - Ben Stiller
1947 - David Mamet
1937 - Ridley Scott
1874 - Winston Churchill
1667 - Jonathan Swift
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Birthday Boy Ben Stiller
I don't have a burning desire to be taken seriously as an actor. I don't have a master plan in that way.
Ben Stiller
I don't think know if anything's going to translate anywhere. You're making a movie, you hope it's going to be funny, you can't think about how it's going to go over.
Ben Stiller
I don't think the public is dying to see me necessarily be funny all the time.
Ben Stiller
I enjoy the work I do in comedies. It's a valid test of your creative abilities.
Ben Stiller
I grew up wanting to make movies, and along the way I suddenly found that I had a career doing comedy.
Ben Stiller
I have a lot of nervous energy. Work is my best way of channelling that into something productive unless I want to wind up assaulting the postman or gardener.
Ben Stiller
I just watched Paul Michael Glaser. He was the reason I wanted to do the movie because as a kid I was such a big fan of his. I watched all the episodes and tried to get a feeling for what he was doing.
Ben Stiller
I would like to do more dramas when I find a good role that will allow me to politely upset people's expectations of me as a comic actor.
Ben Stiller
I'm always willing to endure humiliation on behalf of my characters.
Ben Stiller
I'm not an expert on the Malaysian sense of humor.
Ben Stiller
I've had a very good career and I'm grateful that the public has had some level of acceptance and appreciation of my work.
Ben Stiller
If you look at my eyes when I'm dancing, you'll see that glazed look.
Ben Stiller
It was a mixed blessing to have famous parents. It was tough to go to auditions and be bad, since I couldn't be anonymous.
Ben Stiller
Jim Carrey, a comic genius, has a harder time overcoming the public's desire for him to be funny simply because he's so good at it.
Ben Stiller
