Christmas is sometimes shortened to Xmas, but the medieval origins behind the festive abbreviation may surprise you. Let’s take a closer look at the history of the word
Ever pondered why Christmas gets shortened to Xmas? Against common assumptions, it’s not simply down to the cross and Christ sounding alike.
The X was actually once a sacred symbol representing Jesus – stretching back to the medieval period. It comes as money expert Martin Lewis urged people not to splurge on ‘unnecessary presents’.
Dictionary.com clarifies: “X represents the Greek letter chi the initial letter in the word Χριστός (Chrīstos). And what does Χριστός mean?'(Jesus) Christ’.”
Meanwhile, the word “mas” stems from the ancient English term for mass (a form of Church service). Combine the two and voilà – Xmas!
These days, the spiritual significance has faded for many. The expression ‘Xmas’ tends to be employed more as a shorthand.
Merriam-Webster dictionary clarifies: “(It’s) now used chiefly for brevity in advertisements, headlines, etc.” Alternative terms for the Christian celebration include Noel, Christmastide, Nativity or Yuletide.
Or if you fancy some slang, how about Chrimbo or Crimble?
While the first can be traced back to 1928, the second represents contemporary British slang that The Beatles helped popularise.
John Lennon reportedly coined the expression in the group’s 1963 Beatles Fan Club Christmas single.
The more you know.
It comes as Brits have been warned plans to visit Christmas markets in the first week of December might be called off due to heavy snowfalls. Advanced weather models indicate as much as seven inches of snow will cause mayhem in some areas of the UK.
The GFS model maps show a weather front moving in from the Atlantic, initially sweeping across Northern Ireland and Scotland in the early hours of December 3.
Heavy snow is expected to fall in central and northern parts of Scotland, whereas Northern Ireland looks set for intense rain.
Yuletide revellers might want to bear these weather warnings in mind if they plan on visiting Christmas markets, especially those venturing to the UK’s most popular in Edinburgh.
The renowned Christmas market, which adorns East Princes Street Gardens, has joined a list of more than 30 European countries expected to offer visitors that authentic and sought-after white Christmas.
By midday on December 3, the maps show snow slowly making its way southward, with 1cm per hour flurries drifting towards the Scotland-England border. Snow is then expected in the far north-east of England by 3pm.
A second weather front is then tracked to move in from the Atlantic in the early hours of December 4, this time hitting Wales and central England. Intense snow is expected for a brief period in North Wales, with heavy rain coming down elsewhere.