Christmas V Xmas

[DiddlyDodds]

As you will all know we are "Turning American" (in the 80's we were "Turning Japanese" but that's a different story) with the terms we use and seem to accept on a daily basis , last week i heard a news presenter say "Math" instead of Maths and i found myself shouting at the TV "sssssssssss wheres the S", so anyway here's my question




Who on here is happy with "Xmas" and who is still sticking to the correct (in my opinion) "Christmas" , it only takes 0.0003 of a second to say the full word so why the change.




Are you an Xmas of a Christmas person

 

[asterix]

Hogmanay. What's with the 'Christmas' thing?

 

[benb]

It's hardly an Americanism. Xmas has been around since the 1700s and was used by such quintessential Americans as Coleridge, Byron, and Lewis Carroll.

It should however always be spoken as Christmas, never Xmas.

 

[gavroche]

I don't like Christmas, it comes round too often.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Well that shuts me up then ,,

 

[XmisterIS]

I pronounce both as "christmas", I don't think I've heard anyone pronounce "xmas" as it's actually written, that would sound silly!

 

[biggs682]

always christmas but quite often xmas so either , and its way to early in year to discuss this subject bah humbug

 

[mr_hippo]

In December, the shops are always packed and Christmas shopping is hell. Shops are not packed in October so why not bring Christmas forward to October and everyone will be able to do their Christmas shopping in peace?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Has to be CHRISTmas

 

[Norm]

If you look into the origin of "Xmas", I think you'll discover something which may be even older than America.

The X (or Chi in Greek) is possibly even one of the derivations of the word Christ, with the Chi Rho (XR from the Greek) being used as one of the very earliest christograms.

I still don't like "Xmas", though that's mainly because it's current usage (mostly in advertising over the past 100+ years) is all about commercialism where the shortened form allows for reduced costs.

 

[TVC]

We caught the first 'Holiday Season' (is that American enough for you?) adverts on TV yesterday. Mrs VC is quite traumatised.

 

[benb]

Well that shuts me up then ,,

My work here is done.

 

[Norm]

In December, the shops are always packed and Christmas shopping is hell. Shops are not packed in October so why not bring Christmas forward to October and everyone will be able to do their Christmas shopping in peace?

I was (sadly) talking about this just yesterday. A friend came for coffee and she has already done most of her Christmas shopping, partly for the reason you give and partly because it spreads the financial load through the year.

By contrast, I go out to do mine at midday on December 24th. It means that my Christmas shopping cannot take more than 3 or 4 hours in total.

 

[accountantpete]

The Charity Shops round here have an Arms Race re Christmas Cards which starts earlier every year.

This year the Sale of the unsold cards finished in Easter and the new stock was up and on display in July.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

A friend came for coffee and she has already done most of her Christmas shopping...By contrast, I go out to do mine at midday on December 24th.

Wimp, much too early - where's the blind panic in that!