Out of interest if you are secular, do you celebrate Xmas rather than Christmas?

[Marmiteandjamislush]

Just for background, our family is modern traditional Christian, that is to say we observe all of the rules as they relate to the individual, so food, dress, personal actions, hygiene etc. but we do not impose our views on others or encourage others to join the faith. God gave people choice and we cannot influence that, we can only show our best selves. We do not believe in creationism, we believe God gave us the capacity to understand and practice science so science and God cannot be mutually exclusive, though we do believe that the process began with God. We are most definitely Not homophobic (really annoys me that a lot of Christians are automatically tarred with this brush) God made all people in his image and that includes people of all orientations. We accept that the Bible was of it's time and the language used expresses views that do not always hold true in our time, because God has revealed information to us that changes our understanding. We use it as a guiding hand rather than a rigid stick.

Anyway, to my point. I've seen quite a few threads on the site generally where people will say they celebrate Christmas, but then follow it up with something along the lines of 'but we don't do any religious nonsense.' I have no problem with people wanting to do the commercial/family aspects, but I do have an issue with people talking about Christmas, but having nothing to do with or even basic respect for Christ or Christians. Especially when a secular term exists. So as I said, out of interest do any of you do Xmas rather than Christmas?

No "Christmas" is cultural for me rather than religious. I don't see "Xmas" as a seperation word either, just an abbreviation.

Nope. Same as tarka, here.

What? Isn't it just shorthand for Christmas?

If you have an issue with everyone who celebrates Christmas and isn't Christian then you have an issue with half the population of the world.

What difference would it make how we spell it? I celebrate Christmas, but spell it 'xmas' in a text

Not Christian anymore. I think Christmas is important culturally and historically as well as from a religious perspective.

By the way, do you mind me asking in what way you follow the bible with regards to hygene? By dress I assume you mean modest dress? Sorry tell me to stop being so nosey if you want - just interested!

And TBH I put the baby jesus stuff on the same footing as the other made up folklore surrounding Christmas. The baby jesus gets the same respect as Father Christmas, the elves and Rudolph.

You don't get an exclusive right to claim Christmas because you're religious.

I don't do any religious things connected to christmas, except going to my younger DC's school nativity play that they are forced to do every single year instead of letting them do something fun. But I don't think Xmas and christmas are two different things.

Nope, not just shorthand. Take Christ away and it's not Christmas, so Xmas is neutral. As I said no issue with anyone wanting to celebrate in a none religious way, I just don't see why you would use that word if it's meaningless to you. IYSWIM.

xmas is just an abbreviation of christmas. it means the same thing

xian is an abbreviation of the word christian - it's a very old way of substituting X for the word Christ due (i believe) to ancient greek lettering

the discussion about christmas as a religious or cultural celebration is a separate one

Yes, what is religious hygiene btw?

it is just shorthand - it's not modern at all

But nobody pronounces it "exmas"

I use the word Christian but I'm not religious.

I use the word Christening but I'm not religious. So if I'm not religious I can't use the word Christ?

Its not meaningless to me! Its representative of years of history, culture and memories right from being a toddler. It is Christmas!

If you were to call it 'xmas' how would you pronounce that... 'ex-mass'? I'd think anyone who did that was right tit

No don't mind you asking at all Pootles. We believe that Jesus and the Crucifixion set us back on the right path with God, so we maintain the OT rules re Kosher, separation from the marriage bed when menstruating and not praying when dirty.

People use the word Christmas because its the name of the celebration.

You have a completely bizarre point of view.

For me, Christmas is just a word that Christians gave to the midwinter festival we celebrate. FC, Rudolph, certain traditional foods, family time, playing games etc are all just as much a part of it to me as the story of a baby born in Nazareth.

I was brought up a Christian but stopped believing very young - around the same time as I stopped believing in FC.

You have to sleep somewhere else when you have your period?

And and and ... 'X' means Christ anyway! 'the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός which comes into English as "Christ".[2]' (from wikipedia which knows everyfink)

Oh and other things but don't want to go in to details, thinking of others in certain ways and so on.

Baby born in Bethlehem, even!

there you go ^^ wikipedia (and pootles) agrees with me re greek lettering

Yes Captain. Only in the spare room, not outside or anything.

As noted above the X in Xmas is shorthand for Christ.

The traditional pre-Christian British winter celebration is Yule. That word is still in use, and perhaps could be more widely adopted by those who want to reject any Christ element (easier to get things to catch on these days of social media?)

i'm pretty sure that xmas has been used since before moveable type printing presses. when the only way to transcribe works of literature was by hand, abbreviations were common in order to save space and time

(waits patiently for a medievalist)

Wow. Never occurred to me that people would abide by the OT that closely, especially Christians. I thought you were more about the NT. Apologies for my ignorance.

OP, have you taken on board now that xmas and christmas are the same thing?