Xmas?
For many years, I believed that writing Xmas meant removing Christ from Christmas. In a world where faith is often sidelined, it felt like the letter “X” stood for the unknown, something impersonal and misplaced. After all, Christ is not unknown; He is the very centre of Christmas. It wasn’t until someone explained the true meaning behind the “X” that my understanding changed, revealing not a loss of reverence, but a deeper historical connection to Christ Himself.
For many, the word “Xmas” feels incomplete, as if Christ has been removed from Christmas. But the truth is far richer and far more beautiful.
The “X” is not an erasure. It is a declaration.
In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word Christ is Χριστός (Christos). The very first letter of that word is Χ (Chi), a symbol early Christians used to represent Jesus Himself. What looks like an “X” to us was, to them, a sacred sign pointing directly to Christ. So when we see Xmas, we are not seeing Christ taken out—we are seeing Christ written in the language of the early church.
Christ Has Always Been at the Centre
Long before decorated trees, lights, or traditions, Christ was the heart of the story. He did not arrive quietly in history, He entered fully, visibly, and intentionally. Scripture calls Him Immanuel, God with us. Not God watching from a distance, but God stepping into our world, our weakness, and our humanity.
The “X” reminds us that Jesus is not confined to one language, culture, or spelling. He is eternal, unchanging, and present, whether spoken in Greek, written in symbols, or worshiped in whispered prayers.
When Faith Becomes Familiar
Sometimes what feels like a loss of meaning is actually a loss of understanding. When symbols become familiar, we stop asking why they matter. The danger isn’t that Christ is missing from Christmas, it’s that we stop noticing Him. The “X” challenges us to look deeper.
To remember that Christ is present even when we don’t immediately recognize the form.
To trust that God is at work even when He shows up in unexpected ways.
X still points to Christ
In mathematics, X marks the unknown. In faith, X marks the revealed Savior. Jesus is not hidden. He is revealed—through Scripture, through history, and through transformed lives. The same Christ symbolized by Chi is the Christ who walks with us today. Christmas is not about preserving perfect language. It’s about celebrating a perfect Savior.
This season, when you see the “X,” let it remind you. Christ has not been removed.
He is still the centre. Still the reason. Still God with us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for revealing Yourself through Christ to us in every generation and every language. Lord Jesus, help us not to lose sight of You through familiarity or assumption. As we celebrate this season, draw our hearts back to the wonder of Your coming— God with us, for us, and among us.
May we recognise Your presence in every reminder and worship You with gratitude and joy.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.
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