Christmas Every Week: Xmas
Arnold Kellett's poem indicates the historical justifcation for using the word Xmas as a short form for Christmas.
There is a curious Christian myth
Which says you musn't use
The shortened form of 'Xmas':
I know some who refuse:
It's wrong to leave out Christ, they say,
It's modern, slick, commercial
But here's a bit of history,
By no means controversial:
X is simply Greek 'CH',
An old abbreviation:
Christ's in 'Xmas' - more, in fact,
Than in our celebration.
**
To order a copy of Arnold's much-loved book Kellett's Christmas please click on
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kellets-Christmas-Arnold-Kellett/dp/1858521157/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231273574&sr=1-4
