Historical Linguistic Evidence Contradicts Claim of 'Xmas' as Modern Secularism

Nick Szabo, a notable figure in the cryptocurrency community, recently ignited a linguistic debate by asserting that the abbreviation "Xmas" is a modern, secular invention rather than a historical tradition. In a direct challenge to the AI model @grok, Szabo contended, "Nobody who was anybody in English letters wrote or said 'Xmas' before the mid-20th century," labeling its use as "a dishonest excuse for the removal of Christ's name from Christ's holiday by some non-Christians in modern secular society." He urged consultation of sources like Samuel Johnson's and original Webster's dictionaries, and works by authors such as Charles Dickens.

However, historical and linguistic evidence widely contradicts Szabo's claims, tracing the origins of "Xmas" back centuries. The "X" in "Xmas" is not the English letter X, but the Greek letter Chi (Χ), which is the first letter of "Christos" (Χριστός), the Greek word for Christ. This practice of using Chi as a Christogram, a sacred monogram for Christ, dates back to at least the 11th century in English usage, with "Xp̄es mæsse" appearing in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle around 1021.

The abbreviation "Xmas" itself is attested in English as early as 1551 as "X'temmas" and by 1721 as "Xmas." Historical records show its use by prominent figures long before the mid-20th century, including Samuel Coleridge in 1801, Lord Byron in 1811, and Lewis Carroll in 1864. William Perry's Royal Standard English Dictionary, published in Boston in 1800, also listed "Xmas" as an abbreviation for Christmas.

Linguistic scholars and dictionaries, including the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, confirm the ancient and respectful use of the "X" abbreviation. While some modern style guides advise against its formal use due to perceived secular connotations, the historical context reveals its deep roots in Christian tradition. The debate highlights a recurring tension between historical linguistic evolution and contemporary cultural interpretations of religious terms.

Szabo's challenge to examine historical dictionaries and literature inadvertently points to the very sources that affirm the long-standing, albeit sometimes informal, presence of "Xmas" in the English language. The term's etymology is firmly embedded in early Christian symbolism, demonstrating a complex interplay of language, religion, and cultural interpretation over time.