(n): authorized by law and limiting work or official business
(n): a day when Catholics must attend Mass and refrain from servile work, and Episcopalians must take Communion
(n): a Christian holy day; one of four specified days when certain payments are due
(n): a day designated for feasting
The X (and it's a biggie) very much resembles a St. Andrews cross, such as that on the Scottish saltire flag. So the religious connection with this orthography is there and not disrespectful, as c_b noted.
Then again it could be pronounced so that is sounds like excemas ...
...making it even *easier* to teach children to read.
In the year 3000, XMas has replaced Christmas entirely.
Crossmas I could do. Xmas...nah.
U, please. Have some respect. It's "why are you trying to censor His name". I mean, for the love of God!
You know, yarb? I like crossmas. I'm going to say it that way from now on, whenever it's spelled xmas.
I prefer xmas to Christmas. There's something cute and cool and a little furtive (?) about xmas.
I knew a girl once who pronounced it "crossmas".
But... but... you're X-ing out "Christ"!! You put a big X right through it! Why are you trying to censor his name?! </sarcasm>
I don't like this spelling only because I think it's kind of...ugly.
I am endlessly amused by people who think spelling "Christmas" this way is somehow disrespectful, as if it were a simple shortcut. The X it symbolizes Christ in the same way a plus sign symbolizes the cross--it was used in the earliest centuries after Christ's birth (though I don't know exactly when it started). "Xmas" literally means Christ's Mass. So... not disrespectful.