Why do we say ‘merry’ Xmas? What is Xmas?

Xmas is just over. We have to have made use of the terms Christmas and also Xmas on countless occasions in our regular discussions and introductions when Christmas was around the bend. A reader has sent out in this question: Why is Christmas called Xmas? An additional reader wishes to know the etymology of Santa Claus. Yet one more reader would like to know why we claim ‘merry’ Xmas.

Xmas, which has its beginning in Greek, is a mix of 2 words: Christ and also Mass. Actually, ‘Christmas’ implies Christ’s Mass. Xmas is a casual term and abbreviation for Xmas, the Greek letter chi (X) being the initial letter of Christ. Those that think about Xmas a non-religious variation of Xmas may not know that the letter ‘X’ suggests Christ. It is incorrect to lead to Xmas as Xt-mas or X-mas.
Should “a” or “an” precede Xmas? It depends exactly how we articulate the word. When Xmas is noticable as/ krɪs.məs/, the write-up “a” precedes the word and also when Xmas is obvious as/ ˈeks.məs/, the short article “an” comes before words as in the instances below:

– I’m going to acquire a Xmas present for my child. (Right here Xmas is noticable/ krɪs.məs/).

– I got an Xmas greeting card yesterday. (Right here Xmas is obvious/ ˈeks.məs/).

When we consider Xmas, the image of Santa Claus, a fat old man with a red suit and also white beard, springs to mind. Santa Claus, also known as Papa Xmas, is an individual that brings gifts for youngsters on the eve of Xmas.
Gerry Bowler in his publication Santa Claus: A Biography clarifies just how St Nicholas ended up being referred to as an enchanting gift bringer. Among the tales is that three girls were saved from a life of prostitution when Bishop Nicholas covertly supplied three bags of gold which could be made use of for the women’ dowries. In 1821 a confidential rhyme qualified “The Children’s Buddy” associated Santa Claus with Christmas. The actual image of Santa Claus, removed of religious characteristics as well as dressed in the hairs of Germanic gift bringers, was clear by then.

Why do we say ‘merry’ Christmas as well as a “happy” new year? Words ‘merry’, which implies being joyful as well as vibrant, is connected with festivity, event and satisfaction. Though the term “lively Xmas” was first made use of in 1534 in a letter written by Diocesan John Fisher to Henry VIII’s chief minister Thomas Cromwell as well as in the 16th century carol “We wish you a lively Christmas”, it ended up being preferred only after 1843 when Charles Dickens’ book A Xmas Carol was published.