What the “X” in Xmas Really Means | Smartest Year Ever (Dec 25, 2025)

For centuries, people have argued about what the “X” in Xmas means. Some call it disrespectful. Some insist it removes the meaning of the holiday. But as Gordy explains in today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, the real story goes back nearly a thousand years—deep into the worlds of Greek manuscripts, ancient Christian symbols, and a writing tradition that shaped how entire cultures recorded sacred names.

This episode unpacks how languages evolve, how visual symbols become powerful cultural shortcuts, and why certain misconceptions catch fire even when the historical record is airtight. It’s an episode stuffed with linguistic history, medieval scribal habits, and some surprising connections that don’t show up in the usual holiday conversations.

If you're fascinated by word origins, etymology, religious history, ancient alphabets, or the way cultural myths spread, this one is a perfect Christmas deep dive. And if you think you already know why people write Xmas, Gordy’s got a story that may rewrite what you thought you knew.

So what does the “X” really stand for? Watch to find out.

Music thanks to Zapsplat.

#WordOrigins #HistoryFacts #LanguageHistory #DailyFacts #Etymology #xmas #christmas #greeklanguage #learnonyoutube #factoftheday #christmashistory 

SourcesJeffrey, P. (2006). The Secret Gospel of Mark Unveiled. Yale University Press. Ligatus Research Centre. (n.d.). Manuscript Abbreviations Catalogue. University of the Arts London. McArthur, T. (1992). Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press. Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Entries on “Xmas,” “Xtian,” and medieval scribal abbreviations. Oxford University Press. Crystal, D. (2019). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge University Press.