The word “Christmas” originated as a compound meaning “Christ’s mass.” It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038. “Cristes” is from Greek christos and “mæsse” is from Latin missa.
In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter Χ (chi) is the first letter of Christ. Since the mid-16th century “Χ” has been used as an abbreviation for Christ. Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas.
