Madam, - The word "Christmas" is a contraction of "Christ's Mass". The Greek for the word "Christ" is "×ñéóôïò"; and since "X" became a vernacular abbreviation for the word "Christ" we have the word "Xmas" for "Christmas".
It puzzles me that many people are uncomfortable with the word "Xmas", as if it was some sort of irreverent usurpation, but seem quite happy that "Mass" can be abbreviated to "mas". - Yours, etc,
ALEX STAVELEY, Norseman Court, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.