Barskys In Baldwin Quotes & Sayings

At school, my religious-education teacher expressly forbade us to write "Xmas." It was regarded as a foul blasphemy. How would I like it if people used an anonymous X in place of my name? However, it would seem that the word "Xmas" is not blasphemous after all.

In the original Greek, "Christ" was written "Xristos," but the X isn't the Roman "ecks"; The Cassell Dictionary of Word Histories explains that it is the Greek letter "chi" (pronounced with a k to rhyme with "eye"--k'eye). The x is simply a stand-in for "the first letter of Greek Khristos--Christ." Indeed, the Chi-Rho (CH-r--the first two syllables of "Christ") illumination can be seen in the ancient Irish manuscript of the Gospels, The Book of Kells, which is housed at Trinity College in Dublin. This work dates back to the ninth century.

Of course, strictly speaking, Xmas" should still be pronounced "Christmas" because it's an abbreviation, not an alternative word. — Andrea Barham

I will always buy extra yarn. I will not try to tempt fate. — Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing. — Dale Carnegie

My direction? Anywhere. Because one is always nearer by not keeping still. — Sebastian Faulks

It actually is as fun to make men's costumes, especially if they are as good-looking as Chris Hemsworth. — Colleen Atwood