Etymology of Christmas

The word Christmas originated as a contraction of "Christ's mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1032, compounded from Old English derivatives of the Greek christos and the Latin missa.[1] In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ. Since the mid-16th century Χ, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ.[2] Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

After the conversion of Anglo-Saxon Britain in the very early 7th century, Christmas was referred to as geol,[1] the name of the pre-Christian winter festival from which the current English word 'Yule' is derived.[3]

Reference:

1: "Christmas", The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1313.

2. Oxford English Dictionary

3. "The Christmas Season" The Voice, CRI/Voice, Institute, 2006.

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