The There There Letter: Xmas, XOXO, and X-Chaser
Three things from DAH.
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I pen, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Xmas …
I've long avoided penning "Xmas" as shorthand for "Christmas." I figured it was a sloppy ink-saver, like "congrats" instead of "congratulations." I figured wrong, which happens so often when I assume without investigating. This usage dates back to the early days of Christianity. "The "X" is a simplified version of the chi rho — the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ superimposed over one another" (see the linked Business Insider article by Áine Cain). I must caution myself whenever, if asked why about something, my response is "I just figured … " I'd like to avoid ill-assumptions.
What the biggest 'War on Christmas' controversy gets wrong about history
Second up this week, XOXO …
I typically sign off messages (analog and digital) to family and close friends with XOX. I knew what it meant and never questioned why it meant that. And I still don't have any definitive answer. You'll see why if you take a look at the link below. It seems clear, at least, that the X for kiss is related to the X in Xmas. Despite having no religious upbringing, I'm carrying the culture of Christianity forward, unaware (previously unaware). I don't know what to do about expressing myself with below-the-surface historical/cultural/religious imbued word and letter meanings. Until my XOX is received with either adoration or outrage, I'll just keep using it.
How "XOXO" came to mean "Hugs and Kisses"
Third up this week, X-Chaser …
I like X words. That's why we chose Xebec as the name for our wine brand. Regardless of religious connections, I like the X-for-kiss in words. And I quite enjoyed solving for X, in long-ago maths classes. When I began working on these three X-word pieces, I thought of myself as an "X chaser" -- seeking X words, or, laughingly, kisses. I keyed "x chaser" into an internet search box and came up with a real meaning for the word. It's seafaring slang for someone mathematically inclined. I suppose there's always a backstory, but it's a bit daunting to think I ought to plunge down every rabbit hole seeking deeper meaning before speaking or writing.
"X" is for X-chaser
And a bit more :
Basho Haiku (English version by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto) --
Year’s end,
all corners
of this floating world, swept.
And that's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes" …
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I pen, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Xmas …
I've long avoided penning "Xmas" as shorthand for "Christmas." I figured it was a sloppy ink-saver, like "congrats" instead of "congratulations." I figured wrong, which happens so often when I assume without investigating. This usage dates back to the early days of Christianity. "The "X" is a simplified version of the chi rho — the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ superimposed over one another" (see the linked Business Insider article by Áine Cain). I must caution myself whenever, if asked why about something, my response is "I just figured … " I'd like to avoid ill-assumptions.
What the biggest 'War on Christmas' controversy gets wrong about history
Second up this week, XOXO …
I typically sign off messages (analog and digital) to family and close friends with XOX. I knew what it meant and never questioned why it meant that. And I still don't have any definitive answer. You'll see why if you take a look at the link below. It seems clear, at least, that the X for kiss is related to the X in Xmas. Despite having no religious upbringing, I'm carrying the culture of Christianity forward, unaware (previously unaware). I don't know what to do about expressing myself with below-the-surface historical/cultural/religious imbued word and letter meanings. Until my XOX is received with either adoration or outrage, I'll just keep using it.
How "XOXO" came to mean "Hugs and Kisses"
Third up this week, X-Chaser …
I like X words. That's why we chose Xebec as the name for our wine brand. Regardless of religious connections, I like the X-for-kiss in words. And I quite enjoyed solving for X, in long-ago maths classes. When I began working on these three X-word pieces, I thought of myself as an "X chaser" -- seeking X words, or, laughingly, kisses. I keyed "x chaser" into an internet search box and came up with a real meaning for the word. It's seafaring slang for someone mathematically inclined. I suppose there's always a backstory, but it's a bit daunting to think I ought to plunge down every rabbit hole seeking deeper meaning before speaking or writing.
"X" is for X-chaser
And a bit more :
Basho Haiku (English version by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto) --
Year’s end,
all corners
of this floating world, swept.
And that's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes" …
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
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