X-Mas
Most people know of the phrase “X-Mas”, but many don’t know the history behind it. There is a common misconception that the word stems from a recent, secularizing initiative to de-emphasize the religious tradition from Christmas, by "taking the Christ out of Christmas". However, the term's usage actually dates back to the 16th century, and corresponds to the church’s usage of the Greek letter Chi (signified as “X”), which is the first letter of the Greek word Christós. "X" was first seen as an abbreviation for "Christ" in the English language in 1100; "X'temmas" is seen as early as 1551, and "Xmas" officially appears in 1721. The –mas portion stems from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass.
With that history lesson wrapped up, we got down to having some fun with all of the ways that “X” is featured in holiday traditions. We continued our EXIT Puzzle Room advent calendar for the year, played an “X Marks the Box” scavenger hunt with the classic Christmas gifts of a jack in the boX and music boX awaiting the kids at the final destination, learned about SaXta Baba of Azerbaijan, had some fun with Dollar Tree Santa’s mailboXes, and snuggled up with some fauX furs to read “The Polar EXpress” for a bedtime story. We listened to some saXophone Christmas music as well as PentatoniX’s wonderful holiday album. And after the kids went down, it got a little X-Rated including Dirty Elf Riddles as well as a dancing class courtesy of the North Pole Dancing Studio complete with a spinning candy cane dancing pole that Ben was able to construct in the basement. It was some good and cheeky fun and the North Pole Dancing Studio was such an obvious and fun variation for our family’s annual Christmas dance party. And it’s probably for the best we did it this year before the kids could remember and ask questions, am I right?
Foods throughout the day included a festively green Xoi Pandan Sticky Rice for breakfast and a dinner of Xavier Steak (an appropriately Christmassy steak with Swiss cheese and asparagus that commemorates St. Xavier’s Day… which Ben conveniently knew was today). We also made a batch of homemade CheX MiX with the help of Miles & Edison. In addition, we brewed up a festive Xaviera Cocktail (a blend of triple sec, coffee liqueur, almond liqueur, and whipping cream) as well as a Xalapa Punch (black tea, simple syrup, applejack, red wine, rum, and lemons). An overall eXcellent way to celebrate the holidays if we do say so ourselves .
Merry Xmas!
ACTIVITIES
Santa’s Mailbox from Dollar Tree
“X Marks the Box” Scavenger Hunt (Jack in the Box & Music Box Prizes)
“The Polar Express” Book & Faux Furs Bedtime Reading
North Pole Dancing Studio
FOOD
Xaviera Cocktail
Bordeaux Wine
INTERESTING READS & CONTEXT:
