why do they call it xmas

The term "Xmas" is a shortened form of "Christmas" and it is believed to have originated in the 1500s. The "X" represents the Greek letter "chi", which is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ. Some people believe that using "Xmas" instead of "Christmas" is disrespectful to the Christian holiday and represents a secularization of the holiday. However, others argue that the use of "Xmas" is simply a more convenient and efficient way to write or say "Christmas" and does not detract from the meaning or significance of the holiday.