why is xmas short for christmas

The word "Xmas" is a shortened form of "Christmas". It's believed to have originated from the Greek letter "chi", which is represented by the Greek letter "X" in English. This letter is used as a symbol for Christ, so "Xmas" can be seen as a way to represent the holiday without using the full name. However, many people still prefer to use the full name, as it carries more significance and meaning.