I hate christmas too
Although the other day I learnt "X" was shorthand for Christ in ye olde days (I forget who exactly did that, I may peg it on the greeks) hence the origin of Xmas
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 13:16, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I heard it was something to do with the cross?

( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 13:43, Reply)

Nein.
Twas due to the Latin number, X, because the letter that begins the Hebrew spelling of Jesus was the tenth in the alphabet. I forget the details, possibly it was 'Isvs' with I/J (they were the same letter in ye-Latin times) being the tenth letter of the Latin alphabet - or possibly it was the Hebrew equivalent of that.

I am an exciting man.

EDIT: Wikipedia has just proven me wrong. Go with the Greek explanation, it's better.
(Land of Green Ginger It's dreamy weather, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 13:54, Reply)

I knew about I and J
but never twigged they were next to each other thus being the same letter.

I'm a bit dense, I should have noticed that!
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 14:04, Reply)

Twas indeed the Greeks
The soft "ch" sound from "Christos" is written as "X" in Greek.
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 13:46, Reply)

There's a guy on another forum
Who posts as Xopher which I pronounced as "sofa" in my head until I realised.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 13:52, Reply)

Wouldn't say it was soft
It's a bit like the beginning of the proper way to say "Channukah", you just make a nasty noise in the back of your throat.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 24 Aug 2009, 14:02, Reply)