Ok, so why the name Project “X”-mas. Well there are two parts to it. The first half is simple.
Project “X”: It resonates with the X plane projects run out of Edwards AFB in the 40s & 50s and other experiments of engineering. Since this was my first year to experiment with a Christmas light show of this magnitude, project X seemed fitting.
Xmas: Ok, I know what some of you are thinking and it’s not what you think. The familiar abbreviation for Christmas actually originated with the Greeks. X is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. For as far back as the mid 16th century, X was used to symbolize Christ in the coping of New Testament manuscripts. As a result, Christians started to use X in everyday writings. During this same time, Xian and Xianity were frequently used as abbreviations of Christian and Christianity, and yes, Xmas was popularized. Since it was acceptable for the early Christians to use, I figured I would be OK using it in the name I gave to my little light project. Partly as a way for me to show reverence to my Lord, and partly to challenge Xians to do a little research into the history of their religion.