At the turn of the 20th Century, we were engaged in what was known as the “War on Christmas.” This was when many people tried to secularize the holiday by removing any mention of Christ. The term “Xmas” was well known at this time, and many believed it to be a part of that secularization effort. However, the term carries a deep historical meaning that revolves around the survival and flourishing of the early church. It is not a secular softening of the word “Christmas.” In some ways, it is actually the opposite.