What does the X in X-mas mean?
The X in X-mas is not the same X the X-men have. The X-men are called like that because they have an eXtra power, or powers. The X in X-mas means Christ because originally this word came fromthe Old Greek and the initial letter for Christ (Saviour) was none other than an X or a letter with a similar sound. Thus the custom of using it as a short for Christmas in writing stems from this fact.
BTW, X-mas is pronounced the same way as Christmas. Nevertheless, if separated the word Christ is pronounced differently (with a long i) whereas when we say Christmas we use a short i. This happens because the word Christmas comes from the Old English expression Cristes maesse which meant something like Mass of Christ and that word Cristes was said with a short i. The pronunciation was retained even as it changed meaning since it is no longer a mass but a festival of sorts and that is what it means precisely: the annual festivity that celebrates Jesus Christ's birth.
Other possible names are Christmas time or Christmas Day which is December 25th. The day before, December 24th, is called Christmas Eve (EVE means VISPERA in Spanish). Curiously, in the Spanish tradition, Christmas Eve is not translated as Víspera de Navidad (though that's what it is) but as Nochebuena (Good Night).
Comments