The backward swastika exists both as an indo-chinese symbol and a native American symbol, though they have different meanings. It's been discovered in use by many cultures.

The assumption of Saturnalia was actually used by early conquering armies as they progressed into Pagan lands for easier assimilation of the local population. They found that it was much easier to replace the local holiday than to eliminate it (in some cases it was Saturnalia, but in most it was the "new year" type holiday widespread throughout pagan europe.

The term X-Mas was actually first commonly used by advertizers in the US - too lazy to spell-out the entire word, especially for signage. It became common with the advent of fast moving automobiles, as X-Mas is easier to see from a moving car than the word Christmas.

X was actually used for Christ as far back as Constantine (the first Roman Emperor baptized as Christian - albeit on his deathbed). He had a vision that if he placed the Chi Rho (first two letters of "CRist" in greek) on the shields of his men he would be successful in battle. He won the battle and this became popularized by later Christian armies as the white cross, especially during the crusades. When Constantine's troops were moving, their shields would tilt, causing the the X to appear as a cross. The quote "In Hoc Signo Vinces" or "In this Sign we will Conquer" comes from this event.

Although the X in X-mas may offend some Christians, I see it as a general over-commercialization of Christmas and this is cause to berate its use by everyone, Christian or not.

-- John