Xmas is a term that has been used for thousands of years... blame the Greeks and early Xians!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas
As far as iPad covers, I made mine with Timtex for sturdiness along with padding for softness and with elastic in the corners to hold the iPad in. Thanks for the links to many other ways to make a cover though. Had I seen those earlier, it would have made my lowly effort much easier.