Poinsettia: Legend of the Christmas Poinsettia

Even at Christmas when a lot of thought and planning has gone into making our homes beautiful and welcoming for holiday guests, we feel something is missing until the Christmas poinsettia has arrived.

These plants create a spectacular fresh and fragrant addition to the holiday setting. When the weather outside is frightful the colorful leaves on this plant can help to beat the winter blahs. To keep this plant in top color and form over the holidays, it will require a little loving attention. Although, they arrive in fragrance and beauty, without care it can take only a few days to show signs of wilting.

• Introduction of the poinsettia:

The poinsettia was introduced into the U.S.A. in 1825 by Dr. Joel Robert Poinsett, he was the first American minister to Mexico. Long before being introduced by Dr. Poinsett, the Mexicans had a lovely legend or myth regarding the origin of the poinsettia.

The word “legend” comes from the latin word “legere” to read. “Exaggerations and love for the wonderful so predominated in these readings, that the word came to signify a traditional story, a fable, a myth.” (Brewers 1989). Myths are not necessarily a lie. They are more like poetry and many of them have a universal appeal. In many cultures basic themes emerge.

• Legend of the origin of the poinsettia:

Mexican legend explaining the origin of the poinsettia has been handed down for generations. Pedro, a poor orphan boy, was invited to attend the Cathedral with his friends. It was at Christmas time and there was a practice that a gift was to be left in the Mexican manger scene by all who attended. Pedro declined to attend because he did not have money for a gift. In desperation and at the urging of a friend, he picked a dried weed by the side of the road to be his gift. After a long walk to the Cathedral, he approached the altar and gently placed his weed in front of the figure of the Christ Child. The legend says that there was a murmur in the congregation and when Pedro looked at his gift, the weed had been transformed into a beautiful red flower. The flower became known as the Christmas Poinsettia.

• Care of the poinsettia:

Enjoy this holiday season with the poinsettia because it is difficult to have the leaves turn into color again. The “flowers” of this familiar plant are actually its highly colored leaves and they produce leaves in red, pink and white. The actual flowers are tiny and are hidden in the center of the leaves.

This lovely plant requires at least three hours of sunlight a day. It requires watering every other day. With this easy care of water and sunlight, the poinsettia will flourish during the holiday season.

Brewer, C. (1989). Brewers Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. London: Cassell Publishers Ltd.