What is the spiritual meaning of Poinsettia?
The poinsettia’s blood red leaves symbolize the blood sacrificed for love of God. Scriptural events connected with the poinsetta include the deaths of the Holy Innocents, babies killed by King Herod madly in search of Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18) as well as the Jesus’ death and crucifixion (all four gospels).
What is the legend of the Poinsettia?
The Legend of the Poinsettia is a story about a little girl named Lucida who is growing up in the mountains of Mexico with her family. As Christmastime approached, the priest of their church cam up to Lucida's mother and asks her to weave a new blanket for the Baby Jesus in the Christmas procession.
What is the Christian meaning of Poinsettia?
What is the Biblical Meaning of a Poinsettia Blossom? Since it is the Christmas Star Flower, there is no doubt about its meaning in the Holy Bible. The Poinsettias – specifically the ones with red bracts, symbolizes the Virgin Mother Mary and her beauty. Additionally, it is also symbolic of the blood of Christ when He was crucified and died ...
How to make poinsettias bloom again next year?
- New Year’s Day—Keep in bright location, fertilize at half rate when new leaves and bracts appear.
- Valentine’s Day—Trim back to 5 inches if the plant has become leggy.
- St Patrick’s Day—Prune off faded bracts, continue water and fertilizer regimen.
What does a poinsettia symbolize?
We consider them a Christmas flower, and many people give them around Christmas time to symbolise good will and community spirit. In religious communities, the shape of the poinsettia flower is thought to symbolise the Star of Bethlehem, with the red leaves of the poinsettia symbolising the blood of Christ.
What is the story about poinsettias?
A Mexican legend tells of a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into the beautiful red plants we know as poinsettias, known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico (Spanish for "flowers of the holy night").
Why is a poinsettia associated with Christmas?
Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice of Jesus's crucifixion.
What were poinsettias originally called?
The original Nahuatl name for the plant we call “poinsettia” is cuetlaxochitl (kwet-la-sho-she), cultivated by the Aztecs long before the European colonization of the Americas.
Are poinsettias only for Christmas?
They bloom naturally under the long night conditions of winter, so it is easy for nurseries to bring them into color in time for winter holidays. The beauty of poinsettias can persist from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and sometimes even to Valentine's Day.
What is the official flower of Christmas?
PoinsettiasThere's no denying that poinsettias make bright, festive decorations during winter months. But they're native to Central America, particularly southern Mexico, and they're actually colorful leaves, not flowers.
How long do poinsettia plants live?
two to three monthsHow Long Do Poinsettias Last? If cared for properly, a potted poinsettia can last for two to three months in your home. However, some home gardeners with a particularly green thumb may enjoy the challenge of caring for a poinsettia long after Christmas in hopes of a second bloom next holiday.
Why was it called the Christmas flower?
Why Are Poinsettias the Christmas Flower? Native to Mexico, the plant is called Flor de la Noche Buena (Flower of the Holy Night) due to its resemblance to the Star of Bethlehem. In their native region of southern Mexico, poinsettias flower during the winter season.
What did the Aztecs call poinsettias?
poinsettia cuetlaxochitlThe Aztecs called poinsettia cuetlaxochitl (brilliant flower) and the Mayans referred to it as k'alul wits (ember flower).
Why Are poinsettias poisonous?
During the holidays, poinsettias are a popular Christmas plant. Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) plants are only mildly toxic to cats and dogs. The milky white sap found in poinsettias contains chemicals called diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents.
Is a poinsettia a flower or plant?
Native to Mexico, poinsettias are in the Euphorbia family and are a popular holiday plant because of their colorful bracts (leaves). There is also a species that is used as a cut flower. They are most commonly used for decorating during the winter holidays, but are also attractive as green plants throughout the year.
What does the poinsettia represent?
While most people associate the poinsettia with Christmas, what may get overlooked is how the poinsettia actually represents not only the birth of Jesus , but also Christ’s resurrection.
How did the poinsettias and Christmas become linked?
How the poinsettia and Christmas became linked centers around a bit of Mexican folklore involving a poor girl named Pepita. In the legend, Pepita had no present to offer baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve service. As she walked to church, she noticed weeds growing alongside the road. She gathered a bouquet of weeds (some accounts say she did this ...
What was the poinsettia called when Pepita laid her bouquet at the feet of the Christ Child?
When Pepita laid her bouquet at the feet of the Christ Child, the weeds burst into bright red flowers. From that night on, the poinsettia was known as “Flores de Noche Buena,” or “Flowers of the Holy Night.”.
Where are poinsettias used in Advent?
White poinsettias are used during Advent to decorate the sanctuary at Glendale United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Steven Kyle Adair.
Where do churches put poinsettias?
When it comes to decorating, churches typically place poinsettias around the front of the altar, a location that also has significance. “As we move forward to the cross, we move through this space that is decorated with poinsettias,” says the Rev. Patrick Lewis, senior pastor at Palisade and Fruita United Methodist churches in northwest Colorado.
Who was the first person to visit the Taxco area?
Fast forward from the time of the ancient Aztecs to 1828 when Joel Roberts Poinsett , the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, first visited the Taxco area of the nation. An amateur botanist, Poinsett sent samples back home to the United States of a plant he discovered that had red blooms.
Why are poinsettias so popular?
But the reason poinsettias became so popular is due to Paul Ecke and his inventiveness. Ecke, who lived in California, discovered a technique which caused seedlings to branch, resulting in a fuller plant. He began growing the plant in the tens of thousands for the Christmas season, when other flowers were scarce.
Why Are Poinsettias the Christmas Flower?
Native to Mexico, the plant is called Flor de la Noche Buena (Flower of the Holy Night) due to its resemblance to the Star of Bethlehem.
Why are the flowers red and green?
So, after Pepita set the flowers at the crèche of the nativity on Christmas Eve, the angels transformed the weeds into beautiful red flowers. This is why red and green are the colors of Christmas today.
What was the name of the Christmas plant that Bob Hope planted?
To promote poinsettias as a Christmas plant, he sent the crimson-leaved plants to TV studios across the country, including “The Tonight Show” and Bob Hope’s holiday specials. The rest is history.
How many varieties of poinsettias are there in the US?
More than 2 million of them will be sold this year, making it the largest potted flower crop grown in the US. There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available in shades of red, pink, white, and yellow—solids, streaked, marbled, and multicolored. It makes it hard to pick just one!
How tall does a poinsettia grow?
It’s a perennial shrub that was once considered a week and will grow 10 to 15 feet tall in the wild. The Aztecs used the poinsettia bracts to make a reddish-purple dye for fabrics and used the sap medicinally to control fevers.
Why was Poinsett thrown out of the country?
An amateur botanist, Poinsett saw the red flowers when visiting the Mexican town of Taxco in the state of Guerrero, shortly before he was thrown out of the country for trying to buy Texas from the Mexicans for a million dollars!
When was the Poinsettia legend published?
Legend of the Poinsettia. Author: Steve Patterson Published Date: December 23, 2020 5 Comments on Legend of the Poinsettia. Legend of the Poinsettia – Below is a legend of how we get the Poinsettia, why we have it around Christmas, why it is a winter plant and what it has to do with Christmas and why churches use them during Christmas.
Why are poinsettias red?
The red color is to symbolize the blood of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion on the cross. The Aztecs would use it for red dye and even an antipretic medicine (fever reducer). Find out if poinsettias are poisonous and how to prolong their life of a poinsettia. Other names for Poinsettia.
What did Pepita do with the weeds?
Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.
What is the flower that looks like a star?
The poinsettia is a plant from Mexico. It is known for its red and green foliage. Mostly used around Christmas for floral displays. Also known as the Christmas Even Flower. The star like leaf pattern was said to resemble the Star of Bethlehem (Christmas Star).
What are some other names for poinsettias?
Other names for Poinsettia. Cuetlaxochitl (Flower that grows in residues) by the Aztecks. Flor de Noche Buena (Christmas Even Flower) in Mexico & Guatemala. Flor de Pascua or Pascua (Easter flower) by Spain. Crown of the Andes in Chile & Peru.
Who is Pepita in the Poinsettia story?
Legend of the Poinsettia. A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services (Holy Mass). As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.
What is the name of the flower that blooms every year during Christmas?
Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia! The poinsettia is a plant from Mexico. It is known for its red and green foliage.
Where are poinsettias grown?
Many poinsettias are still raised in the state, especially for use as Christmas gifts and decorations. The city of Ventura, California , is even known as the Poinsettia City.
When is Poinsettia Day?
In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
Who brought the Euphorbia pulcher to the United States?
Joel Roberts Poinsett, America’s first minister (ambassador) to Mexico between 1825 and 1829. Dr. Poinsett brought the plant to the United States and raised it in his greenhouses in Charleston, South Carolina. It was named in his honor in 1836. The initial Latin name was Euphorbia pulcherrima, “the most beautiful Euphorbia.”
What is the name of the Mexican fire plant?
The plant was initially known in the United States as “painted leaf” or “Mexican fire plant” until eventually it was named poinsetta pulcherrima, or “poinsettia,” in honor of its “discoverer” Dr. Poinsett. There are also white, pink, and dappled poinsettias.
Where did Poinsett find the poinsettia?
In 1826, while serving as the first US Ambassador to Mexico, Poinsett noticed the poinsettia by the side of a road in Southern Mexico. Fascinated by the leaves, Poinsett brought it back to his greenhouse in South Carolina.
Who discovered the poinsettia plant?
Centuries after American Joel Roberts Poinsett rediscovered a plant known to Mexicans for generations, people all over the world continue to enjoy the fiery poinsettia during the holiday season, though they may not know its Christian meaning or colorful history.
What does the poinsetta symbolize?
The poinsettia’s blood red leaves symbolize the blood sacrificed for love of God. Scriptural events connected with the poinsetta include the deaths of the Holy Innocents, babies killed by King Herod madly in search of Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18) as well as the Jesus’ death and crucifixion (all four gospels).
What is the connection between the poinsettia and Jesus?
A ancient legend connected the poinsettia with Jesus’ birth. A young brother and sister had nothing to offer to baby Jesus at Christmas. They took the long way to church hoping to find something along the way. Desperately, they picked up some green leafy weeds and brought them into the church.
What did the Aztecs call the poinsettia?
The poinsettia was not new to the peoples of Mexico, however. The Aztecs called the plant cuetlaxochitl. They used the sap for medicinal purposes and the red leaves to make die.
What is the name of the Mexican fire plant?
The poinsettia has a history with the American public. In the 1830’s, the future Christmas plant’s popularity spread throughout America. The poinsettia’s original scientific name euphorbia pulcherrima, or “very beautiful, ” did not suit the adoring public. “Painted leaf” and “Mexican fire plant” sufficed until the plant was named poinsetta pulcherrima, or “poinsettia”, in honor of Ambassador Poinsett. Congress even deemed December 12 National Poinsettia Day to commemorate the date of Poinsett’s death.
