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The Legend of the Poinsettia
The Poinsettia or La Flor de la Nochebuena is a native
of Mexico where it grows wild. It was introduced into
the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, our
first ambassador to Mexico. Poinsett, also an amateur
botanist, brought cuttings of the flower to his plantation
in South Carolina. To honor Mr. Poinsett December 12
was declared officially as National Poinsettia Day.
The Poinsettia has become the traditional flower of
Christmas and millions of them are now sold every year.
 
The Poinsettia did not always have the beautiful red
flowers but was just another lowly weed that grew
everywhere. The legend of the Poinsettia goes back
several centuries.
It was a custom in many villages to honor the Christ
child by bringing gifts for him to the church as a
part of the Christmas festivities. One year, as little
Pepita and her family were preparing to go to the festivities,
she was so sad because she didn't have a nice gift to
take for the baby Jesus. As they were walking to the
church, she told her cousin Pedro about how ashamed and
sad she was not to have a gift. Pedro told her to give
an humble gift just to show that she did care and that
it was given in love.
Not knowing anything else to do, Pepita picked some of
the weeds that were growing along the roadside. Pepita
had wanted to give a special gift and these weeds were
certainly nothing special. As she looked at them, she
began to cry, the tears spilling over the tops of the
weeds. As the tears touched the leaves, Pepita and Pedro
noticed a miracle happening. The plain old green leaves
suddenly became a brilliant red wherever her tears had fallen.
As she placed her gift beside the figure of the baby Jesus
at the altar, everyone marvelled at the glorious flowers.
After the festivities were over, Pepita and Pedro were
walking back home and noticed that all the other weeds
like she had picked now were covered with the beautiful
red flowers.
 
 
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