Merry Christmas

Poinsettia /Christmas star/ originated from Mexico.It is well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays.... more

by Marija Djedovic

Title

Merry Christmas

Artist

Marija Djedovic

Medium

Photograph

Description

Poinsettia /Christmas star/ originated from Mexico.It is well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the US in 1825.
The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuitlaxochitl, meaning "flower that grows in residues or soil". Today it is known in Mexico and Guatemala as Flor de Noche Buena, meaning Christmas Eve Flower. In Spain it is known as Flor de Pascua or Pascua, meaning Easter flower. In Chile and Peru, the plant became known as Crown of the Andes. In Turkey, it is called Atatürk's flower because Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, liked this flower. In Hungarian, it is called Santa Claus' Flower, and it's widely used as a Christmas decoration.
The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.
Today poinsettias are available all over the world in stores and in many colours /red, white, pink.../

Have a merry Christmas :)

Uploaded

December 21st, 2016