OnPoint

How did a tropical plant become a symbol of Christmas? Originating in Mexico and known as Flor de la Noche Buena (Flower of the Holy Night), the Poinsettia was first cultivated by the Aztecs for its medicinal qualities and dyes that could be made from its flowers.

Their association with Christmas begins with the Mexican legend of Pepita, a child who was sad because she was too poor to bring a gift to the Christmas Eve service. Her cousin consoled her by saying that any gift no matter how small is valued. So, Pepita picked some weeds at the roadside to make a bouquet and entered the chapel. Placing them before the Nativity scene, the humble weeds miraculously turned into beautiful red flowers.

Poinsettias were named in honor of the man who introduced them to the U.S. In 1825. The first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and an avid botanist, Joel Robert Poinsett (1779-1851) became enchanted with the flowers and had them sent back to his greenhouse in South Carolina. Through his sharing the plant at Christmas with friends and botanical gardens, its popularity grew, and today the Poinsettia has become symbolic of the holiday season.