The Legend of the Poinsettia

Happy Poinsettia Day!

December 12th was declared by Congress as National Poinsettia Day in honor of the passing of Joel Robinson Poinsett, a botanist and statesman who is credited with first bringing the beloved holiday blooms to the United States. Click here to learn more about the history of the poinsettia. 

But aside from the bright red blooms, how did the poinsettia become the Christmas flower?

The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico, where the plant was first discovered. It tells of a little girl named Pepita. Pepita was sad. Because she was poor, she had no gift to present to the Christ child at Christmas Eve services. Her cousin, Pedro assured her, “I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes”.

As they walked to the church, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of weeds to present as an offering to the Christ child. As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro’s words, “even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes”.  Pepita laid the bouquet of weeds at the feet of the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Suddenly, a Christmas miracle occurred before their eyes. The green topped leaves turned to a brilliant red. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Of course “The Flower of the Holy Night” is what we now call the poinsettia.